A chickenpox party? Doctors say it's a bad idea

Mpls (red)Star Tribune /AP ^ | 4/802

[maryz]

It strikes me as something close to the way people used to protect themselves of smallpox.

I believe they used to try to contract cowpox (a much milder disease) which resulted in immunity to smallpox. Since there were no smallpox vaccinations at the time, the choice was apparently between cowpox and smallpox.

I read a while back about a doctor in England who theorized that overuse of vaccinations against childhood diseases is the cause of increased asthma in children -- their immune systems don't develop properly.

[homeschool mama]

I'm feeling very fortunate when compared to what you went through. Glad you're okay now. Did you get checked for immunity?

[BibChr]

Did you get checked for immunity?

Nnnnnnoooo... should I?

[homeschool mama]

Since I had such a mild case my Doc thought it prudent to get me checked. He said the chance of getting the virus again is slim but getting checked is a good idea. If I wasn't immune I'd have gotten the vaccination.

[Warhammer]

That's great, when the vaccine works. Two of my children were vaccinated for Chicken Pox, but that didn't stop them from getting it!

Will I vaccinate my others? Yeah, I'm not one of the anti-vaccine types. But I do doubt the effectiveness of this particular one.

[MadelineZapeezda]

My youngest called them the "Chichie pots" when she caught them from her sister.

[luckystarmom]

Actually, chickenpox can be very deadly to children that are on steroids for asthma.

My daughter has severe asthma, and chickenpox can kill her if she gets it while she is taking prednisone.

All of my children have been vaccinated, and I am very thankful for the vaccine.

[chriservative]

What the hell is wrong with you people? This is child abuse/child endangerment at the very least. Knowingly exposing your child to a highly contagious disease? I know your intentions lie in the right place, but this is screwed up.

[Mfkmmof4]

My children's doctor does NOT recommend the vaccine and so my 5 year old got the pox on his own and I am glad about that. Our kids have become pin cushions with the number of vaccines they get.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

I am glad you brought up shingles. I got them as a senior in high school and missed 4 months of school being all doped up on percodan because the pain was so unbearable. I am now severely scarred from it and can't go in the sun.

I still get them now and then, but so far only midly, knock wood. If I never had chicken pox I would never have the shingles.

[BibChr]

So, then, I gather you don't have any children, and know nothing about childhood chicken pox?

Opinion always fly faster when they're fact-free, don't they?

Dan

[Atticus]

Kids are being vaccinated against Hepatitis B now. There is no vaccine against Hepatitis C, yet the same health experts who are pushing the Hep B vaccine will tell you there is no need to be concerned that your child will contract Hep C at school. It's inconsistent.

[Valin]

I recall reading or hearing something similar.

[Lee'sGhost]

Although vaccines can provide complete immunity, they don't always do so. In those cases they do, however, lessen the severity of the illness.

[untenured]

Af far as I can see the vaccination is mostly for convenience sake anyway, which is a not the best way to determine what's right for a child's health.

Is that true? If the article is to be believed, 100 people die and thousands are hospitalized from the disease. Do any die and are any hospitalized from the vaccine?

[eastsider]

They're prescribing Valorex for shingles now, but they're still incredibly painful. My sister's latest bout with shingles last about 8 months.

My advice to pox partiers: Just say no.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Oh my gosh, 4 months was enough for me, I can't imagine 8 months.

[homeschool mama]

Ignorance abounds in the minds of the youth.

[Happygal]

Oooh glad me and my brother got chickenpox together as kids. My brother caught it first, and made me sleep in the bed with him so I'd pick it up immediately.

Alright, I was sick for a few days. (Nothing that wasn't soothed by homemade lemonade though! *L*). And it's sure better than a bout of shingles as an adult, I imagine.