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Suggest Was To Boost Immunity During Pregnancy
Question: Hello.
I was wondering whether or not to send my daughter to nursery, shes 20 months old and has just recovered from flu. There has been one or two cases of chicken pox flying tound nursery so she may catch this. I am 13 weeks pregnant and my immune system is not great, i have issues with my thyroid. i myself am also recovering from flu. I had chicken pox as a child but my partner has has it twice. Just wanted some advice. Thank you.
I was wondering whether or not to send my daughter to nursery, shes 20 months old and has just recovered from flu. There has been one or two cases of chicken pox flying tound nursery so she may catch this. I am 13 weeks pregnant and my immune system is not great, i have issues with my thyroid. i myself am also recovering from flu. I had chicken pox as a child but my partner has has it twice. Just wanted some advice. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Don't send your daughter to nursery for 3 weeks. Do varicella antibody test
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to healthcare magic.
I am Dr Ramadevi Wani. I will be answering your concerns today.
If you have had chickenpox in childhood, in all probability you will be immune to this disease. However there is a VERY SMALL possibility that you may not have developed sufficient antibodies against chickenpox then. In such a scenario you are at risk of contracting the infection again. A blood test for varicella antibodies is a sure test to say whether you are immune or not. I advise you to get this test done. If you have varicella antobodies in your body then you and your pregnancy are protected even if your daughter develops chicken pox.
Therefore I advise you to not to send your daughter to nursery at least for three weeks. Chicken pox is highly contagious disease. It can spread through respiratory droplets, from direct contact with chicken pox lesions and indirectly through fomites ( school bags, hair,water bottle etc in nursery). Staying in the same room with a child having chicken pox just for 15 minutes or face to face contact is enough to spread the disease.
Chicken pox is infectious from two days before the development of rash to up to crusting of lesions of chickenpox. So there is a possibility of your child having contracted the infection already. The incubation period is two to three weeks. The disease starts as fever, tiredness and rash. If your child develops these, please take her to the pediatrician immediately.
I advise you to make sure that your thyroid gland issues are treated. Thyroid hormone is very important for your baby.
I hope I have answered your concerns. If you have any further queries, do write to me. I will be happy to answer.
Don't send your daughter to nursery for 3 weeks. Do varicella antibody test
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to healthcare magic.
I am Dr Ramadevi Wani. I will be answering your concerns today.
If you have had chickenpox in childhood, in all probability you will be immune to this disease. However there is a VERY SMALL possibility that you may not have developed sufficient antibodies against chickenpox then. In such a scenario you are at risk of contracting the infection again. A blood test for varicella antibodies is a sure test to say whether you are immune or not. I advise you to get this test done. If you have varicella antobodies in your body then you and your pregnancy are protected even if your daughter develops chicken pox.
Therefore I advise you to not to send your daughter to nursery at least for three weeks. Chicken pox is highly contagious disease. It can spread through respiratory droplets, from direct contact with chicken pox lesions and indirectly through fomites ( school bags, hair,water bottle etc in nursery). Staying in the same room with a child having chicken pox just for 15 minutes or face to face contact is enough to spread the disease.
Chicken pox is infectious from two days before the development of rash to up to crusting of lesions of chickenpox. So there is a possibility of your child having contracted the infection already. The incubation period is two to three weeks. The disease starts as fever, tiredness and rash. If your child develops these, please take her to the pediatrician immediately.
I advise you to make sure that your thyroid gland issues are treated. Thyroid hormone is very important for your baby.
I hope I have answered your concerns. If you have any further queries, do write to me. I will be happy to answer.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Pradeep Vitta
Answered by
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