My 2year old grandson has today 1/11/24 got chickenpox. I’m supposed to be looking after him, am i ok to do so? It’s 23:22pm, no one really to ask this late, i thought I’d try here for anyone with information? I myself had chickenpox as a child but never shingles. I’d be grateful for any information or advice. I realise my timing may not be great. Lol.
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Interesting question. One definitely for your haematologist I think.
I’m interested to know what they say as this has been worrying me as I have my grandson and I know as soon as he starts nursery he’ll catch everything going.
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Hi @AVALON,
Thank you so much for your post & don’t worry about posting late. I hope this information reaches you on time. We would usually advise if possible, avoiding contact with people with active infections. Having Essential Thrombocythaemia means you may be more at risk of contracting infections.
Just to let you know that you cannot catch shingles from someone with chickenpox, you can however catch chickenpox from someone with shingles, if you have not had chickenpox before.
As you mentioned that you have had chickenpox previously, this virus stays in your body and can be triggered again if your immune system isn’t working well, such as with blood cancers (including Essential thrombocythemia (ET)) or if you are on chemotherapy such as hydroxycarbamide. Therefore, unfortunately you may be more likely to get shingles from the ‘re-activation’ of the chickenpox virus.
You can get the chickenpox vaccine on the NHS if there’s a risk of you spreading the virus to
someone who could be harmed because of weakened immune system. For example, a child
can be vaccinated if one of their parents is having chemotherapy
For more information on shingles, please see the NHS inform website Shingles | NHS inform
For further information on Essential thrombocythemia (ET), please see our page on Looking after yourself with ET (essential thrombocythaemia) | Blood Cancer UK as well as our Managing your risk of infection | Blood Cancer UK page.
For further support, please do not hesitate to get in contact with our support service on 0808 2080 888
Take care,
Emma (support services nurse)
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I wouldn’t like to say for sure but assuming that you have had Chicken Pox you should have some immunity to it.If you however have recently had a Stem Cell Transplant then all immunity will have been cleared and until you are revaccinated you don’t want to go anywhere near anyone with Chicken Pox,Measles ,German Measles or anything else like them.
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Hi @AVALON I see @Emma_BloodCancerUK @Happy2019 and @Kevan7 have given you great replies.
Perhaps talk to your medical team/ward or 111.
What is the situation now?
This is a good place to say how it really is to be you, I know I would be anxious.
How and when did you know your grandson had chickenpox?
Look after yourselves.
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Hi @Happy2019 yes, I can understand your vested interest in this question!!
Look after yourself
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Hi @Kevan7
Thanks for your reply.
You are correct about immunity being especially lowered/ cleared after a stem cell transplant.
It is possible to catch chickenpox more than once, but is quite unusual. However, when you catch chickenpox the virus stays in your body. It can become active again later on if your immune system is lowered and cause shingles.
Kind regards,
Emma (Support Services Nurse)
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