Chickenpox Parties
Filed Under assorted viruses, is it contagious?, prevention | Comments Off
Thanks for the invite, but I think I’ll pass. As a mother, I have spent an enormous amount of time and effort trying to protect my children against the multitude of germs, viruses and infections, which is not always an easy task. In light of this, I cannot, for the life of me, understand this resurfacing trend, which can result with an infection that will not only cause fever, blistered and itchy skin, but may also subject them to serious physical risk. So, I will ask the question -
What parent in their right mind would deliberately expose their kids to other children infected with chickenpox? I have heard excuses such as wanting all the kids in the house to have it at the same time, thus making life easier for the parents, or to get it over-with. It sounds like an episode of The Simpsons and I believe it was on Southpark, a while back – but real life chickenpox parties?
It is not a new concept, but at this day and age, believe it or not, chicken pox parties are still going on in neighborhoods across the United States. There are even groups on the internet, along with pox bulletin boards and blogs. Many of these “info-mills” spread rumors that the chickenpox vaccine is somehow unsafe or ineffective. Worried parents join email rings and when one of these parents’ children gets the chickenpox, they host a “party” for others in the community.
This is completely idiotic! Maybe their memories are a little out of focus, or they had a light and “easy” case as a child, but chickenpox is hardly a walk in the park. There are perfectly healthy children who have had severe cases and unexpected reactions to the disease. Why in the world, when there is a safe and effective vaccination available, would any parent expose their kid to any potential risk? Imagine how you would feel if something tragic happened, just because you were stupid enough to take your child to a pox party.
To those parents thinking about intentionally giving your child the chicken pox, think about a few things first. From personal experience – just because you may have had chickenpox as a child, it is no guarantee that you won’t contract it again later in life, or that you will not get shingles. I have also seen kids get terrible, scarring skin infections and pneumonia as a result of a severe case of chicken pox.
Now, just as having a case of chickenpox is no guarantee that it won’t happen again, having the vaccine is also no guarantee. There is about a 1 to 2 percent chance of still getting a mild case after having the vaccination. Boosters may also be required, as with other vaccines.There are approximately 4 million cases of chickenpox a year according to the CDC. Of those numbers, between 5,000 and 9,000 require hospitalizations and there are approximately 100 deaths from complications. As with any vaccine, although fairly minimal, there are risks associated with the chickenpox vaccine. A responsible parent should research all options before making a decision, as it is you, who are responsible for the decisions you make regarding your child.
Technorati Tags: chickenpox parties, shingles, chickenpox vaccine
