Any of your kids got chicken pox in college?

Parents' Social Lounge
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<p>I'm in high school and I have never gotten chicken pox. I have a very healthy immune system and get all the vaccines. I am worried that I will get in either college and while I'm an adult. I pray that I will never get it. But I know this is a little impossible. I just want to ask the parents how their child dealt with it in either college or as an adult. I'm worried to get it because I wouldn't want to miss class and such. How bad is it to get it as an adult?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

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<p>I know one guy who got chicken pox in his 20s, and he was very ill -- out for two weeks.</p>

<p>But you don't need to worry about this very much if you are properly immunized. Go over your immunization records with your doctor. If you are up to date and fully immunized with latest chicken pox vaccines, your chances of catching the disease are very low.</p>

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<p>Even if you received the immunization when you were young, it is now recommended that you be vaccinated again before college.</p>

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<p>My D got the chicken pox after being vaccinated, but her case was very mild.</p>

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<p>Many pediatricians in my area are recommending a booster shot at least before going off to college if you received the vaccine as an infant. In my state, it is mandated to have a dose after your 1st b'day if you were born after 1997. If you receive your first dose after your 13th b'day, a second dose is required, I think within 6 mos.
I have seen many children who were immunized as infants get the disease in elementary school. My daughter had a mild case as a small child. I recently had a titer done to check her immunity status.
I myself had a whopper of a case at the age of 35. I truly wanted to die. Do whatever it takes to assure your immunity. I have never been so sick in all my life.</p>

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<p>My d was properly immunized at the recommended age and nevertheless developed chicken pox (a mild case) as a freshman in high school - one of those kids woody is talking about. Immunizations are not 100 percent effective for 100 percent of the population, much as we'd prefer to think so. The several recent threads about meningitis bring this sad fact home.</p>

<p>Though her case of chicken pox was mild, she of course had to miss school and ECs when we were aware that she was contagious. I had initially asked her pediatrician about the benefits of letting her develop the disease as a young child (I was a SAHM at the time), as her older sisters did, but he strongly felt that immunization is a safer route.</p>

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<p>a close friend's son at college just got shingles, and therefore I am newly interested in the state of chicken pox and my family, all of whom had full blown cases before the vaccine. Can you get tested to rate your resistance at any age? I see they are vaccinating sixty years and older now.</p>

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<p>Did you have the chicken pox vaccine? If so, that is probably the reason you have not gotten chicken pox. And yes, as others have pointed out, there is a suggestion that an additional vaccine be give prior to college. </p>

<p>DD's and DS's colleges required either evidence of the vaccine or verification that she had the illness.</p>

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<p>I've heard that adults often get worse cases than children tend to, but I think there is a similar range. I got chicken pox in my 30s when my oldest was two years old. It was miserable. It was two weeks before the last pox went and then my son got sick so I ended up missing work for close to a month. You've probably been vaccinated, but why not check your records?</p>

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<p>Like woody and mathmom my husband got chicken pox in his 30's. He was so sick! I of course had to mother both kids (one at a time) and then my husband until all were well. I was home for weeks with them all; thought I would go crazy! My bathtub turned into a mini Aveeno spa; my 3 year old thought the bath was soothing. My 6 year old was so sick; he had a virus along with the pox. Between itching, 101 temp., throwing up and having diarrhea, he was one sick boy. The worst was he had pox in his mouth and around his tush, so being so sick was very uncomfortable for him.</p>