chicken pox in adults

[nevetsnosnas]

I am a 28 year old healthy male. I am slightly worried because i have never had chicken pox and i believe if caught it can be quite drastic in male adults. I have a little boy who is at nursery where the virus is spreading. My son hasn't caught it but if he doesn't catch it now he could still catch it later on in childhood. I've asked the doctor and he said i will probably be immune even though i haven't had any blood tests to back that up. Is it anything to worry about?

[ummmm]

My Dad never had any childhood illnesses. They said that he was probably just a carrier and the chances were that he was immune.

The only one he worried about was mumps.

My sister got chicken pox as an adult but it was very mild. Personally I would that you shouldn't really worry.

[shaneystar2]

My brother had chicken pox as an adult in his fifties ,He was quite ill and I had mumps only a few years ago in my late fifties .It was horrendous :)
Mumps is the one men have to worry about though in adulthood and I think chicken pox can have an adverse affect in pregnant women if they are not immune .

[ummmm]

Not chicken pox Shaney....that's German Measals. My Aunt caught while pregnant....her daughter is severely disabled.

Mumps, I believe, can affect an adult males gonads.

[carrust]

If you do get it, be prepared to be quite ill for a couple of weeks. I copped it in my early thirties & it was like man-flu x 10....Spotted dick anyone? lol

[ladyalex]

Chicken Pox in adults can be very unpleasant, but should clear up leaving no ill effects.
A male relative of mine had it last winter and was ill (high temperature, covered in itchy spots everywhere) for about two weeks, then very debilitated, tired, energy-less, no appetite etc for about another two months. He's fine now.
As other have said, mumps is the one which can affect the important bits.

[mike11111]

I had chicken pox as a child. It was a commonly held belief that chicken pox made you immune to shingles in later life. It doesn't! I had shingles when I was 36 and was ill for a fortnight. It is a most debilitaitng condition because you are not so ill that you can't move around a bit, but you can't rest properly or get comfortable. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

[Nosha123]

well I'm not sure what you can do to avoid it since you're son could bring it home and pass it on before any spots appear...
A colleague here looked after her husband (40 something) who got it.. and his GP said it was one of the worst cases he had ever seen in adults! Every cm of his body was covered.. and he was awfully uncomfortable! Sorry to bring bad news.. but I guess you were asking for facts!
Just keep healthy with vitamins and veg and exercise to try to keep your immune system strong

[tamirra]

I had chicken pox when i was 35, it wasnt nice but it wasnt all that bad either, although i did get them in my eyes and mouth which wasnt nice at all, but soon was feeling better after a few days.

[Jemisa]

My hubby had chickenpox when he was 32 and badly. the kids had just had it and were mild cases but he was soo ill. Was off work for 4 weeks because the scabs on his face were very bad & he was smothered in 'em., & when one has a job where one deals with the public its v/embarrassing.
I think you can get imunised against it these days ask your GP it would stop you worrying.

Jem.