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Chickenpox Parties: A Ridiculous Throwback
In 1995, a breakthrough occurred in the world of immunization: scientists developed a vaccine using a small amount of live varicella zoster, the virus responsible for chickenpox. This meant that children could now be protected from a disease that not only causes excruciating itchy blisters but also brings along fever, aches, and other unpleasant symptoms.
Before this miracle vaccine, many parents were on a mission to purposely expose their kids to chickenpox, believing it would bolster their immunity against the illness. A misguided notion, for sure, as any healthcare professional will tell you that chickenpox can be particularly severe for pregnant women and adults. This is why some parents thought it was a smart idea to let their healthy little ones catch the virus. Fast forward to today, and it’s baffling that some parents are still throwing chickenpox parties, or even ordering contaminated lollipops to deliberately infect their kids. Seriously, what’s going on here?
Let’s not forget the potential side effects of chickenpox, which, while rare, can be quite serious. We’re talking about bacterial skin infections, bleeding issues (especially dangerous for those with bleeding disorders), bone and joint infections, encephalitis (that’s brain swelling, by the way), pneumonia, toxic shock syndrome (yep, it exists), and—wait for it—death. Yes, you read that right.
On the flip side, the vaccine is incredibly safe, with a significantly lower risk of side effects—up to 1,000 times less likely to cause any issues, and virtually no chance of death or permanent harm. And if that’s not enough of a reason to skip the chickenpox parties, let’s discuss shingles, a painful and sometimes disfiguring condition that can arise later in life after having chickenpox.
For those unaware, shingles (also known as zoster or herpes zoster) is the same virus as chickenpox, lying dormant in your body and rearing its ugly head at the worst times. Symptoms include flu-like feelings, fever, chills, and sore, itchy blisters that can pop up anywhere. Fun, right?
As a parent, I totally get the desire to strengthen my kids’ immune systems—who wants to see their child suffering? But when we have a safe and effective vaccine to prevent the painful ordeal of chickenpox, why would any parent opt for old-fashioned chickenpox parties? It’s time to ditch the contaminated lollipops and make a doctor’s appointment instead. Science is on our side, folks!
For more information on pregnancy and home insemination, check out this excellent resource: American Pregnancy and dive into the journey of becoming a parent with insights from Make A Mom. If you’re curious about the topic of home insemination, we also have another blog post worth checking out—Advertiser Disclosure.
In summary, chickenpox parties are an outdated and dangerous practice. With a safe vaccine available, there’s no good reason to expose kids to such a risky virus.