Pox party
 | This article needs attention from an expert in Medicine. Please add a reason or a talk parameter to this template to explain the issue with the article. (March 2011) |
 |
 | This article may be unbalanced toward certain viewpoints. (October 2011) |
 | This article is missing information about mainstream medical viewpoints, as opposed to the opinions of those who favour the practice. (October 2011) |
A pox party is a party held by parents for the purpose of infecting their children with childhood diseases, most commonly chickenpox, thus acquiring the disease and if surviving, then immunity.[1]
Effectiveness and risk
Uneducated and irresponsible parents who expose their children to the virus in this manner are reported to (incorrectly) believe that this method is safer and more effective than receiving a vaccination.[2][3] Similar ideas have been applied to other diseases such as measles. In the case of chicken pox, and also some other diseases such as mumps and hepatitis A.The course of the disease can be life threatening to children. Pediatricians have warned against the practice citing dangers arising from possible complications associated with chicken pox, such as encephalitis and group A strep.[2] Although such complications are not common, they can cause brain damage or death.[4]
History
Historically, smallpox parties and other forms of controlled inoculation reduced significantly the death rate due to smallpox (see Variolation). With the introduction of a smallpox vaccine, inoculations of wild smallpox virus fell into disuse. Similarly, the 'Rubella Party' was a 'rite of passage' for pubescent females in many areas of the developed world after the link between rubella infections early in pregnancy and severe birth defects was established, and before the development of effective rubella immunizations. In the United States inoculations of wild chickenpox, via pox parties, remained popular up to the time of introduction of the varicella vaccine in 1995.[citation needed] The virus can be obtained from persons with either chickenpox or herpes zoster.
Flu parties
During the 2009 flu pandemic in Canada, doctors noted an increase in what were termed flu parties or flu flings. These gatherings, as with the pox parties, were designed explicitly to allow a parent's children to contract the "swine flu" influenza virus[5]. Researchers such as Dr. Michael Gardam note that because the pandemic is caused by a flu subtype that most people have had no exposure to, the parents are just as likely to get the disease and further the spread.
References
- ^
McNeil Jr, Donald G. (May 6, 2009). "Debating the Wisdom of 'Swine Flu Parties'". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
Chickenpox parties, at which children gather so they can all be infected by a child who has the pox, are often held by parents who distrust chickenpox vaccine or want their children to have the stronger immunity that surviving a full-blown infection affords and are willing to take the risk that their child will not get serious complications.
- ^ a b
"Inside New York Chicken Pox Parties". Retrieved 10-09-2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ Henry, Shannon (September 20, 2005). "A Pox on My Child: Cool!". The Washington Post. pp. HE01.
- ^
"'Pox Parties' Pooh-Poohed". Retrieved 10-09-2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ News staff, CTV (3 July 2009). "Doctors say 'flu parties' not a good idea". CTV News. Retrieved 3 July 2009.