Last week my nephew developed a pretty bad rash all over his chest.  He's at that age were chicken pox begins to spread so my sister asked me to take a look at him. 

Me: "It looks like hives but I'd go ask a doctor."

Sister: "So it's not the chicken pox?"

Me: "Take him to the doctor."

Sister:  "So it is the chicken pox?"

Me:  "Are you handicapped?"

That same day --still having not seen the doctor--she put on her facebook status that he had the chicken pox.  She got a number of comments from other parents she knows suggesting she throw a pox party.  As infuriating as this situation was the timing was kind of perfect as someone recently suggested I address the whole idea behind the "swine flu parties".

Before I go into "swine flu parties" I'd like to say something about chicken pox and chicken pox parties.  Chicken pox is a disease caused by an infection with the varicella zoster virus; it presents itself as a skin rash and in most cases is complimented with a fever --oh and the lesions itch like hell.  Complications from varicella infection can arise such as bacterial infections of the skin (don't scratch them) bone and lungs (pneumonia), as well as encephalitis (swelling of the brain), all of which can be life threatening. 

Most of these complications tend to arise adults, adolescents and the immunocompromised, which is why parents of the past would hold so-called "pox parties" so that their children would get the disease earlier when the risk of serious complications was a bit lower.  In 1995 the vericella vaccine was licensed for use in the U.S.  It was found to be both safe and effective.  Yet many parents feared the vaccine due to a similar smear campaign we see nowadays with respect to flu vaccines, and continue to hold pox parties. 

While life threatening complications from varicella are rare in children they do happen, and about 1 in every 10 cases of unvaccinated children result in complications severe enough to seek medical help.  It is because of these risks that the CDC recommends vaccination instead of throwing pox parties.

On a personal note I got the chicken pox when I was about 7 or 8 and it was probably one of the worst experiences of my life.  One of the sores was in my throat and I couldn't eat for an entire week.  When it comes to vaccinating I'd have to be a sadistic bastard to let my future children go through anything close to that when there is a relatively painless alternative.

So what about swine flu parties?  Well the theory (and I'm using the word theory in the same regard creationists use it, as though it were something they dreamt up after being drunk all night) is that some people want to get the disease now while the virus is not very virulent.  Makes sense from a distance I suppose but there are a few problems with this thinking; the main one being that (similar to varicella) you don't know how serious the infection will be for you.  While many people have gotten this new H1N1 strain and are "still kickin" or have had little complications there is no definitive way of knowing whether or not you'll be one of the lucky ones, and with seasonal influenza killing roughly 250,000 to 500,000 people per year world wide why risk it?

I've been trying to hunt down an actual swine flu party (alternative medicine forums, craigslist, etc.) to see if people are in fact throwing them but I can not honestly find one.  Tom Skinner from the CDC says that they have been receiving anecdotal calls about various parties but have no conclusive evidence of one actually having occurred.

The CDC's recommendations regarding swine flu parties is pretty simple and can be summed up in one word. DON'T!! If you're thinking of sending your kid to one, don't.  If you thinking of throwing one for all your neighborhood pals, Don't.  If you hear the word party and automatically think "sounds like a good time", Don't.... Don't.

Why people put themselves at risk for something  when there is a much safer alternative is beyond me.  But anything to throw a party I suppose.


Note: I am not --as of yet--a doctor.  All information comes from independent research (some of which was provided by an actual physician).  I will attempt to note any opinions I think defers from the scientific consensus.  When making medical decisions do not rely on me or any quack with an internet connection, TALK WITH (not at) YOUR DOCTOR!!!