I have never had chicken pox and I’m 30 years old. My mom has, but my Grandmother hasn’t had it, either. So I’m thinking if there is such a thing as a chicken pox “immunity gene”, maybe it skipped a generation.
What kind of research has been done on this subject? Can people naturally be immune to chicken pox?
You probably had a subclinical case (one where symptoms and signs are mild to non-existant), and hence got immunity. Lots of folks do.
I’ve had quite a few patients swear they never had it (truly I’m sure), yet when their serum is tested, it shows antibodies to the Zoster virus.
This was in the days before the vaccine, so the only way to get the antibodies then was to have the virus in your system.
Then again, a mild case might also not leave you properly immune. My sister and I both caught chicken pox twice. The first time for each of us, it was only about a half-dozen spots, and Mom was relieved that we had gotten off so easily. Then, a few years later, we got the full-out version. As with so many things in biology, individuals may vary.
Qadgop, is the test to find if you’re immune particularly difficult or expensive? I’m 30 and to the best of my and my mother’s knowledge I’ve never had chicken pox. I have no idea if I am immune or not, though I certainly was exposed to it as a kid. And I don’t want to get it now! I also don’t want to bother getting a shot for a disease I’m already immune to.
I’m sure you can get a varicella zoster titer drawn at your doctor’s office if your doc orders it. I have no idea what it costs.