Do you know how long it can last outside the body?

I'm NOT a doctor, but I don't think the virus will last long on the sheets. If I were you, I'd worry more about your DAD catching them than you getting them!!! Many adults who didn't have the Pox at a young age, will come down with Shingles at an older age as it is the same virus just with a different name. I know you think you are old, but you are just getting started. Personally, I think you would be lucky if you caught them now. You are a young adult at this point so they might give you some discomfort, but it will mean that you will be spared Shingles when you get a LOT older!!! Shingles are extremely painful!!!! I don't think I'd want the Pox bad enough to be kissing my brother, but I also don't know that I'd be worrying so much about having them!!! They might bother you more at 26 than they would have at 12, but they will bother you less at 26 than they will at 50!!!

I'm not sure how long the virus lasts, but certainly linens and clothing can be washed with bleach or something to kill the virus. Are you sure that you never had it when you were a child? If you did, it's unlikely that you'd get it again. You might want to speak with your doctor about your fears...and they are legitimate ones. There IS a vaccination for chicken pox and the doctor could let you know if you should have one. He could also let you know of other steps to take to minimize the chances of getting it from your brother.

chicken pox is more of a danger to fertility and to unborn children if you do catch it, well, I doubt it will KILL you, and generally speaking the fertility problem is more directed towards men than women I hope you don't, its pretty uncomfortable and can lead to shingles later in life.

You are worrying too much Theresaaiza, because the precautions you are taking are very good to avoid any further contaminations, well the virus on those sheets will not last any longer and you will see how this stuff will be back to normal again.

Hi Theresaaiza, there is really no precise answer that you can get from anyone from that matter regarding the time the virus stays highly infectious on the sheets. Chickenpox is spread through contact from fluids from the rash, and airborne; meaning,when your brother sneezes,coughs,etc, the virus stays suspended in the air for some time. You probably have been exposed already even before the rashes appeared on your brother. There is a vaccine for prevention of chickenpox, but if you have been exposed to the virus for about 24-28 hours before the rashes come out, then chances are your risk of acquiring the virus is high. Make sure to wash your hands religiously and correctly and wear your mask at home.

Increase you immune sysem by drinking ascorbic acid 500mg BID. Drink lots of wate, have a good sleep... Since it is a viral infection, it cud easily spread...

Hello Thereas. I'm sorry about your brother getting the chicken pox. Fact about chicken pox is that it is contagious for 5 days before and 5 days after the rash appears. The virus can live on articles of clothing or bedding that has come in contact with the open sores of an infected person. After the sores are crusted over they are no longer contagious. Adults and children over 15 tend to be more miserable with them. What ever you do DON'T GIVE THEM ASPIRIN. since the combination might cause Reye Syndrome. After recovering from the virus it will live dormant for years and can resurface usually after the age of 50 as Shingles. They can be more miserable then the chicken pox. I had chicken pox as a small child. And last years as my Dr said a mild case of the shingles. To me it didn't seem mild. I still have an occasional left over irritation from the shingles. If your brother is still contagious I would wash his and since it sounds like you are sleeping in the same room your bedding in very hot water every day. The problem is you may carry the virus with out know it until you come down with the symptoms. Good luck with keeping yourself and your dad from getting the virus.

Yes, don't fear! Take the Homoeopathic preparation 'Variolinum 200' for three days in the morning in empty stomach, 6 or 7 gloubles at a time after washing your mouth! Avoid non-vegetarian food items for a week from starting of this medicine! This is a proven preventive for chicken-pox. Those virus are spread in air only and enter body by respiration! From the day of attack of illness, it is 7th to 11th day, during which it spreads by air. Its incubation period is about 11 days! Use this medicine and get rid of chiken-pox! Thanks for your query!

hi theresaaiza there is a vaccine out now to protect people who have never had pox from gettingit and having shingles later. Also in this modern day and age were not you vaccinated for chickenpox and measles and diptheria as a small child, most children in our area have to have those shots before starting school. I would ask your dad if you were vaccinated against it as a baby. five days before the spots break out and then five days, after that he is no longer contagious. I do not think you have to worry as long as his lesions did not break and leak onto your sheets. I would not worry about that, and I am surprised if you were not vaccinated against that as a child. In fact I dont think the virus would live very long out in the open on a sheet but I just could not find ou t any real help on the sheet part of it.but I would get the protective shot against the shingles.I had them three years ago for a whole summer, and well if you do not have to go through that all the better, as it hurts like a zillion little electricity zaps going through your system. You see thevirus is attacking your nerves themselves that is why the pain.

I don't know either, but why not go and get yourself vaccinated?

Did you know that there is a vaccine for chicken pox. Please contact your doctor about it.

Just wash them and hang them under the sun. Heat is known to obliterate any virus. The sun's heat even used to disinfect tap water.

My son had chicken pox, a couple of years ago, and I had to ring the GP for advice as I was pregnant at the time. I was 28 when my son contracted chicken pox. I was so worried that I might get it, or my unborn baby may be effected, but thankfully we were all ok. I can tell you though that I was told that the person who has chicken pox, is only infectious as the spots are coming out, once the spots are out that is when they stop becoming contagious... so you may be ok! Adults can get shingles, which is a lot worse than chicken pox, but your GP can give you medication to help, of you do get chicken pox or shingles.