The Unforgettable Experience of Catching an Infectious Disease from a Student

As educators, the importance of maintaining good health cannot be overstated, especially in the face of infectious diseases. One particular instance during my tenure as a teacher involved catching chicken pox from a student in Texas, drawing critical attention to the potential for such incidents in classrooms.

Caught Chickens Pox in My First Year of Teaching

Back in 1988, during my first year of teaching high school in Texas, I found myself unexpectedly dealing with a case of chicken pox. At the young age of 25, and as someone who had never been vaccinated for this preventable illness, it was a shock when a student I had had in class came down with chicken pox. He returned to school too soon, likely spreading the disease to me.

One day, I lent a pencil to this student due to his need to catch up on classwork and homework. A few days later, I began to show some unusual skin blemishes on my chest and back. These weren't itchy, but rather painful and caused me to feel extremely fatigued, especially in my legs. My sister recognized the signs of chicken pox, and we went to the doctor. To our dismay, the diagnosis confirmed my sister's suspicions. I spent the next seven days at home dealing with the spread of the rashes, which were incredibly painful rather than itchy. Aspirin provided the only relief, but I was still feeling weak, both mentally and physically. This was despite my usual level of fitness as a wrestling coach.

Lessons from a Twelve-Year Homeschooling Background

Having been homeschooled for about a dozen years, my exposure to infectious diseases was naturally limited. However, my experience as a teacher in Peru ten to fifteen years later proved to be quite different. Despite getting a variety of vaccines before my move to Peru, chicken pox was not on the list. This was typical for people my age growing up in developed countries with comprehensive vaccination schedules.

Fast forward to my position as a kindergarten teacher in Lima, Peru, I began to see students missing from class with chicken pox. It was inevitable, and it seemed to be a routine occurrence in the early years of the school year. On the last day before winter break, I experienced a very serious onset of symptoms, including a facial rash, fatigue, and body aches. These symptoms were severe enough to make a flu or the common cold seem mild in comparison.

After school, with the prospect of grading papers and filling out reports, I was too tired to continue. As the night wore on, the severity of my symptoms intensified, and when I woke up, the rash was all over my chest. I misdiagnosed it as a result of not changing my sweaty nightgown, but my husband recognized the signs and confirmed what I had feared — I had chicken pox.

Unique Aspects of Adult Chicken Pox

Having chicken pox as an adult is notably more severe than during childhood, which has many implications for teachers. Factors such as the presence of more control and presence of mind can reduce the tendency to scratch. In my case, I managed to avoid scratching my rash, only receiving a minor scar from one instance where I did scratch a particularly itchy area.

The reaction to the news of this transmission was largely amusing; most people find the idea of an adult contracting chicken pox quite humorous, despite the discomfort it causes. For teachers like me, it serves as a reminder of the importance of staying healthy and the potential dangers of close contact with students.

Conclusion

As a teacher, one must maintain a high level of health to effectively manage the unique challenges of the classroom. From personal experiences, it's clear that common infectious diseases can and do affect teachers, though precautions and a robust set of vaccines can mitigate these risks. Getting sick from a student can be both a lesson and a reminder of the need to stay vigilant and healthy.