Dr Pat Gilbert replies:
To answer your final question - usually one attack of chickenpox gives immunity for life, but on rare occasions a second attack can occur, usually mild. Also, was the diagnosis of your original attack as a child certain?
The most infectious time for chickenpox is a few days before the spots appear and the time when new 'crops' of the rash appear. Once all the spots have crusted over, the risk of passing the disease on is almost negli-gible, although some authorities think the serum-like fluid in the blisters can be a source of infection. As you work with children it was probably thought wise to be sure all possibility of infection had passed before you returned.
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