I had chicken pox when I was 6. I spent several miserable days getting over the disease, and have a few permanent scars as a result. A couple of years ago, the chicken pox paid another visit in the form of shingles. The pain from that lasted over a year.
Some kids become so ill they die.
The year between 6 and 7 I had measles, chicken pox and whooping cough..
for each one I had to stay home from school for 3 weeks ...that was the required norm...
I dont remember being very sick with chicken pox but I was with the measles...
when I was 9 I had yellow jaundice and again 3 weeks at home...
where we lived the doctor came to the house..
He decided whether we went back to school when the 3 weeks was up...
I don’t remember any epidemics because the outbreaks were so controlled in those days..
every couple of years a few kids would be sick but no schools closed...