How do you know if a 2.5YO has chickenpox?

[mamadiva]

DS has always had bad eczema but it calmed down for a bit, now he has come out in spots(like plukes/zits) on his face there is 3/4 and on his arms there are 5/6 and 2 on his legs, this doenst sound like chicken pox to me but what else could it be?

He hasnt been well for last 2 weeks witha cold just started getting over it when spots appeared, but last night he didnt sleep at all and I have a killer sore throat whenever I swallow and have a headache think he has the throat thing as whenever he coughed last night he woke up.

We are going to nurse about his skin later but does anyone know if she will be able to take a looka t and prescribe anything for his throat?

Couldnt get a docs appointment till next week so i need to wait till Tuesday

[ZoeC]

Chicken pox generally starts on the torso and works outwards so if he has no spots on his body then it's likely to not be checken pox. Might just be a viral reaction I guess? The nurse will know better I'm sure.

They are more reluctant to prescribe for things like sore throats nowadays so you might find you have to let it ride it's course - it's probably viral anyway so nothing they can prescribe for that.

Hope you both feel better soon.

[Dottoressa]

Chickenpox in both my DCs (who also suffer from eczema) started with lots of spots on their backs/chests, followed by spots absolutely everywhere (hands, arms, legs, feet, hair, mouth...). Once the body spots appeared, the rest came on very quickly!

I think that's a bit disgraceful about the GP, though. Our GP will always see children on the same day, just to be on the safe side. Why can't they all do this?

[mamadiva]

I know is a PITA nurse will see any day because hes a child but dont know how much they can do, not disrespecting nurse obviously just thought they were more for taki9ng stitches out etc. Although is new health centre so maybe different there.

[missingtheaction]

Nurse will probably be able to diagnose chicken pox - and probably be able to get you an urgent apt with doctor if she thinks it's necessary.

If chicken pox then it's viral so no 'cure' as such but she will be able to tell you how to help.

[mamadiva]

Well for anyone who is interested am back from nurses and....

DS has chickenpox

PFB ALERT! My poor lil boy how do I deal with it?

I bought nurofen and E45 itch relief cream as nurse said calomine lotion because of eczema.

Any tips would be great and she said it will get worse what can I expect?

[LyraSilver]

Baking soda in the bath helps with the itch... my ds2 had a very bad dose , loads of spots everywhere and eczema too, he was also prescibed antihistamine to help with the itching.

[mamadiva]

Thanks Lyra, do they get ill or anything along with the spots? Sorry for being dim but cant remember anyone having chickenpox

[Wheelybug]

piriton worked v. well for the itching here. Helped dd sleep at night at the worst points. Good luck !

[mamadiva]

Does anyone have any advice on how to cope with a throat infection and DS with chickenpox?

I have noo energy at all and I have to work all weekend!

[littleducks]

DD has chicken pox as i discovered at 2 am! Good luck!

[Dottoressa]

Good job I am not a medic.

Poor DS. We coated ours in calamine lotion - didn't realise that we could also have used anti-histamine. Good luck!

[lizziemun]

For dd2 who had chicken pox at 14mth i used calamine and piriton to help with the itching. The piriton also help to settle her to sleep.

All spots are out by 4/5 days after the first one and crusted over by about 10days.

I have to say once the spots appeared she was no longer ill.

[TheGrillerPedant]

definitely baking soda in the bath, plenty of it.

Just luck of the draw how bad it gets I'm afraid.

Both DDs had it, DD2 super-ill for a week and with awful crater-like spots which left big scars. DD1 had very few spots and was not very well for about a day.

[nappyzonehasastroppytoddler]

Oh just seen this - shall we start a support thread? I have just got the call this afty at work - ds 24 months and a week was spotfree and happy at 8am but now has 6 and is sleeping... He is whiney at best of times - i am dreading the coming days....

[littleducks]

yes lets have a support thread!

i thought chicken pox season was March-May so must be mild weather or something as it going the rounds

[nappyzonehasastroppytoddler]

Go on then little ducks start one in chat as if i do it will only be one insert long as i am a thread killer! . Perhaps it is mutant pox!

[littleducks]

ok, is here come over mamadiva too!