Possible chickenpox and going to nursery

[lilysma]

I just posted this in general health instead of kids by accident, so apologies for posting twice.

I suspect my DD (2.5) may have chickenpox. She goes to nursery which has had cases and had a fever (38) on and off yesterday and was more tired than usual although fine within herself. This afternoon she has some spots on her arms. Not many but they are definitely new. I gather that if they have blistered tomorrow this will be the definitive sign, but if they haven't blistered or multiplied, do you think I'm okay to send her to nursery on the grounds that I'm not sure, or is that desperately selfish??!! If I'm possibly going to be off work with her for a week or more I could really do with going in tomorrow! I gather that they are infectious for several days before the spots appear so she will probably have infected everyone else today but I genuinely didn't know she might have it. What do you reckon??

[pocketmonster]

I don't think a person is contagious once the spots appear - its for the 2 weeks before. So not selfish re other kids, but you might find your DD feels a bit off colour - particularly if they're itchy.

[LovelyRitaMeterMaid]

From my experience of DS and DD having chicken pox, if it is CP then you will know by tomorrow.

They are contagious for at least 5 days after the spots have appeared btw

[PerfectPrefect]

it is 5 days from appearance of first spot.

You shouldn't really send a child with any rash to nursery.

If she still has the rash she shouldn't go.

[bigstripeytiger]

You are contagious for 2 days before the first spot appears.

[mrsnoname]

They will send her home anyway.

[nappyaddict]

Chicken pox is contagious 2 days before the rash appears and 5 days after. It can take up to 10 days for the rash to appear once they have been infected by somebody else. I wouldn't keep her off for 10 days just in case she gets it tbh.

DS had a really bad temperature before half term. He was feverish, thirsty, lethargic, had a bad cough and was vomitting. I assumed chicken pox because it's been going around playgroup and toddlers for months but it was just a D&V bug in the end. Obviously I kept him off anyway cos of the vomitting but in future if he had these symptoms again whilst CP was goin around I wouls still send him if he felt well enough to go because it doesn't necessarily mean it is the lead up to CP.

[MrsJamin]

Think about the scenario from the point of view of the parents of the other children at the nursery. I would be really annoyed if someone brought a spotty, contagious ill child to my DS's childcare.

[LovelyRitaMeterMaid]

What's she like today?

[lilysma]

Well, just the same few spots this morning with no change - they don't have blisters or anything and I would say there were only about 8 in all! I'm afraid I took her in - couldn't convince dh that it was CP so was less sure myself. This evening the spots have faded, so maybe he was right.

Nursery didn't say anything...they have definitely had cases there in the last couple of weeks so I guess she may well have been exposed, but it seems very difficult to avoid inadvertently exposing other kids before the symptoms come anyway iyswim, so in the end I wasn't really persuaded of the value of playing it cautious. I realise others may disagree and I'm still open to persuasion!

[heliotrope]

I reckon you're OK - had the same few spots on Tuesday night and wasn't sure but I really knew it was here this morning and there was no way I could take him.

So my experience would be that it comes up quite quickly and you'd know if you had it...

They are contagious before spots come out anyway.