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My DD is 19 months. We had to collect her from nursery today as she has chicken pox (confirmed by GP). Just now, she only has a few spots.

I'm just looking for general advice and experiences of this. What will it be like and does anyone have any tips on how to minimize scratching and discomfort for her.

Dr has prescribed calamine lotion and anti histamine syrup.

Thanks

Baths with lots of bicarb mixed in are good.

keeping her body cool will lessen the eruption of new spots
so if you can let her be without a nappy at times

There's a gel from boots chemist called viragel which was marvellous. Blue tube. About a tenner but goes an awful long way!

Once the fever goes its just spots in hindsight although I was very worried when dd caught it recently at 2 it was pretty simple just a bit unsightly, the younger possibly is easier as easier to distract from scratching.

Thanks so much for these. Zuleika, sorry to be silly, but is bicarb, bicarbonate soda? How much would you put in a bath would you say?

Great advice so far! Does anyone know when I'll know the severity of it? She has (very roughly) ten spots just now.

Yes, bicarbonate of soda - about four tablespoons in a bath.

Kids Piriton syrup (antihystermine)
Pox Clin mousse
Get a muslin cloth, put a portion of porridge oats in it (even instant porridge), tie it up and grow it in her bath (oats very soothing)

We did all of that and DS hardly scratched at all (almost 3 when he had it almost 2 months ago now).

All three of my boys had chicken pox in quick succession over Xmas. They range in age 18 mo to 5. The severity varied from child to child, my oldest got it the mildest and the two younger ones were worse. The spots and temperature hit its peak about 2-3 days in then gradually cleared until all spots had scanned over at around 7 days after first symptoms. We used Piriton and a bit of calamine cream on the baby as he was very sore around his nappy area. Hope your little one is better soon.

*Scabbed over

My 16 month old has just had it. He was spotty, had a runny nose, ran a temperature one night but was totally fine. Completely unconcerned by the spots. I was all prepared for scratching and scarring, but it ended up being a total non-event so no need to panic just yet.

porridge baths - put few handfuls of porridge in old tights, soak in hot water, and soak water & tights to bath & squeeze it lots. Really soothing and lovely.

DD was 3 when she got it & I told her if she scratched she's get more spots - it worked. SHe hardly scratched at all and she had 100's of spots. Your LO might be too young for this tactic though.

My 5 yo DS had a really bad case before Christmas.
Bicarb in the bath was a godsend, and I put porridge oats in a pop sock and tied it up, he enjoyed playing with it and it was nice and moisturising too.

He unfortunately ended up with really bad cellulitis and was hospitalised with IV antibiotics, even though he didn't scratch, so keep any eye out for that - he had huge areas of redness and swelling that developed lines tracking away from them all over his body, and huge pustules on the spots, it was really grim, and he was screaming in pain - he's usually a brave boy so it was a shock!!!

Another vote for virasoothe gel. Expensive but well worth it. I used it on all Of my three when they got the pox and none of them itched (didn't even have to crack the piriton open!) it can be hard going when they are feeling so miserable with it but at least you can feel smug next time it's doing the rounds of playgroups and school!

Thanks everyone. Great tip. I think I'll need to get lots of these things. The spots are getting worse, although some seem to have a yellowish scab/head on them. Is this normal?

Thanks for the head's up about cellulitis IliveinaPineapple - I'll keep a close eye.

Thanks again everyone!

When DS had CP he got 4 questionable spots in the Monday night - which did nothing and GP told me it was cellulitis - they exploded in size and number on the Saturday, accompanied by bronchitis - and were unquestionably CP. spots popped out for about 3 days, then began to subside. We had a pox free week end, then DD had her first spot on Monday night, peaked on Thursday and got bronchitis the following week.

Poxclin is marvellous.

My 7, 5 and 2 year old have just got over the chicken pox. I got Virasoothe from Boots - bloody brilliant - no itching, no mess. That and a little Piriton really worked wonders.

I had CP as an adult and got it from my 9mo son. Yes to bicarbonate - it is brilliant and I was happiest in the bath. Lots of Piriton - use the maximum dose for age. Also, calamine didn't work but any good anti itch cream works well.