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Children's health

Chirken pox - what to use to soothe horrible itching???

21 replies

CocktailQueen · 24/09/2011 16:18

Calamine lotion and a special gel for CP (Pox clin?) not working. Poor old ds (age 4) has about 50 spots on his penis and testicles and they're so, so sore and itchy that he's in floods of tears. It has been a long day. :( He doesn't want a bath, calamine doesn't help - is there anything else we can try??????
Thanks.

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CocktailQueen · 24/09/2011 16:19

Chicken not chirken!!!!!

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cyb · 24/09/2011 16:20

I heard Bicarb of Soda in the bath helps

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cyb · 24/09/2011 16:20

IF you can get him in poor thing

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AmberLeaf · 24/09/2011 16:23

Eurax is good;

Eurax

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timidviper · 24/09/2011 16:27

Latest advice is DON'T use bicarb in the bath, apparently it does dry the spots up but can make them itch more. You should apparently use hydrating moisturising stuff like Aveeno or Oilatum in a coolish bath which will reduce itching and scarring.

Also the cooler the skin is, the less spots come out (which is why 'underwear areas' often are worst affected) so the cooler and less dressed he is the better for reducung spots coming out.

You can give him a paediatric antihistamine like Piriton which will also help and, if you do believe in homeopathy, I am informed that Rhus Tox can be effective.

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silverfrog · 24/09/2011 16:29

oats.

run a bath through a sockful of oats - lovely and soothing. it's what stuff like Aveeno is based on.

best thing possible.

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AmberLeaf · 24/09/2011 16:37

I has chicken pox as an adult and it was truely hellish Eurax did help though so I can back up my recommendation.

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stabbystabbykillkill · 24/09/2011 16:40

Eurax.

Calamine cream not lotion - it stays on better.

E45 anti-itch

Piriton

Bath with oats in a muslin tied to the taps then get him to dab on the spots

And ice cream, anything else he likes and tons and tons of sympathy

Poor wee mite.

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CocktailQueen · 24/09/2011 19:14

Thanks - hadn't realised about piriton so got some. Hasn't made any difference yet though - after 2 hours. I had hoped it would.

He still wears a sleep nappy - maybe that's why he has so many round there? so hope to God that doesn't make him get too hot and sweaty tonight. Poor love :(

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AmberLeaf · 24/09/2011 19:33

Bit late now but see if you can get him some of those dry nites type pads, you know like the huge pad things you sit on after you've had a baby?

Then you can leave him without a nappy maybe?

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CocktailQueen · 24/09/2011 19:41

Ah Amber - good idea!!!! Too late now but def yes for tomorrow. Didn't think of that! Also didn't want to leave him without a nappy as he really needs a good night's sleep, love him.

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iliketea · 24/09/2011 20:13

I used metanium when dd had chicken pox all round her bum and along her tummy where the nappy sits. It seemed to work for her (and I was worried the spots were going to end up infected round there)

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CocktailQueen · 24/09/2011 21:35

Argh. He's still awake :( He's had medicine, antihistamines, poxClin etc etc.

Have taken off his nappy and put a couple of towels under an extra sheet, to see if being cooler helps.

Have taken him downstairs with us while we had tea to see if that distracted him, but he so needs a kip. Fingers crossed for a good night's sleep for him!!

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HavePatience · 24/09/2011 21:41

Did you give him a bit more piriton? Our gp had us give a higher dose of piriton (can't remember exact dose) than usual and it soothed itch and made ds sleep.
Also calamine cream, not lotion. The cream is better, I'm not sure why.
Poor thing :(

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CocktailQueen · 24/09/2011 22:33

Patience Oh really? I rang our OOH surgery earlier, who recommend piriton, but she didn't say to give over the rec dose. Argh. He's asleep now. Will top up when (if?!) he wakes in the night. Yawn.
I know. :( DD has CP when she was 2 but much more mildly. Couldn't tell she was ill.

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sausagerolemodel · 24/09/2011 22:39

Check uits the right kind of piriton.The syrup is better than the piriteze because it has the sedative in it too, to calm and help him sleep.

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HavePatience · 24/09/2011 22:44

I can't remember how much I was allowed to give. Maybe ring back and ask? It will depend on weight but they said it was definitely safe to give their rec dose (which was more than stated on the bottle). it worked a charm but wasn't easy to get in him as it has a horrible taste.
Bicarbonate of soda in the bath is also soothing. Lots of it. Oats were a waste of time. I think the oatmeal bath is meant to just distract parents with a big mess!

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stabbystabbykillkill · 24/09/2011 22:46

I'd ring the OOH and ask them if you can dope him to the eyeballs give him a bit more piriton

You can give Calpol/Nurofen too remember

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beanandspud · 24/09/2011 22:53

We used a gel called (iirc) Virasoothe which was good.

Piriton syrop and Calpol at night helped DS sleep which was half the battle.

I also did the 'porridge oats in a sock in the bath' remedy. I don't know if it made it better but certainly didn't do any harm.

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beanandspud · 24/09/2011 22:54

Syrup not syrop - sorry.

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CocktailQueen · 25/09/2011 12:29

Thanks - am also alternating nurofen/calpol as often as allowed. It is the piriton syrup.

He had an OK night in the end. In my bed with me ;-) I put him to sleep naked ith towels under the sheets in case of an accident (he did, at 6am).

Slept at about 9, woke at 1am for painkillers etc, slept restlessly till about 6, had more painkillers etc, then went back to sleep with me till 8. He's playing outside now - seems to be better when he has lots to distract him - thanks all.

How many days should more spots appear?? this is day 4 now.