Chicken pox or something else?

[vvviola]

DD2 (16 months) had 3 red spots on her arm the day before yesterday, one of them with a tiny white bit in the centre. We figured it was an insect bite or something - she was in fine form, we were just back from a day at the beach.

I've just put her down for her afternoon nap and I've noticed a few more under her chin and one on her hand. The original spots haven't changed at all - no blister or scab. I mentioned the new spots to DH who said "do you think it could be chicken pox?". Honestly the thought had never occurred to me.

I'm now very stressed out at the thought we could have been exposing people to it - we went to a cafe for breakfast this morning, and to the DIY shop yesterday,

But surely if it was chicken pox the first spots should have blistered by now? We're into day 3 since they arrived and they look exactly the same as the ones that have just appeared today.

I think it's around at the moment here, but I don't know of any direct exposure she might have had.


Do chicken pox spots always blister? Do we stay home on the off-chance it is chicken pox even if they don't blister at all? And at what stage can we say it's unlikely to be pox & try to figure out what else it could be?

[MonaLotte]

It sounds like chicken pox. But they are contagious before the blisters show so I wouldn't beat yourself up about it. I would see if there are any more tomorrow and call out of hours if there are. Hope she is better soon x

[BeaWheesht]

Sounds like it to me. When dd has it she got loads of blisters straight away but when ds got it he had 2 tiny pimples for 2 days which I thought nothing of (and spent day with friends newborn ) and then suddenly a fever and the next day hundreds of spots - his came out slow and steady so he wasn't out and about until maybe day 9 or so. Dd on the other hand was all scabbed by day 3 (kept her in quarantine longer)

Make sure you have calpol: nurofen, piriton, bicarbonate of soda for baths, oats in tights for baths and I think poxcilin is ok if u can get it. Dd was 14m at the time and I'm pretty sure it was only Eurax cream I couldn't use on her...

[WhatSheSaid]

Hi Vvviola.

Don't stress about exposing others to it- like Monalotte says, it's contagious before the spots come out so there's no way to avoid exposing people. When my dd1 came out with her first chicken pox spot we were on the plane from the UK to NZ so everyone on the plane was exposed, but what could I do?

If it is chicken pox my dr prescribed Pinotarsal which is a liquid you put in the bath that relieves itching. She also prescribed Phenergan to relieve itching (this was 4 years ago and I'm not 100% sure if they prescribe it for under 2s anymore?). Dd1 never got itchy and it was all over in a few days anyway

With drs closed till the 3rd, if you want to know for sure if it is chicken pox, you will have one of those walk-in A and E places near you somewhere? Children under 6 are free at them, well, they are at our local one and I think its the same everywhere.

[vvviola]

Oh dear, I was kind of hoping someone would say there was no possible way it could be chicken pox.

I really hope DD1 got exposed at the same time because with back to back sessions we'd have to miss our holiday.


WSS - I've a pretty good walk in centre near me, so I might pop in there tomorrow. I'd forgotten nothing was back until the 3rd.

[vvviola]

Oh dear, I was kind of hoping someone would say there was no possible way it could be chicken pox.

I really hope DD1 got exposed at the same time because with back to back sessions we'd have to miss our holiday.


WSS - I've a pretty good walk in centre near me, so I might pop in there tomorrow. I'd forgotten nothing was back until the 3rd.

[AngryBeaver]

Hey vvv, when's your hols?
Not sure if it's The Pox. Probably need to see the GP to be certain. But don't stress about exposing people. DD had it days before we went to Spain. But they had scabbed over so we got a Fit To Fly certificate.
Ds1 then got it 2 days into hol. Just like a big red spot on his back that looked like a bite. But he scabbed over by the time we returned, so again we got the cert. Just incase the Airport were funny about us flying.

It's usually over pretty quickly.

Mine were a bit unser the weather, but not "unwell" per se.
Apparantly some kids don't even notice they have it!

[vvviola]

We're flying to Nelson on the 15th - so if it's just DD2 we should be fine. The issue will be if DD1 gets it from her, we might be cutting it fine.

In some ways I wouldn't mind them having it now - other than the holiday I don't need to be anywhere or go to lectures etc., and when Mum gets back, I'll have a bit of medical experience on site too.

But still. Pox. Yuk. Poor kids.

[BeaWheesht]

Please don't go to the walk in centre and expose already ill people.

[vvviola]

BW - don't worry, if I'm going to the walk-in centre or the GP, I'll call and tell them first that it's suspected chicken pox & let them tell me if/how/when to turn up.

[vvviola]

I'm even more confused. This morning some of the spots on her chin had totally disappeared and a few on her arm had really reduced. But now this evening she has more on her arms, and they look a little more classically "poxy".

Beginning to think we've been dealing with 2 different sets of spots maybe. 1 lot heat/allergy related (so disappeared overnight) and then the pox ones.

She's still in great form.

[AngryBeaver]

How did you get on?

[vvviola]

Hand foot & mouth! Doc reckons its the end stages of it, and probably explains her being a bit out of sorts on Christmas Day.

So we're released from quarantine

[AngryBeaver]

Ahhhhh! I remember dd had that when she was 2. Oh well, mystery solved.
Hope she is on the mend soon x