How bad can chickenpox get?

[Debs75]

DD3(27M) has chicken pox, caught from dd2. When dd2 had it she was barely covered and it never bothered her. DD3 is covered from head to toe, new ones erupting all the time. She is very irritable and has been sick twice. Her temp is also up but she can't have calpol as she isn't keeping anything down. This morning she has slept most of the time, been sick twice had a drink of water and a warm bath to help the itching and now she is nodding off again. I was going to breastfeed her as she ends to keep that down when she is ill.
Obviously I can't take her to doctors as she is contagious but what else can i do for her and could it get worse than this?

[Seeline]

You can take her to the doctors - when my DD had it badly, she had spots inside her ears (down the tube bit, not the shell although they were there too)and I thought she had an ear infection. I rang the GP and told them we were coming and they put us straight in to an empty cupboard office until the GP could see us.
Hope she feels better soon.

[hazeyjane]

The dr should see you if you are worried, just request a side room to wait in, to keep away from other patients.

Do any of the spots look infected?

You could ask for suppositories to use instead of Calpol, we have used these with ds, when he is unable to keep anything down.

[Notquite]

Can you speak to the gp on the phone before trying the cupboard option? DD1 was sick and feverish with chicken pox, gp reassured me on the phone. If they think she needs to be checked out, infection control can be discussed then.

[TheSkiingGardener]

Chicken pox can have serious complications. Phone your GP and they will make arrangements for you to be seen.

[LovesBeingAtHomeForChristmas]

Ale site you check her mouth and they can pop up in mouth and throat.

[HappyTurquoise]

I'm concerned that her temperature is high and not keeping Calpol down, also being sick - I don't think that's usual (but I might be forgetting what it was like, and I don't have experience of babies with it). Turn the heating down for her, use cooler bath water than usual, and don't wrap her up to help lower her temperature. You're doing the right thing giving her water to keep her fluids up. Could you express some milk and put it in the fridge - you could give it to her a little cool to help lower her temperature.

Phone doctor- you might be able to arrange an appointment time to take her at the end of the day, when you won't be in contact with other patients.

As someone else said, keep checking her mouth & airways.
Use water based calamine lotion (not the oil based ones) dabbed on the spots to help dry out the pus and stop it spreading.


In extremely rare cases, people die, there are a few deaths each year. (Not usually children, 75% of deaths from chicken pox in UK are adults, but it has been known [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1210300/Chickenpox-killed-son-How-little-boy-died-just-weeks-spots-appeared.html for example]] ).

[HappyTurquoise]

On second thoughts, I'm glad that link didn't work, don't read it. I just wanted to stress it can be dangerous and it is worth making sure you get your DD seen by a doctor, and if necessary pushing for a stay in hospital if needed - it can be that serious, and not all health care providers seem to be aware as for the great majority it is a relatively minor disease.

[Debs75]

Thanks for replying everyone. She has spots everywhere, covering her scalp, her eyelids, on her tongue and in her ears, right down to her toes.
she has slept most of today which seems to of helped. She wants food now, have given her some water so I am evil mummy now. She has managed to keep that and some calpol down so i think she is hopefully on the mend.
Will keep an eye on her tonight and see how she is in morning.

[HappyTurquoise]

Poor thing, no wonder she is sleeping, she must be exhausted fighting it off!

Hope you are getting plenty of rest too.

Can she take Piriton syrup? It will really help when the pocks start to crust and get itchy. Have just re-read her age...My DD2 was about that age when she had it, with her sister. her Winnie The Pooh also got it (round red stickers) and home made play-dough was a great distraction during the recovery days. I took lots of photos of them because I thought that by the time they have children, there will probably be a vaccine against this.

Having them inside the mouth is a concern, because a young child's airways are that much smaller. Also crusty skin inside eyelids would be a worry.

[Debs75]

Definitely going to ring docs in morning due to the spots in mouth and her eyelid. She has 2 on her tongue and she was finding it hard to drink earlier. She has perked up and is happily running about and playing for a couple of hours ater the calpol. She does look very tired now though, as am I

[dairymoo]

My twin DDs had CP recently and one ended up in hospital for a two night stay with infected spots (had temps of well over 40 & was put on IV antibiotics) and the other one had it even worse (was utterly & completely covered, not a spare bit of skin anywhere, also v high temps) and was eventually given acyclovir (anti-virals) and antibiotics as she was so poorly. So, in answer to your question, yes, take her in. Apparently if they get them in their throat (as both of mine did) there is a risk of developing pneumonia. Also spots on eyelids need to be looked at as there is a risk of eye infection.

Just ring before you go and ask to sit somewhere away from everyone else. Hope she is better soon. CP can be so horrible.

[Seeline]

My DD liked ice lollies. Helped get fluids in, kept her cool, and I think helped with spots in mouth and throat. Poor little thing - it's a horrible bug. I had it when I was 15 and have never felt so ill.
Tepid baths with lots of bicarb in also helped

[Nonky]

Hello I am currently in a similar situation to you. My eldest son (5) as been very very Ill this week. Spots everywhere, in his ears, mouth, down his throat, eye lids etc. I went to the doctors three times in 5 days as he couldn't talk and spent the whole week asleep. The doctors kept telling me to give him calpol to bring down his soaring temp. Every time he had calpol he was sick. Eventually in desperation I took him to out of hours on Thursday night where a lovely nurse gave him paracetamol suppositories. I continued with these yesterday. The change has been amazing and finally we seem to be on our way up!! My 2 year old has also had chicken pox this week and apart from being a bit sleepy and itchy has been fine.

If I'd had any idea how ill my son would've been I would've had him vaccinated against chicken pox at a private hospital. The cost would've been a small price to pay compared to his suffering this week. Xx

[dikkertjedap]

Paracetamol suppositories can be bought over the counter at many pharmacies, although they may need to order them in (usually very quick, eg next day). Some people behind the counter may think that you need a prescription, this is not correct.

[Debs75]

Well DD is loads better now. All the spots seem to be out and are starting to crust over. Her temp has gone down and she is no longer sick. She has even started potty training as her bum is pretty sore. Her tongue looks really sore but she has started eating so it can't be as bad as it looks
Went to the chemist and they said to keep her hydrated and have got some of the calpol suppositries on order, which may well come in handy another illness.

[HappyTurquoise]

So glad your DD is on the mend, was worried about her temperature etc. for a bit there.

Sounds as though you have a helpful parmacist. There could be snow on the way, so good you got stocked up on what you need.

Those paracetamol suppositories sound like a useful addition to the family medicine cupboard. (Especially if you have to order them to get hold of any.)