Is this chickenpox?

[Cheerybigbottom]

Ds (5) had what I thought were two pimples on his face last night. Woke up this morning with clusters of these white headed spots on face (2 in nostril as well, looked full of clear fluid).

I called the gps office to query seeing a nurse or gp, told go to pharmacist they can confirm if it's chickenpox.

Pharmacist looked clueless as to why I was asking her opinion. Said chickenpox usually starts on trunk, to call gps again.

Called gps, receptionist asks if son is otherwise well (yes, he had a viral infection 4-7th April where he had high fever and vomiting/viral rash but he's well now). Receptionist says consider chickenpox a working diagnosis, see how he goes, if he gets a fever or seems ill to call back.

Well, is this typical of the chickenpox diagnostic process? 🤔😒

I include a picture for everyone to throw new conditions into the ring. Since 9am one more spot has appeared on neck. Itching has calmed with piriton and poxclin use (£10.20!)

[Cheerybigbottom]

Oh big crusty spot was one of the two pimples spotted last night. Maybe that's how quick a chicken pox spot crusts over?

[LIZS]

Is it anywhere else? CP usually starts with odd spots on trunk, behind ear etc and don't have white heads immediately. Could be hand foot and mouth or impetigo.

[Cheerybigbottom]

LIZS it's nowhere else 🤔 will look those conditions up as honestly I've no idea

[Cheerybigbottom]

Well I was beginning to think hand foot and mouth seemed most likely, but he has no spots anywhere else still. A couple tiny ones lower down neck. He is fit as a fiddle though and just spent 30 mins on the wii doing a sword game and now he's wanting dinner so no general illness symptoms. 😐

[dementedpixie]

Doesn't look like chickenpox. Impetigo?

[cocodidit1]

You will know more in the next few hours- chicken pox multiply rapidly.
it could be hand foot and mouth or the pox

[Whirltime]

It doesn't look like chickenpox to me. My ds3 just had chickenpox confirmed by pharmacist.
It looks more like hand foot and mouth. My eldest had that last year looks just like what your ds looks like.

[Whirltime]

If you Google hand foot and mouth images definitely looks like that.

[Whirltime]

Also chicken pox doesn't always multiply rapidly my ds3 only had 20 spots and when ds1 had them years ago only had 8 spots.

[highinthesky]

Is it restricted to the local area?

It looks like impetigo to me, this unfortunately spreads with touch. Book an appointment with your GP.

And ffs find a new pharmacist.

[Cheerybigbottom]

I thought if it was chicken pox it would spread over his body throughout the day. It's just in the face and neck area. Will call gp for appointment (I can tell receptionist will be dying for an update on her diagnosis).

Also wish I could get a new pharmacist, nice fella left in 2016 after 20 years and it's only ever temporary people now.

[highinthesky]

Keep an eye on its progress, and please discourage DS from touching or picking at it. Its not going anywhere untreated so insist on that appointment.

Keep an eye on his temperature and glands as well.

[Cheerybigbottom]

Oh highinthesky whatever it could be I've been insisting he keep hands off his face but he tries as I'm constantly washing them. I had chickenpox at 10 and gouged the scabs out my face leaving me with classic pox scars.

Our walk in gp service has just this April 1st turned into an urgent appointment clinic only, but I don't think it's 'urgent'. Quite satisfied I can press the gp's guards to be seen tomorrow though. They will ask if it's an emergency but no it's not but neither can it wait 10 working days 😄

DH's been showing the pic at work and asking for opinions. He's never had chickenpox and he's terrified 😄

[Cheerybigbottom]

thank you everyone, the winner was IMPETIGO 🤡🤝🏆🎊🎉

[highinthesky]

Thank you (takes a bow).

I'd be a sad bitch and unfit to practice if I got that one wrong!

[Cheerybigbottom]

are you a nurse highinthesky? We went to the nurse clinic and we're hadn't got in the room before she said oh someone's got impetigo! We got an ointment and a malteaser rabbit each for being good