chickenpox??

[moodlesoup]

my friend and her son have just come down with chicken pox and i'm worried i might have symptoms. i am a bit itchy, but they are like mosquito bites, but i have a headache and sore glands. my DD1 (only 9 months) is a bit off colour, just not herself but no itching. should i be worried?

[seamonster]

Have you not already had it?
It does sound a bit like it I'm afraid, but you will probably get it worse than your daughter.
If you're not pregnant then you will be fine.

[moodlesoup]

bugger it! i'll try and think positively and hope i haven't. i'm a freelance right now and i don't get paid for sickleave so i'm screwed if i have to be off sick (as husband is out of work!!) thanks for reassurance re daughter.

[seamonster]

Do you know how to deal with it, I'm guessing yes if your friend has it

[moodlesoup]

No, she's gone into quarantine! Have you got some tips? Thanks seamonster!

[kiera]

you'll soon find out if the spots spread and blister or not. chicken pox is very obvious. hope you don't have it - not nice!

btw ds1 aged 3 1/2 just had it but his brother aged 8 months no sign of it yet and they were both around the infectious person he got it off. ds2 has been a bit off-colour however but no spots/fever - so your dd may not get it even if you do - ds1's pre-school said they don't often get it if aged under 1, or only very mildly. my friend had it and her twin girls aged 2 months didn't!

[kiera]

get some chamomile lotion and cotton wool balls in! and ibuprofen/paracetamol for both of you for the fever if you have one.

[moodlesoup]

Thank you!
i'm itching all over and they are just red pin prick spots so am hoping not...

[kiera]

medised is good too. ds1 had a runny nose with it. makes them drowsy too - helps them sleep through itchy nights.

[seamonster]

Sorry, school, tea, bed.....
Personally I don't like calamine lotion I remember it drying itchy.
Frequent luke warm baths with bicarbonate of soda are good for itching, fever and feeling fed up.
Calpol etc for dd1, but not sure about piriton etc for her, I've a feeling they are for 12 mths +. (Check with GP or similar)
It would definately help you though.
Wear as little as poss, she could get away with a nappy, and if you're brave try taking it off every now and then if she's spotty.
The spots will eventually get creamish coloured almost shiny blisters, they look almost like lentils (but not orange!)
Hope it helps.

[lilolilmanchester]

aveeno granules in bath water worked for mine on a friend's recommendation. looks and smells like sheep dip but effective. Would second the piriton also.

[Notquitegrownup]

Chickenpox can be very mild and no trouble at all, or fairly horrid. Do get Piriton in for you too, if you get it. It was the only thing that kept me sane when I had chickenpox badly as an adult.

The spots come in three waves, three days apart, and each wave tends to go to a different area of the body, so new spots can arrive for 9 days.

Lightweight gloves are useful for preventing scratching, as if you scratch the spots they can leave a scar. A lightweight headscarf in the hair can be nice if you have them in your hair.

The spots can go into any orifice of the body, although ears and throat seem to get it more often, but it can be in more painful places, so be prepared if either of you do get uncomfortable in eyes or bottoms. I had it in my mouth and throat which was horrid. I found that I could only eat soup or jelly with grapes in, as they were wonderfully chilly and soothing when swallowed.

I didn't find that calamine helped either. Long baths were gloriously soothing.

Hope that you guys are in for a mild dose.

[Toothyboy]

Piriton is for over 1's for over the counter, but my pharmacist told me your GP can prescribe it for under 1's and she had seen it prescribed for very small babies so get in touch with your GP for a prescription at the first sign that dd has it.

[moodlesoup]

thanks everyone. lots of brilliant advice. muchappreciated.