Shingles in 7yo?

[DinosApple]

Anyone got any experience of this?

DD2 has a very shingles like rash which we showed the doc yesterday. She is well in herself, but had pain in the area before the rash appeared around 5 days ago. Now she's just very itchy.

The doctor said if DD had been in her 60s there would be no doubt and she would have prescribed antivirals, but because she's 7 she contacted the paediatric team and spoke to them. They've said it's very unlikely to be shingles. They didn't examine DD themselves and just spoke to the doc.

Obviously if it is shingles I need to keep her off holiday club, away from MIL'S care home and away from friends with babies.

Is there a test for it? I suppose it's a bit late for antivirals if it is confirmed.

If DD does have shingles is it just one of those things or indicative of an underlying issue/run downedness?

I think I'll probably call the surgery later and see what they say but I just wanted to hear if anyone's child had had shingles?

It's rare, but possible; I'm a GP and have seen it once in a young child. Shingles isn't generally contagious unless there direct contact with the rash, so keeping it covered is adequate. Antivirals need to be started in the first 72 hours so that window has passed by now. Hope she has a speedy recovery

Yes my DD had it at 10. First suggested by my friend whose DD had had it even younger, then confirmed by GP. Pharmacist hadn't even considered it, but GP had no doubt and said she'd seen some other young ones with it recently.

Perhaps the virus is evolving.

DD did attend activities once it was scabbed - I think NHS says it's not a reason to stay off work/school, and by the time we'd realised what it was it was pretty much all scabbed anyway. But I'd err on the side of caution with the care home and babies.

Thank you both.

As I thought with the antivirals then, nevermind she seems happy in herself.

The rash looks a bit fiercer today, but some of the outer blisters have burst. I'll keep it covered up and update the doc when she calls back later.

Thank you again.

Mine had it at ten as well. Totally fine in himself, bit of tingling as the rash came out but that was it. The GP said that it wasn't infectious as long as it was covered and sent him back to school. I've heard of several children having it in the past year or two so maybe the virus is changing.

my DS had it a few months ago, fine in himself, saw GP who confirmed, covered the rash and he went to school. The only issue now is that the rash has scarred a bit on his back, but i'm guessing that will fade in time.

My DS had it twice! At 7 and 9 I think.Worried it ment something "wrong"-nope fit as a flea!

There's no need to isolate her if the rash can be covered. Only the blisters are contagious. It's not airborne.