What were the first signs of chickenpox in your DC?

[outofyourhand]

DS (9) has not had chickenpox before.

He's had a hacking cough and temp for two days, and he's been out of sorts. I just put it down to a normal winter virus thing. But this evening I have noticed he's got a faint (blanching) spotty rash on his back. Just been up to check on him and he's sweating buckets but with no temperature

My suspicion is chickenpox. If your DC have had it, were these similar to the initial symptoms?

For mine, the blisters were the first symptom - no sign of illness until about 24 hours later when the fever started. No rash or red dots, straight to blisters. But I gather this is unusual.

Could it be hand foot and mouth? Mine recently had it and were really poorly a couple of days before the rash appeared and it started on their bums and legs.

Blisters here too - just a few, then a day later he was covered. He wasn't unwell until the spots appeared.

Both mine had a spot or two as the first symptom. Rapidly followed by more spots the next day and then poorly the day after that.

Low end of term mood for a few days.

One spot on her finger... then 12 hours later hundreds of the buggers. (Was bad case... hospital)

Spots were the first sign here as well. In fact, they were the only sign as otherwise he was perfectly normal without a temperature or sign of illness.

That’s what they looked like when they first appeared. Sadly it did not stay that way!

Hope it’s not chicken pox - if it’s not, and you can find the money, I would consider vaccinating privately. Really wish we had (twins, one straight after the other so lasted a month, both got infections - absolutely brutal).

Grumpiness. It was also the last symptom to go.

@SinkGirl Funnily enough I had actually recently considered vaccinating. Typical.

I have attached a pic of the rash. Trying not to drip feed, but also didn't want to be one of those 'PLEASE DIAGNOSE MY CHILD OVER THE INTERNET' threads. I'm not looking for that. If he is still unwell in the morning I'll phone the GP or 111.

That photo doesn’t look like CP to me but I think you will know by tomorrow morning as they will be blistering.

My had rashes for the 2 weeks and we thought it was a virus but one Saturday afternoon this is what we found

Son

Does not look like chicken pox yet. See what he looks like in the morning.

Thank you. I will do.

First sign was one red spot on her stomach. Seemed fine up till then. Quickly developed spot-wise with temp and generally unwell once she had a few more crops of spots.

The spots were the only symptom for all of my three. None were otherwise at all unwell with it. All managed to get it in school holidays, so not even any time off there.

Mine had redder spots than that, more like pimples to start with.

I was 11 and vividly recall seeing a blister on my inner, upper arm. (I still have the scar!) Next day I had fluid filled blisters all over- including in vagina
Really awful and there is the risk of permanent scars- even from spots that weren't scratched! I too recommend the vaccine if not done so.

A strange spot that looked a bit like a big zit. Then we noticed another and then another... By the end of the first day there were a few. By the next day there were millions, especially on dc2 who was absolutely covered from head to toe. Neither child had a fever or anything though.

As a child I spent a day complaining there was something in my eye. The following day, well I know what Elouera went through.

As ab adult, I didn't have CP but I did once get a heat rash from having a high temp.

I hope it's not CP OP

A few spots and no other symptoms at all! He was adamant the spots didn't itch so was pretty low key!

Ds1 started with a slight cough. Had a day of just being a bit quiet. Then woke up the following day with his torso covered in pink spots. He ended up absolutely covered in them.
Ds2 was a baby at the time and the first sign was a spot on his scalp.

A couple of spots at the 7am, that by 10am were many many spots. He had been a bit grumpy for a day or two before but was 18mo so I had put it down to teething.

Ds had very mild chicken pox, low grade fever and felt fine after day two, spots scabbed over by then and not too itchy (though he did get doused in calamine pretty regularly to be on the safe side).

Thanks all, I appreciate the responses.

DS is much better this morning and the rash has died right down, so I think we might have got away with it.

Book that jab!

Mine often get viral rashes that just go away. But if I could go back in time and pay for that jab I would! DT1 especially has a lot of scarring, including some on his face which are fading but not sure they will ever go. I think we did have an unusually bad time of it and others get lucky but still. I can’t imagine how painful it must have been for them - I can’t imagine having giant pustules all over my most sensitive bits (genitals, eyes, mouth etc). Just horrid. And as they get older it gets more of a risk.

Really grouchy, tired and whiney for 48hours, then a spot which looked like a mosquito bite. Within another 48 hours he was covered in spots