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Original poster

Is this chickenpox? Pic attached

28 replies

Moonshinebaby · 15/12/2024 12:58

My 4 year old son has lots of pimples on his belly. There are some on his back as well.

Does this look like chickenpox to you?

Can I send him to school like this tomorrow?

He's otherwise well in himself.

Thanks for your advice xx

Is this chickenpox? Pic attached
OP posts:
dementedpixie · 15/12/2024 13:02

If they are little blistery spots then it could be chickenpox. If they aren't forming blisters then it will be some other type of rash

Original poster
Moonshinebaby · 15/12/2024 13:04

dementedpixie · 15/12/2024 13:02

If they are little blistery spots then it could be chickenpox. If they aren't forming blisters then it will be some other type of rash

From my understanding it takes a couple of days to turn into blisters.

OP posts:
WellThisIsStupid · 15/12/2024 13:05

It's really hard to see them well. Are they blisters? Chickenpox are definite blisters and unmistakable.

My DD had lots of poxy spots in summer one year, I really thought it was chickenpox and posted on a FB group and lots of people agreed with me. They were almost like small blisters. However, I saw a GP as wasn't convinced, and it was an allergy to an insect bite.

A few months later she had a blister on her neck, then one on her torso, within hours she was covered and it was obviously chickenpox.

IME chickenpox starts with blisters not spots. Maybe take a photo close up of one?

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4 year olds Children's health General health Skin conditions
LoremIpsumCici · 15/12/2024 13:07

Chicken pox does typically start on the torso so it could be. I’d make a remote GP appointment and send photos. Don’t take him in as it is highly contagious. If it is chicken pox, it is good to have in his medical records that he has had it.

dementedpixie · 15/12/2024 13:09

The blisters develop fairly quickly in my experience

WellThisIsStupid · 15/12/2024 13:29

Moonshinebaby · 15/12/2024 13:04

From my understanding it takes a couple of days to turn into blisters.

Show quote history

No, the chickenpox blisters develop very fast. I've never known them to start as pimples and develop into blisters in a few days.

If he's not covered in blisters (or has any blisters) tomorrow morning, then it isn't chickenpox, but could be any number of other things.

If they aren't blisters tomorrow, then I'd recommend seeing a GP. But mention that he has a rash, so can be isolated from others, in case it is catching.

Rowena191 · 15/12/2024 13:35

Agree, chicken pox spots look like little blisters. How about other diseases, is he vaccinated for measles? Either way, probably best to keep him off.

DreadPirateRobots · 15/12/2024 13:36

It's impossible to tell from the picture, it's too far out and too low res. Quite possibly.

romdowa · 15/12/2024 13:44

WellThisIsStupid · 15/12/2024 13:29

No, the chickenpox blisters develop very fast. I've never known them to start as pimples and develop into blisters in a few days.

If he's not covered in blisters (or has any blisters) tomorrow morning, then it isn't chickenpox, but could be any number of other things.

If they aren't blisters tomorrow, then I'd recommend seeing a GP. But mention that he has a rash, so can be isolated from others, in case it is catching.

Show quote history

My sons started out as spots and it took 2 days for them to blister. Gp confirmed that can be normal with chicken pox.

DramaAlpaca · 15/12/2024 13:46

It's hard to tell from the photo, but if it's chicken pox you will know by tomorrow morning as in my experience the blisters come up quickly. When you see them they are unmistakable.

Original poster
Moonshinebaby · 15/12/2024 13:52

Is this a better picture? They are really red, but not blisters yet.

So the consensus is to not send him to school tomorrow?

Our primary school are really red hot on attendance and will do a home visit on day 3.

Is this chickenpox? Pic attached
OP posts:
Crunchymum · 15/12/2024 13:55

Why would you even consider sending him to school with suspected chicken pox the week before Christmas? FFS.

Original poster
Moonshinebaby · 15/12/2024 13:58

Crunchymum · 15/12/2024 13:55

Why would you even consider sending him to school with suspected chicken pox the week before Christmas? FFS.

Edited

No need to get angry.

This is all new to me.

I'm just asking for advice.

OP posts:
Quackajack · 15/12/2024 14:00

Molluscum contagiosum possibly if they don't blister like chicken pox and stay around for a long time.

GroovyChick87 · 15/12/2024 14:05

Put him in a warm bath and they'll come out more if it's chicken pox. It does look like that to me. It's hard though sometimes knowing if they've had it or not when there are other viral rashes that go around. My youngest had a strange rash, confirmed to be chicken pox by the doctor. I disagreed as it was like nothing I'd see before. About 2 years later he got chicken pox again, which is possible but very rare, so it probably wasn't chicken pox that first time as I thought.

LoremIpsumCici · 15/12/2024 14:08

It is possibly chicken pox. I would definitely not send him into school no matter how much energy he had.

MoserRothOrangeandAlmond · 15/12/2024 14:10

Have they just appeared or have they been there for a while?
If just appeared and appeared fast then I would say chicken pox
If they have been there for a while and he has a few more I would say molloscum contagiosum

Crunchymum · 15/12/2024 14:11

GroovyChick87 · 15/12/2024 14:05

Put him in a warm bath and they'll come out more if it's chicken pox. It does look like that to me. It's hard though sometimes knowing if they've had it or not when there are other viral rashes that go around. My youngest had a strange rash, confirmed to be chicken pox by the doctor. I disagreed as it was like nothing I'd see before. About 2 years later he got chicken pox again, which is possible but very rare, so it probably wasn't chicken pox that first time as I thought.

Exactly same happened with my DC2.

Took her to GP with a rash and was told it was CP. I wasn't convinced and a year later she presented with more classic CP symptoms. DC2 got it mildly, gave it to the DC1 and then got quite a serious dose about a month later. So she's had it 3 times (the 1st time wasn't CP even though a Dr said it was and I think the 2nd and 3rd time were the same outbreak!!)

MellersSmellers · 15/12/2024 14:15

Our primary school are really red hot on attendance and will do a home visit on day 3.
No school will want a child who genuinely has an illness to come in, especially one week before Christmas.

Middlemarch123 · 15/12/2024 14:17

Are they itching him OP? I’d keep him off school tomorrow, just in case. You’ll defo know what you’re dealing with before school does a visit in any case. Have you changed your washing powder or shower gel, that can sometimes cause a rash?

Crimblecrumble1990 · 15/12/2024 14:30

I think you will be able to tell in the morning.

Mine both started like that, a few spots on day 1, a few more before bed that night. And in the morning, clearly chicken pox.

They didn't blister until 2/3 days in, I always thought they started as spots first, then blistered then scabbed.

Crimblecrumble1990 · 15/12/2024 14:31

Forgot to say, they weren't usually itchy until day 2 either.

Orangebadger · 15/12/2024 16:11

From 2nd photo looks like the start of pustules which you see in CP. often kids are quite well with CP but usually have a low grade fever around 38.

Are they itchy? I would not send him to school with a new rash regardless. If unsure remote GP appt. Keep at home. Certrizine for itchiness and NO ibuprofen should he become unwell or spike a fever, only calpol.

smallsilvercloud · 15/12/2024 16:15

They begin at watery filled bllisters until they pop and scab over, I think you'd know by the morning.

MerryChristmasYaFilthyBrusselSprout · 15/12/2024 16:22

The cluster of ones on the right with white heads do look like chickenpox. I agree you’ll know for sure in the morning, they spread like wildfire.