Chickenpox - how long?

[JustAMum31]

DC woke up this morning with a few red spots on chest and neck.

A bit “off” yesterday - no temp or anything, just now their usual self.
DC has eczema prone skin and is prone to rashes etc with viral infections but these spots are slightly raised and I immediately thought “chickenpox” when I saw them.

How long until we know for sure if that’s what it is? Does the rash usually spread/change rapidly in your experience?
Typically, it’s our busiest week of the year with multiple events and due to leave on Friday for a holiday 🫠😂 so just trying to be on top of cancellations etc if needed.

They normally come up quite quickly, with both mine it was clear after another 24 hours that is was chicken pox. Hope they don't have it to bad and if it is then virosothe from the pharmacy works the best on the itching and lots of baths with oatmeal in.

Unlikely you will be going on holiday if you have to fly, as there’s often a second wave of blisters. If you’ve do and he has scabbed get a fit to fly letter from the GP.

child one started with no blisters in the morning then just got one on his neck while at nursery - they sent him home, that was about 1pm. We were dubious about whether they were right but he was pretty miserable either way.

Within 24 hours he was covered and it was obvious. Second wave of blisters arrived 48 hours later. Back at nursery 5 days later when they were scabbed over. 8 days off in total.

He has eczema too. If you’ve got scratch sleeves use them x

@MigGril @OldGothsFadeToGrey Thank you 😊 Just a lodge holiday a couple of hours away but wouldn’t drag them there ill so would just cancel it if it comes to anything.

Have been to the pharmacy this morning and topped up on Calpol and got some Poxclin coolmouse (the didn’t have the virosooth gel in stock but said they’re pretty much the same thing?) just incase and some calamine lotion.

Sounds like it’s fairly rapid then - hopefully we’ll know by tomorrow either way 🤞🏼

Just a thought, HFM can look similar when it starts off. My little girl didn’t get it on her hands, feet or mouth, she had it everywhere else though, it started on her arms and legs. We weren’t sure if it was chickenpox or not. GP had to check which it was but at least she could go back to nursery with HFM (she was fine in herself, just spotty).

both are pretty crap really though. Hope your little one feels better soon x

@OldGothsFadeToGrey Thank you 😊 DC has had HF&M once and it definitely doesn’t look quite like that. They were pretty out of sorts with HF&M and clearly in a lot of discomfort even before the rash had started.

With this they were a bit out of sorts yesterday - just not quite their usual self but nothing specific. Seems absolutely fine today bar these spots so we’ll see how it develops 🫠