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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be so worried about chicken pox?

43 replies

poppymouse · 26/08/2010 21:10

think it's getting out of hand, it started when someone was talking about it at work a few weeks ago and I'm now forever worrying DS might have it, or be about to get it. I almost wish he would so I could stop thinking about it.

Is it really that bad?

OP posts:

SolidGoldBrass · 26/08/2010 21:42

My DS had it at about 18 months and it really wasn't a big deal. I didn;t even go to the GP - just rang them and said 'DS has chicken pox, do we need to come in or shall I just get some calamine lotion?' They said he would be fine with calpol and calamine and that I was welcome to bring him in if I was worried or if his temperature went very high or anything.
We did go to the park a few times when he was feeling better as our local parks are invariably empty in term time - saw one other mum with a toddler and called out that he had chicken pox and she might want to keep her distance, which she did. The only other thing I did was ring the playgroup we'd been to a coule of days before the spots appeared to let them know (because, for all the screaming hysteria about being under house arrest when spotty, it's actually most infectious before you know it's there).
One other handy hint - if you have porridge oats in the house (no, not Paw Ridge or Oatso Simple with golden syrup) a very itchy kid will be soothed by putting a handful of oats in an old stocking/pair of tights and chucking that in a warm bath.

tryingtobemarypoppins2 · 26/08/2010 21:42

I have to be honest, I teach and do notice 'pit' type marks on lots of the children. Is there anyway to avoid scars forming?

Raffiiscool · 26/08/2010 21:42

Why not get him vaccinated? I used to live in the States and it is part of the infant programme there. Both my 2 are vaccinated. It wasn't cheap (about £70 each) but I had DS1 vaccinated as we had the cash and I was just about to have DS2 when everyone else seemed to have it. Lots of personal reasons for doing it - I'd had a crap pregnancy, was feeling terrible, knew I was having another section and I felt it if he got it it would finish me. Probably would not have had DS2 vaccinated (didn't had so much spare cash then) but as I had done DS1 felt I could really not do DS2!!

tryingtobemarypoppins2 · 26/08/2010 21:47

I did have DS1 vaccinated but DS2 is only 6months and so can't have it until age 1. I just know he will get it as he is going to nursery once a week.
I feel bad really as DS1 didn't go to nursery until 10 months and so avoided it before being able to get his jab.

LadyBiscuit · 26/08/2010 21:48

My DS has a couple of very small pock marks on his back but I am sure they will fade. I had loads and they all faded over a few years. That's another reason why it's better to have it young (or vaccinate as the last poster said)

bumpsnowjustplump · 26/08/2010 21:50

DD 3 had it and it lasted 7 days once the spots had shown. She was covered in them and was really grumpy but not too bad, lots of dvd's and cuddles on sofa..

DS 1 had it and he got really bad with it. it went to his chest and the spots (they were everywhere) were really sore, dr gave ab as it was so bad and it cleared up after 5 days of spots appearing, he really suffered and i ended up sleeping in his room with him as he was very distressed.

We found that Poxicin was better than calamine lotion and also piriton liquid was a life saver. Also get some porrige for the bath and some bicarb of soda...

But it is good to get it early as you can reduce the scratching better.. DS went to bed with socks on but DD was to old for this so has a couple of scars on her chest..

bumpsnowjustplump · 26/08/2010 21:51

sorry that is dd aged 3 and ds aged 1 ..

Original poster

poppymouse · 26/08/2010 21:52

As it goes, I have some porridge oats in anyway for eating. Thinking seriously about the jab now.

OP posts:

Raffiiscool · 26/08/2010 22:13

Most people, when I have told them my DS are vaccinated, are really surprised. They think you can't get it here or have never heard that there is such a thing.

I spoke to my HV at length before paying for the jag (and did lots of research, as I wouldn't want to do anything with a risk attached) and she felt it was only a matter of time before it comes in here as it is part of the programme in quite a few countries already - in Australia it is given at 18mths and the US at 12mths+. Cost is a major factor for it not being part of the UK national programme at the moment.

Btw - the vaccination is a live vaccine so you might not be able to "just get it". My sons were vaccinated at a private GPs but I had to wait a week or so until they got the live vaccine in. Also your DS may need a booster jag at age 7 or so - current thinking is that it may be necessary to full protection. I was advised to be mindful but check what the recommendation is when they get to that age.

Also, it didn't seem to hurt at all!

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 26/08/2010 22:15

Calamine aqueous cream was far easier to get on ds1 (who was 2 1/2) than the lotion.

It's available from chemists without a prescription.

MmeLindt · 26/08/2010 22:25

Our DC were vaccinated in Germany, it is now part of the routine vaccination schedule.

Complications through chicken pox are rare, but nasty so we decided not to risk it.

Do you worry about other things as much as this? Tbh, I think that getting a "chicken pox box" is slightly OTT.

Children are going to get ill. It is how their immune systems get trained up for the rest of their lives. We may not want them to get diseases like measles or chicken pox, but there are other illnesses that we cannot vaccinate against, nor plan for.

dobbyssocks · 26/08/2010 22:32

Hiya as others have said Piriton, calamine cream and calpol, best to have in your medicine box anyway.

My 2 got it at the same time. DS1 was 3 and only had a few spot but had a temperature and was miserable. DS2 was only 3 months old and was literally covered from head to toe (didn't get any of my immunity from bf on that one!) but was fine in himself.

BeerTricksPotter · 26/08/2010 22:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 26/08/2010 22:51

We used Eurax lotion on the boys when they had chicken pox (aged 5 and 1 respectively). The box says you should check with your GP before using on kids under 3 but both of mine were fine with it.

I think it is important to remember that for most people chickenpox is an inconvenience rather than a major illness.

The reason the vaccine isn't routinely given in the UK is not so much about cost (although I am sure that is a factor) as about the risk of an increase in shingles in adults who would no longer be exposed to chickenpox in the community and so not have an extra challenge to their immune system.

"The chickenpox vaccine is now licensed in the UK but it is not part of routine childhood vaccinations.

The vaccine against the varicella virus (which causes chickenpox) is not currently recommended for standard use in children.

In most cases it is a mild illness and around 89% of adults in the UK will develop immunity to the illness.

If the chickenpox vaccine were to be added to the list of childhood vaccinations, it is feared that there would be a greater number of cases of shingles in adults, until the vaccination was given to the entire population. This is because adults who have had chickenpox as a child are less likely to have shingles in later life if they have been exposed occasionally to the chickenpox virus (for example by their children). This is because the exposure acts as a booster vaccine."

source NHS choices

SolidGoldBrass · 27/08/2010 00:31

I must admit that I didn't know there was a vaccine for chickenpox, had always thought that there simply wasn't any such thing. And while I am very pro-vaccination, I still don't think I would have bothered unless it had been given as routine.

skintbint · 27/08/2010 01:29

is there a higher incidence of shingles in north america? anyone got any good stats sites?

just curious. mine have had it anyway.

about three years ago they were supposed to be introducing it in the uk as part of the standard vaccs... interesting that they aren't and are claiming it is not a funding decision.

sapphireblue · 27/08/2010 02:58

It's completely understandable for you to be anxious about illness after a bout of norovirus........tummy bugs are hell!! We've had a few in our house (although only 1 where we've all had it at the same time) and to say I hate them is putting it mildly. Very distressing to see young ones in that state.

Chicken pox is honestly not that bad though. DD1 (2.5) hasn't had it yet but a couple of her friends have and have been fine. When the first got it I went out and bought piriton and calamine lotion just in case, but we're clear so far. To be honest I'd rather she caught it before she starts school.

Oh, and my brother (now nearly 30) had the most horrendous case of CP when he was 5ish.......he was absolutely covered in spots. He has a few pock marks but nothing particularly noticeable.

IAPJJLPJ · 27/08/2010 06:14

I found chicken pox fine - it was hand, foot and mouth that was the most trying. I personally dread the tummy bug viruses.

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