I have a poxy toddler.

[AnneNonimous]

But seriously, I think DS has chicken pox. How the hell do we survive this? Three blistery things have come up on his leg since this morning which I first assumed were insect bites but looking on the Internet they do look like early chicken pox.

I am a lone parent and we live in a first floor flat, are we going to be cut off from all human contact til this passes?

Also I know this isn't an AIBU, please excuse me I only really come on this topic.

I couldn't do that either.
Might want to get some other opinions about whether it's CP, 3 isn't enough for a diagnosis ime.
Do you have anyone who can sit in with him so you can get to shops?
Any friends who would be happy to let you bring him 'round?

I think you'll probably both live. He'll get very itchy so you'll need to get calomine lotion or something similar that you can cover him in. You probably only have to stay in until the spots are all out and crusted over. After that you should be safe enough to go outside.

Pox normally starts on the trunk not leg....

Is hand foot and mouth a possibility? (also contagious though)

Do you know other mums? Worth checking if their kids have had pox then you have people you can get to come over.

When mine had it, it was about a week of quarantine each.

Do you have friends and family to help with shopping? It not I would get an Internet order done today and include some colouring books and things!

Good luck!

Can you do an internet shop? Get someone to do some shopping for you?

Lots of baths, with a scoop of bicarbonate of soda in, use calamine cream (rather than lotion) or eurax for itching, piriton helps too. Calpol if hot and uncomfortable (avoid ibuprofen with chicken pox). Plenty of liquids.

Get lots of dvds, and stuff to do indoors. Do you know whether any of his friends have had chicken pox, that could visit?

If it is chicken pox I reckon you will know by tonight, has he had sore throat or other symptoms?

No longer infectious when the last of the spots have dried and crusted over (usually around 5-7 days)

Good luck!

He had a cold last week, was ok at the weekend but v.grumpy and coughing last night. I don't really have anyone to shop for me or watch him, may have to see if my mum can pop over at some point this week. Or get another online shop.

Hope it's not the pox,but if it is I would recommend a gel called virasooth,it stops the itch but doesnt dry out their skin the way calmomille does.

You'll need to paint a large cross on your front door in lambs blood.

I would recommend virasoothe too, helps stop the itching, good luck !

DS1 got it when DS2 was 7wks old when I was just feeling ready to face the world after the birth, and DS2 got it at 9wks. I still went out to places like the park where they weren't in contact with other people, and visited my mum who is immune. I avoided places like playgrounds and baby groups with other people around. I'd struggled to get out for months between SPD and an awkward birth and couldn't face prolonged house arrest. They weren't particularly poorly, only a couple of doses of Calpol were needed to perk them up. It didn't take long for the spots to emerge, and they crusted over in about a week.

The worst part about CP in an otherwise healthy child is the social leper aspect
Internet shop, lots of treats for both of you and live through the Internet and sympathy of good friends for a week..
Lavender oil in baths works well too.
Sympathies, am fully expecting my toddler to start with it at some point soon, probably the week after the older ones start back at school...

cough and grumpy preceeding the spots is classic CP. by tonight he will have more I expect. have paracetamol piriton and lotions in. I liked aqueous with calamine. oats in the bath.

and yes, hide yourselves away until all spots are dry - about 5-7 days. Is very boring.