To be panicking about this chicken pox fiasco

[OlderMummy1]

Please reassure me I am panicking over nothing. I am already a very very anxious mother due to losses etc.

My 2 year old DD went for her chicken pox vaccination today. It has been booked for weeks but chicken pox started going round all the baby groups last week.

I took her today and it really hurt her So much more than any of the other jabs. She cried for about 2 hours and was inconsolable. I felt dreadful.

This was made 10 times worse by the fact that when I was cuddling her about 5 mins after the jab I noticed a blistery spot on her upper back. The doctor said it looked like a chicken pox spot. It has since got more blistery and another 2 has appeared.

I am now so worried that she has had a double dose of chicken pox all in one day and that it's going to do something drastic to her. I am already anxious about losing her as I feel I have cheated nature to have her. I've just put her to bed and she seems fine in herself.

Should I phone the out of hours dr to see what he says or will he think I'm barmy if she's well at the moment.

This is my first experience of a childhood illness so please be gentle with me

I am also dreading her being covered in spots tomorrow as I shall be so upset. I am also worried she will get it extra bad now due to the jab and be scarred for life.

Phone the out of hours

Did you ask the doctor what could happen if the jab was given when she might already have the virus?

Poor little thing.

First, don't worry about the "double dose".

My then-2yo had CP just after Christmas. He was very spotty but hardly poorly. We had to quarantine, obviously, but he wasn't ill in himself. Bicarb baths twice a day, occasional Calpol, calamine cream (cream not lotion which is itchy), plenty to drink, Disney films on tv.

There can be serious problems with CP, granted, but the vast majority of children float through with only a couple of silver scars as a souvenir.

I did ask but he didn't seem to know :-(

Are you in the uk? Or private? If you have out of hours they should know.

Ah first illness! It's a real sad time usually much harder for you than them. Chickenpox is unpleasant for dcs but passes. The hardest part is stopping them itch their spots. You need the three C's, Calamine Cuddles and Calpol a winning combo. Now's the time to stick on your comfy pj's get the duvet on the couch and cuddle up in front of the telly. Dc will love the couch bed and extra cuddles and you feel better for having them near. Throw the rule book out the window and do what works for you. Welcome to motherhood, you have arrived!

I would call NHS Direct to get some reassurance but I don't think you need to worry.

It is possible to get vaccinated against chicken pox once you've been exposed to the virus to prevent the onset of illness or reduce the severity of symptoms. That's too late in your case but I can't see Doctors being willing to vaccinate exposed children if having both is considered high-risk.

I think your DD is probably just experiencing some post-vaccination discomfort and again NHS Direct can give you good advice about dealing with this.

Hope you feel better soon.

Keep calm, be rational. Call 111, NHS Direct or you GP out of hours service and ask for their advice and reassurance

The information sheet below seems to indicate it's not a problem and actually advises at susceptible people who have never had the virus should be given the vaccine as soon as possible after exposure this may lessen the severity of the disease.

www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4202.pdf

If she is coming down with it, I found Piriton helped to reduce the itching symptoms when mine had it years ago.

Vaccination+chickenpox may result in a higher temperature then just one alone so do keep an eye on that.
Regular calpol and fluids to keep hydrated.

The dr who gave the jab should have tried to find out if there could be any potential problems. If I were you I'd look at it this way-your dd has the c pox virus and also the weakened vaccine c pox virus in her system, the body cells will either come across the vaccine strain or 'normal' strain, the ones that come across the weaker vaccine strain should be able to deal with it then go on to deal with the natural virus a lot better ( I'm not sure if that's how it works buttry to be positive)

Any doubts or worries contact out of hours or go to a+e

Take some deep breaths as you need to be calmer in order to do your best for your dd. The more flustered you are, the more she will pick up on it, the more you will panic etc.

Write down what you want to ask the doctor.

Phone now and ask for the doctor's advice, write down their answers, then do what they say.

If this does not conflict with that advice keep an eye on her periodically during the night for sudden high temperature or 'different' mewling type of cry and if that happens phone them again and ask them to visit.

Chicken pox spots do not automatically leave a scar, my dd was covered in spots and has one small scar, same for me in my childhood. Focus on what is important now, not what may or may not happen.

You'll both be fine

Op please try not to panic. Your daughter probably cried this afternoon because she felt under the weather with cp starting rather than because of the jab.my ds startedwith cp hhours after his mmr. I was worried about him being really ill with it after me overloading his immune system but he sailed through it no problems. If you are concerned by all means phone for advice, but I doubt the dr will need to see you if your dd is settled and sleeping.