To post here about newborn having chicken pox?

[SPR1107]

Sorry but posting for traffic.

Newborn has been admitted to hospital with chicken pox, which he caught from my 2 year old DS, who caught it at nursery.

Has anyone's children ever had this at such an early age (exposed at day 4, now day 20)?

He has been put on IV antibiotics, which they're saying they want to do for a week!! (Such a long time when I have another baby at home, and we were already away from him for a week having my newborn). They're also saying they're going to call London and oxford trust to discuss more medication with specialists because of the dangers on chicken pox at this age.

I feel so unclear as to whether we are going to end up with lasting side effects. I'm petrified.

At the moment he is calm, content and showing no signs of not feeling well, but the pox are multiplying

Thank you everyone. We have just got home today. 5 more days of oral antivirals.
They said I had antibodies which passed on to him, and if I didn't have them, we'd be in a very serious situation.
I had no idea how dangerous chicken pox can be in newborns!

Glad to hear the good news, hope you can just relax and enjoy being home with your baby now x

CP is a virus so I'm confused why antibiotics.

~2002, I heard about a 2 wk old newborn who had CP, who was managed in community, nothing by IV or in hospital.

My cousin died at 3 weeks old due to chickenpox, he had the antibodies too but it caused other issues so yes... I would prefer for my newborn to be in hospital for 6 months or more than to potentially die.

He's on antiviral medication rather than antibiotics.

Sorry to hear about those who have had awful experiences of it.

The doctors explained to us the actual virus isn't usually the issue, it's that it causes secondary issues, such as damage to the brain, meningitis and pneumonia, which is why they treat it so aggressively as soon as it's picked up, rather than waiting to see what develops.

Im extremely appreciative of how things things have turned out... and pleased I made the decision to take him in as soon as I noticed

Glad to hear he is improving. Getting CP under the age of 1 also increases the chances of childhood shingles. My ds had CP at around 6 months and shingles at age 3