To ask for antivirals for teen with chicken pox?

[bellav]

My DD16 presented with a rash this morning. Took her to the walk-in and was diagnosed with chicken pox. Got home and Googled to find that NICE says adolescents above 14 should be considered for antivirals even if immunocompetent. Called and spoke to the nurse who said it wasn't indicated, but I am still worried. Anyone with any experience of this? Thank you.

Yes,
DD was 14 and caught chicken pox for the first time - eventually she was covered from head to toe and you could barely fit one finger tip between the spots they were that dense - and they were everywhere (mouth, throat - everywhere).
She had a very high temperature and was unwell for almost two weeks. It also knocked her immune system, over the next 3-4 months she caught flu (ill for two full weeks) a very nasty UTI and finally a sick bug - prior to the chicken pox she rarely caught a cold.
This was over 15 years ago now so there was no offer of antivirals. I would pursue this further or, if you can afford it, see a private GP & pay as after a few days the antivirals will be less effective.
Apparently the government are considering adding chicken pox to the vaccination schedule, which I think they should given that it would also eradicate shingles.

Thank you, @MetalDog . Your poor DD! I am waiting on a call back from 111 to see if a doctor there can prescribe them.

Anybody else have experience of this?

Hi @bellav
did you manage to get the antivirals for your daughter and did they help at all?

Hi @ScarlettSloth. No, I couldn't get anyone to agree to give them. In fact, the whole thing was a bit of a mess as the spots became very angry and infected-looking and I had 2 different doctors telling me different things (one thought it was molluscum, the other wanted to give topical and oral antibiotics, which we held off on). In the end, it was all fine and in fact her two younger siblings then had it much worse a couple of weeks later! Good luck. It's a miserable illness and it feels horrific when you're in the midst of it, but the worst passes within a week.

Hi @bellav thanks for the response!
I managed to get myself some anti virals yesterday after noticing the first of my symptoms on Monday night (fever and 2/3 spots under my breasts).
A lot more spots appeared Tuesday morning and I took the first anti viral around noon yesterday - that slowed down the progression of spots straight away. The ones I do have aren’t itchy (yet) fortunately. Woke up this morning to more but they look different (previously they were blister like/raised from the start) but these are just flat tiny red spots…. I am really hoping to be non-contagious by Saturday as I have a big event ☹️ so searching mumsnet far and wide to give me some hope haha. X

Oh, good luck! Glad you got the anti-virals. Sounds like you have definitely nipped it in the bud as my kids were coming out in spots like crazy until day 5. Hope you make it to your event.