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Original poster

Chickenpox toddler - is this normal??

30 replies

Wanttohelpbuthow · 15/02/2025 11:39

My 2 year old son has had chicken pox since Thursday. He’s been really unwell with it (much more so than his 4yo sister) and has some of the spots in his mouth.
Hes vomited once on Thursday evening & has had awful dihorrea today. He’s now asleep again. He’s been super lethargic since this began too, sleeping a lot.
I can’t get him to eat because of the spots in his mouth that appeared yesterday. Tried bland food, ice lollies, yoghurt, squash, juice etc

ive just called 111 and am waiting for a call back.

Is this all normal for chicken pox? I’m comparing to his sister who seemed to pretty much breeze through it, slightly tired but still playing etc just a bit grumpy

thank you!

OP posts:
FabulousFebruary · 15/02/2025 11:40

Hi op definitely get him seen he could have an infection of the spots.
One dc age 3 didn't know she had it, perfectly happy covered in spots. Baby was v poorly with it

YouveGotAFastCar · 15/02/2025 11:41

Lethargy and being off their food is, bless them.

Id say the diarrhoea and sickness is probably another bug on top, there’s so much around at the moment.

FabulousFebruary · 15/02/2025 11:41

Has he had liquids and wet nappies etc
Thurs is a while ago when did 111 say they would call back

Badgerandfox227 · 15/02/2025 11:49

My DD had chicken pox first, nothing too serious, a week later my DS who was under 1 got it and much worse. Think as he’d been exposed to it longer from his sister he had a higher viral load. He ended up in hospital as really poorly with it.

Good job you’ve called 111, we did that with DS, they got a doctor on the phone to us and talked everything through.

Chattie89 · 15/02/2025 11:51

I'd try and get him seen OP, last time I waited for a call back from 111 for my very unwell baby it took 13 hours, and that was fast tracked due to her age.

Are there any weekend drop in surgeries near you? If your own GP does Saturday surgery phone now and ask if they've had any cancellations. Our GP is brilliant and will often squeeze in an under 5 last minute if they're very poorly.

Cotswoldmama · 15/02/2025 11:52

When my sister and I had chicken pox as children we had it really bad with vomiting we were a bit older though about 4 & 6 I remember it was as it was Christmas and we look so poorly in all the photos! Vomitting is a normal symptom but that doesn't mean he shouldn't see a doctor, trust your instincts x

Original poster
Wanttohelpbuthow · 15/02/2025 11:53

He only had one wet nappy yesterday which wasn’t a lot of wee.
His nappy was wet this morning from the night but nothing since 😣 he also has very dry lips

OP posts:
MyVIsForVendetta · 15/02/2025 11:54

He needs to be seen.

Take him to urgent treatment centre or similar.

Dont wait for 111.

MyVIsForVendetta · 15/02/2025 11:55

(I’m a paediatric nurse for what it’s worth, although anyone can claim they are anything on the internet I guess!)

Pinkpillow7 · 15/02/2025 11:56

Hey OP, he needs to be seen (nurse here). If you don’t get a call back from 111 A&E would be appropriate

Original poster
Wanttohelpbuthow · 15/02/2025 11:57

@MyVIsForVendetta amazing to be able to get advice from a nurse thank you! Would your concern be dehydration? I will take him to urgent care.

do I need to call ahead as it’s chicken pox?

OP posts:
Original poster
Wanttohelpbuthow · 15/02/2025 11:58

@Pinkpillow7 just saw your reply after I’d replied above. Thank you so much as well & to everyone for replying

OP posts:
Mynewnameis · 15/02/2025 12:00

Yes please take him op.
Totally justified in this situation

Porcuporpoise · 15/02/2025 12:00

He sounds dehydrated and needs to be seen. In the meantime, would he take an ice lolly or jelly?

But yes, some children are more poorly than others (my youngest caught it from his next brother up and was covered in spots - older brother had exactly 10 and wasn't ill at all).

Original poster
Wanttohelpbuthow · 15/02/2025 12:02

Weirdly he hasn’t got many spots on his body, just a normal amount, so it doesn’t look alarming. They seem to mainly be on his neck/face/ears/mouth!
My main concern is that he’s not eating & will barely drink so I will definitely take him now. Just waiting for my mum to come pick up my other 2 children.

thank you all

OP posts:
MyVIsForVendetta · 15/02/2025 12:06

Wanttohelpbuthow · 15/02/2025 12:02

Weirdly he hasn’t got many spots on his body, just a normal amount, so it doesn’t look alarming. They seem to mainly be on his neck/face/ears/mouth!
My main concern is that he’s not eating & will barely drink so I will definitely take him now. Just waiting for my mum to come pick up my other 2 children.

thank you all

Edited

Keep us posted.

If there is a reduction in wet nappies, dry lips and reduced fluid intake the likelihood is he is dehydrated.

confusedlots · 15/02/2025 12:10

He needs to be seen. Hopefully he'll bounce back soon, but the lethargy and not eating are big warning signs that need to be checked out. In my son, it turned out he was developing sepsis and became very poorly very quickly (not due to chicken pox but a different infection)

FabulousFebruary · 15/02/2025 12:17

My baby who was poorly had few spots but v deep, well done op, get him seen.

MyVIsForVendetta · 15/02/2025 20:48

How is he doing?

harijes · 15/02/2025 21:35

@Wanttohelpbuthow how are you both

Hercisback1 · 15/02/2025 21:38

How are you getting on?

AuraBora · 15/02/2025 21:38

Hope your little boy is OK, OP?

Dramatic · 15/02/2025 21:41

The second sibling almost always seems to get it worse, higher viral exposure I think.

Hopefully you've had him seen and he's doing ok, poor lad. My daughter had them in her mouth and under her eyelids, not pleasant.

Writerscompanion · 15/02/2025 21:43

Poor thing, I hope he feels better soon. Are you sure it's not hand foot and mouth? We thought my daughter had chicken pox when there were cases at her nursery, a GP diagnosed it online based on my description but spots weren't on her torso (which is classic) but hands feet and nappy area. It's only when her dad got spots on his hands and feet and in his mouth that we realised (having kept her off nursery for a week).

Okayornot · 15/02/2025 21:47

Hopefully you've taken him in OP. He needs to be seen because of the dehydration and lethargy.
Chickenpox is very common but sometimes can be serious and it is best to be cautious.

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