Going to the shop with Chicken Pox?

[DesTeeny]

DD4 may have chicken pox, I don't know for certain because apart from the spots, she is absolutely fine, no rash, no upset, nothing. I can't tell if it's chicken pox or a viral rash, as she had a stomach virus last week (thank you so much primary school, she's never been ill so often).

I've kept her off school just in case but I need to go to the pharmacy, and a shop. Is she OK to come with me if we go when it's quiet and keep her away from other people? And thoughts on going for a walk/ feed the ducks /outdoor play area if there aren't any other kids?

AIBU to take her out?

If she has chicken pox then, no, she can’t go into shops.
A walk is a possibility but nowhere that brings her into contact with other people.

Take her to feed the ducks but steer clear of areas where she may come across an expectant mother, she is parks or supermarkets.

Do not go the pharmacy where she will absolutely be in contact with immune compressed persons.

Can a friend or neighbours deliver any essentials to you?

You can't keep her off school and then say she's fine to go to the shops with the same symptoms .... No.

No. Keep her away from other people.

If you suspect chicken pox please don’t take her.

Agree with other PP, but also please don't take her to a park. Even if it's empty. Unless you're going to clean all the equipment after use there's still a chance other kids can get it x

How do I know if it's chicken pox if I can't take her to the Pharmacy? We could wait outside until there was no one inside.

Just moved house so no neighbours we know well enough unfortunately.

I mean just for a bit of balance. If you need to take her to the pharmacy then you need to take her. A lot of MN live in a world where there are lots of helpful neighbours and friends and family but it's not always the case. If you have no option then you're going to have to take her - I'm guessing pharmacy is for medication either for you or her which sounds pretty essential and not something which can be ubered to you.

Well with school she'd be jumping all over her friends/ in a confined space for a long time. I'm talking about the local shop where we'd probably be the only people inside, she's not going to hug anyone etc. so there's more distance between her and others? That was my thoughts anyway.

I need my medication, yes, and it is essential, and it would be helpful to have her seen by the pharmacist to confirm either way whether it's chicken pox or not.

Yes. We'll then of course take her. MN os very weird like this. Ofc you should keep her at home but a suspected infectious condition doesn't mean she loses her right to see a medical professional to confirm and offer treatment. Don't feel bad about it and get your little girl checked out x

why come on here and ask the question. You are clearly going to ignore everyone and take your child to the chemist anyway with no regard for other people.

Definitely go to a pharmacy, just no where else you mentioned.

Unless she needs to see a doctor. anywhere she might meet people outside your household are COMPLETELY out of bounds until ALL her spots are totally scabbed. Chicken pox can be a serious illness and shingles is even more likely to be, and you can't just look at someone and know whether they will catch it and how bad it will be.

So you think it may be ok to take a young child with either a virus or chicken pox to a pharmacy where there a likely to be vulnerable people and to a play area?

The pharmacy will never be empty as there are staff working there.

You can have the spots checked out by using a photo. At the very least you should speak to the pharmacy on the phone before going and see what they advise about your meds and taking her in.

When my dc had chicken pox you had to wait in the car park and the pharmacist popped out, I was on foot so popped them in the buggy, didn’t drive. Definitely no to other shops, order a delivery or get someone else to shop. No to play equipment but walk in the fresh air somewhere quiet is fine

Unless there are complications (where you would not be seeking advice from a pharmacy) there is no treatment for chicken pox where a pharmacist or GP needs to be involved. Advice on care can be found from nhs website.

If your medication is essential then give the pharmacy a call. Most are quite reasonable in sorting one off deliveries in such circumstances.

I would send the photo to the GP surgery asking them to confirm.
I wouldn't take the child to the pharmacy, as mentioned by others this is where other vulnerable people will be collecting their medication too. You wouldn't be able to keep standing outside all day waiting for everyone to leave as surely you would never get in and get seen.

I am assuming you are a single parent as you mention not knowing the neighbours to ask them, so guess you don't have a partner to ask.
Do you know any mums from school yet or that went to her nursery that you might at least know as friendly and can grab some bits for you?
When desperate I know some mum's have posted in a group chat about needing something and other mums have offered to drop medication off.

I would ring GP, pharmacy or 111 for advice. They might well be able to assess a photo of her rash. DO NOT take her to a pharmacy unless 111 or the pharmacy requests you to do so, there are generally a high concentration of vulnerable people in a pharmacy, it would be highly selfish to expose them to chicken pox.

When my son had chicken pox and I had to go and get food and lotion. I put him in the buggy with hood down, a blanket over him and obviously told him not to touch anything, popped in and out very quickly!!

But yes agree with this

Yep Uber and Deliveroo are a Godsend for things like this.

If the pharmacy have your prescription call them, most will deliver.

This,