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?

No she should not definitely go to the pharmacy without phoning first and seeking advice. It’s totally selfish to just go there with a child who is potentially highly infectious.

As others have said does your pharmacy deliver?

Do you know any of the mums from school yet? I would help a mum in need

Are the spots fluid filled blisters?
I have never needed to have CP confirmed by a pharmacist/GP/anyone else as they are usually quite distinctive (both my kids have had CP)

CP is airborne and can be passed on by being in the same room for 15 minutes or so. If it is chickenpox she shouldn't be going anywhere where she might meet other children or vulnerable adults

I would avoid. Can you do an e consult with your GP and take photos of her spots instead? Can you do a deliveroo or Tesco whoosh or one of those morissons/amazon same day delivery things for groceries?

If it is absolutely unavoidable then just make it really quick. It isn't like you're taking her to soft play. Sometimes there really is no other option or you'd have nothing to eat and couldn't access healthcare

Don’t go to the pharmacy - an airborne illness in an enclosed area which could include vulnerable or pregnant customers isn’t great.

GP or pharmacist would probably try to identify from a picture or video.

Is there a local facebook community group? I live next to a pharmacy and have collected stuff for strangers who needed help before who have posted asking for help.

You can get prescriptions delivered nowadays. You can get online shopping. You can do online consults (just take a photo and send it to your GP). You don’t have to risk other people’s health in your situation. It lowers the risk if you go at a quiet time but it doesn’t eliminate it.

You don’t even need to have it confirmed by anyone. A doctor will only intervene and treat if you have a very severe case or complications which I’m assuming you don’t if you are intending to walk them to the pharmacy.

I had chicken pox as an adult a few years ago - it was awful and a colleague is now very ill with it. Please try and avoid spreading it and recommend paying for a vaccination if you didn’t have it as a child.

Do you still ave a buggy with raincover? That could be used for essential shopping.

@pengu45 I caught chickenpox as an adult a lot of years ago. I was in my late 20s, very fit and healthy, so not vulnerable at all. I was floored for months afterwards and very poorly when I had it.

Also, we didn’t get chickenpox confirmed…. DD was ill before the spots but once they appeared she was fine. Spots took a few days to scab over and then back to nursery.
We used Virasoothe gel but other than that it was just wait it out.

I think the OP knows it's likely CP. Just looking for someone to agree with them. DS got CP 2x. 2nd time badly infected as he'd been scratching at them in his sleep. GP wanted to see him. We had to sit in a different room out the way of other patients because they didn't want their elderly patients catching shingles (fair enough). The then DH watched him whilst I went to get his Antivirals from the Pharmacy. The last thing I'd be doing is taking a kid with a highly infectious virus in to a Pharmacy when a phone call with them or the GPs would suffice.

No, it should not be used. The child should not be going anywhere indoors and also be a distance away from anyone outside.

No they aren't, she's just come up in a rash over the last few days. No fluid filled blisters which is why I'm confused. Also baby at home with no symptoms, and I've never had chicken pox and I also don't have any symptoms which is why I wanted someone to look at her (and collect my medication).

I'm sorry to hear that Allthings. My Sister got shingles earlier this year and was off work for over a month. She was really poorly with it.

So call your GPs or Pharmacy then. You can send photos who'll confirm or say otherwise. You know something isn't right or you wouldn't be keeping them off school.

Hope the little one is feeling better soon.

CP has a long incubation period so if she did have CP your baby wouldn’t develop it for another 2 weeks or so.

It’ll become obvious pretty soon if she has CP, the spots will develop into fluid filled blisters, you donf need anyone to look at it tbh.

The incubation period is about a fortnight so your baby won't show symptoms yet. The spots look like "dew drops on a rose petal" but if in doubt send a photo to your GP surgery as others have suggested. Please don't go out, for someone immune compromised chicken pox could be serious/fatal.

Phone pharmacy - ask then to have prescription ready and then call taxi to collect (along with Virasoothe) ... remember NO ibuprofen!!

I had a 13 week miscarriage due to catching chickenpox. Call the pharmacy and ask for advice but don’t go in

Yep. And we wonder why things like Covid are on the rise again...

Also Uber now has a courier service. Literally a few quid to use it and get the essential meds from the pharmacy OP said they need if there's no family or friends available.

I'm so sorry CarrotVan 😪

You have loads of options without having to resort to taking your infectious child out.

For your meds phone the pharmacy and see what they suggest. I am sure that you know at least one person or have one neighbour who would be willing to collect your meds if the pharmacy can’t deliver or offer to bring the meds out to you in the carpark.

If you feel you need a diagnosis, you can send a photo via GP, 111 or perhaps the pharmacy. But I get the feeling that you already know that she has chicken pox. If you are questioning if she can go to a park, she is well enough not to require any medical intervention.

Shopping, if a friend, associate or neighbour can’t help, local facebook pages will have someone who will help, delivery options are numerous from deliveroo, Amazon and many more.

In the meantime keep your child away from anyone until no longer infectious. Any adult or child can end up very ill with chickenpox, not just vulnerable people.

Well she has a rash so or course I know something is wrong, but she doesn't feel ill and is absolutely fine. Which, along with the fact she doesn't itch and the rash isn't the little blisters, has me very confused.

What I was told to do by a DOCTOR for medication and food. As a last resort.

So... The baby can still go to nursery, even though she's potentially infectious for the next two weeks because she's got no symptoms currently? Why would she be so far behind the big girl with symptoms etc.?

I'm really confused.

Shingles is a whole new ball game. I know 2 adults who have had it recently and despite antivirals they felt very grim. The second person is still off work 4 weeks later with only statutory sick pay, so they will be feeling the repercussions for a long time. One is in her 70s, but not otherwise vulnerable and the other in her 50s and not vulnerable. The younger one is fairing worse than the older one did. I hope your sister has now recovered.