Question about chicken pox

[hollingbury]

Hi

Son caught chicken pox last night. He is very spotty. He got his first spots on Wed, most came through that day - he's much better now. And lots of visible healing over of spots.

Some spots are v tiny and don't look like they've broken.

Question is - how do you know when they are ok to be around other kids again?

By Wed/Xmas Eve, it will the 8th day. I wanted to get his hair cut. But can I?

Thanks

crusting over.

the exclusion period from school, etc is 5 days from the onset of spots. NHS says avoid others until they have crusted over.

They have to all be crusted over.

Assume you meant he caught it last week? If so and lots of crusting over now then probably ok by Christmas Eve but take a decision that day depending on if crusted over.

Sorry, I meant crusting - not healing over.

Do I have to examine every single spot - some the size of pin pricks? He had about 100-150.

I don't mean to be obtuse, I can see they are all drying out but they are so varied in size and 'crusting' some just look like they're fading without breaking. Or maybe that's my wrong interpretation. He doesn't like me to look!

I think he was unwell Monday of last week, seemed better Tue, then woke up Wed with spots

could some have been a post viral rash rather than chicken pox spots? Do the un-crusted ones look moist/blistery or are they dry? If they are dry and the others are crusted then I would say he is ok to be out and about

THanks - I'll have a look. They all seem dry to me but I am also very conscious of not getting it wrong!

Fil, a gp, says 5 days after first spots is when they stop being contagious.