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Children's health

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Original poster

Dd1 in awful discomfort from chicken pox. What can I do?

52 replies

Bumperlicious · 24/02/2011 08:38

Dd1(3) is on day 3 of chicken pox. She has got spots really badly around her bottom and genitals. She is so un comfortable and has been up most of the night.

Doctor gave us some anti histamines two days ago. Am waiting for him to call to see if there is anything else he can proscribe.

How can I manage this? Am also at home with a 5 month baby. Help!

OP posts:

Original poster

Bumperlicious · 24/02/2011 23:04

Thanks for the advice. None of the local chemists had the new prescription the dr gave us. Dh was on his way to Tesco to get pher-whatsit which they recommended but stopped in Boots on the way. The pharmacist wasnt happy with the dosage proscribed and said they wouldn't be comfortable with anything else so dh didn't bother.

You are right about the piriton. Sure it is actually making her hyper! She is asleep for now though so fingers crossed. Just need the baby to go to sleep now.

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Original poster

Bumperlicious · 24/02/2011 23:07

I meant phenergen

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sneezecakesmum · 24/02/2011 23:08

Just for information re phenergan. My DGS who was a nightmare for sleeping (2) was given melatonin which got him off to sleep but then he would keep waking. So Dr prescribed 5 mg phenergan. Did not work at all! Sominex tablets (bought over the counter as a sleep aid) contain 20 mg of phenergan... a quarter (5mg) knocks me out like a light for 8 hours!!! wots that all about!

Moral of the story is go easy on the phenergan to start with! And DGS is slowly improving without drugs!

RachelHRD · 24/02/2011 23:09

DS(3) is on day 3 of CP and is covered mainly on his torso but some in his hair, ear and on his willy poor fella :( Bizarrely he is fine in himself and bouncing off the walls but was starting to get itchy today.

How much bicarb should you use in the bath?

It will be a miracle if DD(1) doesn't get it - impossible to keep them apart and have found her a couple of times today drinking from his beaker despite me asking him to keep it away from her aarrgghhh!!

Am climbing the walls already and the thought of her coming down with it just as he gets over it and being stuck in isolation for what could be a month is making me wonder when the men in white coats will be coming to take me away!!

Hope all the LO's get better soon and the itchiness subsides.

Original poster

Bumperlicious · 24/02/2011 23:10

Been using eurax too but the tube says once a day. Have to get some more bicarb. Will the chemist have it? Have been using my baking stuff which doesn't go far.

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Grumpla · 24/02/2011 23:13

I put Dettol in the bath and it really seemed to help. Don't know if it was just the bath that was soothing, but DS didn't seem to get mega itchy. I was worried about the (many) spots around his anus getting infected, they were fine though. I used Morhulin ointment on them at every nappy change.

Original poster

Bumperlicious · 24/02/2011 23:18

That's crap Rachel, I've read that it is often worse when they catch it from a sibling as there is a longer exposure. Not sure how true that it.

Gave up trying to keep dd1 off dd2 but hoping the bfing will keep it at bay or mild.

Ended up sticking dd1 in the car kicking and screaming this afternoon. She was so tired and was out within 10 minutes. She was vile this afternoon, and been tried to smack dd2 - v out of character. It's very difficult with dd2 who is a crap sleeper. I usually take her out for a walk in the sling. Dh working till 7.30 tomorrow! Hope it is a better day.

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RachelHRD · 24/02/2011 23:27

I feel your pain Bumperlicious - I was about at breaking point when DH turned up tonight DS had been so difficult all day! Maybe we should start a CP support group!!

Also read about the longer exposure so dreading it - my poor wee girl has had health issues since birth and lots of operations and has just got over her 2nd bout of bronchiolitis this winter so it's the last thing she needs :(

A long drive sounds like a good idea as mine will both quite often zonk in the car and I find driving quite relaxing - sod the cost of fuel for sanity's sake!!

florapup · 25/02/2011 06:54

In an earlier post I suggested Sudafed - I got it wrong - I meant to say Medised. I know it can get a bad press but the fact is that when they are in a lot of pain it does relieve that pain and allow them to sleep! Needs must sometimes.

Original poster

Bumperlicious · 25/02/2011 08:00

Defo recommend a drive. I was wincing at the petrol gauge but it was worth it for 45 mins peace while I listened to radio 4. I would have stopped somewhere but didn't want to risk waking up.

Flora I would go for medised but dh wouldn't have it after the guidelines changed. He's v by the book!

She actually didn't wake at all after eventually going to bed at 9.30. But she must have been knackered from the night before. It's going to be a long day though...

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Sammy74 · 25/02/2011 09:52

I feel your pain. My DD2 is five months and we are on day 4 of chickenpox. She is covered and although she is in good spirits during the day she is finding it hard to sleep at night.

She is smothered in calamine lotion which doesn't seem to stop the itching.

Do you think I could do the bicarb bath thing for her even though she is so young?

I am thanking the lord that DD1 is at nursery today as I am knackered. She has had the chickenpox vaccine so I am waiting to see whether it works (I bloody hope so)

Rhian82 · 25/02/2011 10:10

DS had it a few weeks ago. It mainly affected him at night, but what we found helped was his Aveeno cream (prescribed for his eczema). It's oatmeal based I think, but smothering his nappy area in that at night seemed to help, and I think the fact that he's covered with it all over twice a day did help keep it manageable in general.

Restrainedrabbit · 25/02/2011 10:20

How's it going today Bumper? I feel your pain (and itchiness!) DD1 is like a bear with a sore head and has spots on her vulva now - ouch :( Dreading DS (2.4) and DD2 (20 weeks) going down with it as there is even less to give DD2 :(

We did the bicarb bath yesterday and it really helped plus copious amounts of calamine cream frequently plus trying to distract as much as possible - Tinkerbell the film is on loop!

Elibean · 25/02/2011 12:23

Bumperlicious: use Eurax lotion, rather than the tube - you can use it three times a day!

Piriton syrup at night, really really helps.

dd2 had CP last week, but got off fairly lightly - its such a relief to have it out of the way.

Willabywallaby · 25/02/2011 12:38

DS2 had a good bout of CP when bf at 7mnths but wasn't too bothered. At least it would be over and done with. Hope things are improving x

Original poster

Bumperlicious · 25/02/2011 14:01

Thanks for the messages. We are hanging in there. Am exhausted though, my house is a tip!

Rabbit, is dd2 bfed? She might escape it, though no guarantees. If my dd2 gets it at least dd1 will be back at nursery.

We have the tv on permanently at the moment. Currently watching shrek which isn't as bad as Go Diego Go. Only 5.5 hours till dh gets home...

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Restrainedrabbit · 25/02/2011 17:13

Yup DD2 is solely BF :) we are utilising Cbeebies and all the films we recorded over the Xmas period! DS however is like caged lion from lack of exercise and stimulation!!! House looks like something from a Life of Grime LOL!

RachelHRD · 25/02/2011 17:26

Hallelujah for Cbeebies - tv on permanently here too and house a tip. Bedtime is greatly anticipated to get a break!!

Empathies to you both - thank heavens for Mumsnet!!

SharkSkinThing · 25/02/2011 20:02

Reading this with (increasingly worried) interest - help!

DS is 7 months old and my best friend has just called to say her DS (who is six), has just come down with chicken pox. We saw them on Monday so I reckon there's a good chance DS is now incubating.

I'm confused, though - once the spots come out, is he then infectious still? Because right now he may or may not be, but should I stay in? For two weeks?! Obviously I'm warning friends of the situation.

If he does get it and the spots emerge, how long do I need to keep him in for/away from others? Can I take him out for a walk in the pushchair if it's remote (we can have some long beach walks!).

Sorry for what may seem like daft questions, am first time mum!

schmee · 25/02/2011 20:20

Feeling everyone's pain as we did this last year. Sharkskin - if he does get it you need to keep him in once he has the spots until they have scabbed over (i.e. there can still be marks but they are no longer oozy).

It can take 14 or even 21 days to appear from exposure, so realistically you can't be expected to stay in for all that time on the off-chance that your DS might have it. Also, he may well have some immunity if you are BF or, I think, some maternal immunity for the first year of life.

I have to admit to having gone into the chemist to pick up necessities when first child got it - put him in buggy under raincover and went at a quiet time as quickly as I could. I did however keep them both in for more than three weeks as I knew other DTS would get it and would be infectious beforehand.

Incidentally I had to take the second child to the Drs as he got infected in his eyes, and the surgery told me to bring him in. They gave me a chair to wait in by the entrance rather than the main waiting room, but didn't seem particularly worried about the risk of infection.

CPtart · 25/02/2011 20:41

My two year old had cp and although I was bf my 2 week old, he caught it too - albeit very mild,

AintMissBeehiving · 25/02/2011 20:52

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is Poxclin mousse. Brilliant stuff - cools, soothes and easy to apply. Worked so much better than calamine etc. Bicarb also good.

missmapp · 26/02/2011 09:52

Thank you schmee- makes me feel less gulity about my flit to the chemist, ds2 was also under rain cover and I waited until the chemist was empty. He is on the mend now, and I am very thankful to good friends who have taken ds1 out this week as he would have had a very dull half term otherwise. He has already had the pox so at least I know we are all clear ( hopefully!!!)

Original poster

Bumperlicious · 26/02/2011 10:41

Yes i am wondering if I should quarantine DD2 until I know if she is going to get it. I will make sure she stays away from pg friends.

How do I know when DD1 is no longer infectious?

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SharkSkinThing · 26/02/2011 10:51

Thanks, Schmee. He is BF, so fingers crossed he'll escape it - one part wants me to get it over with, but the idea of staying in for a week does not appeal!

Hope everyone else is not going too bonkers, and your little ones are getting better.

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