Chicken Pox - unsure what to do!!

[rostbeef]

Hi all, I know this is lame but I am a first time parent and really unsure of what to do. OK - last night in the bath we noticed one red spot on my 14month old DD's stomach. Thought maybe insect bite. She went to bed fine then woke in the night unhappy with a horrible barking cough. I thought maybe croup, she was also wet (BLOODY PAMPERS) so we changed and settled her. In the morning the cough was gone but she is grizzly and keeps lying down - very unlike her. No temp. Then I noticed the spot was yellow fluid filled.
Now I have just seen - before my eyes it seems three more spots on her back and chest.
Is this CP? She has recently gone to a new play group which had a recent outbreak...
she also has runny poos.
Google has helped me diagnose but do I need to see a doctor? How can I be sure its Chicken Pox?? just not 100% sure.
Any advice for a clueless mother gratefully received!

You can get the doctor to diagnose it. If you call them to make an apt they will probably want to quarantine you in a side room so you don't come into contact with other people (they did that when DS had it). When DD had it she was so ill that we had out first ever home visit, she looked dreadful.

IME it takes a few days to really get going so a quick apt now might help and will give you time to get stocked up on calpol & lotions.

FWIW both of mine have had it twice as babies, then again as toddlers.

Hope she doesn't feel too poorly.

Thank you. Is Calamine lotion the thing??
Called docs no appts but hopefully get in tomorrow. As the day wears on more spots are appearing so I am pretty certain now.

How long did your DD take to get over it?

acqueous calamine cream helped my 2 with chicken pox. You can also use oats or bicarbonate of soda in the bath if she is itchy. Get some piriton as well as it also helps calm the itching. My dd was quite bad for a couple of nights and in total was off nursery for about a week (ds didnt seem too fussed by his but was only 5 1/2 months old at the time!). They are contagious for 1-2 days before the spots appear and for 5-7 days afterwards (until they scab over). I didnt take mine to the doctors but did ring them to get it put on their files.

Virasoothe gel is good, costs about £7 but it seems to stop spots scabbing and scarring so much, especially if you put it on as they are emerging.

Can I ask a cp related question even if this is not my thread please?
If I am immune due to having had it before, could I still pass it onto someone non-immune?

Try and give her a nice smoothie to up her vitamins. The bicarb bath or oats stuffed in tights then left the run the water over it to release soothing juice. I second the cream nicer than lotion.

My gp said he didn't want to see my 7 year old but did want to see ds2 who was also 14 months when he had it. He said they like to listen to babies chests but they are usually fine. We used Poxclin, its like a foaming cleanser in consistency and so is really easy to apply. Also agreed about piriton, it seemed to take the edge off the itch and make them a bit drowsy.