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Original poster

help please...DD is screaming with pain and itching from chicken pox, what can I do?

30 replies

MrsShrekTheThird · 23/04/2011 00:18

so far have put calamine lotion on regularly (we're only on day 3 of spots) and calpol. She's so distressed I have no idea what to do with her now. We've got rid of clothes/pj's for now as they're rubbing the sore spots, esp on her tummy :(

OP posts:
FannyFifer · 23/04/2011 00:30

Antihistamine.

FannyFifer · 23/04/2011 00:31

A bath with bread soda in it will give quick relief as well.

LadyCornyOfSilk · 23/04/2011 00:33

aw bless - calpol and calamine. I remember sleeping on the couch with my ds as he couldn't bear the covers.

LadyCornyOfSilk · 23/04/2011 00:33

we found the calamine cream better than the lotion

lemonsquish · 23/04/2011 00:33

Yes definately piriton and baking soda in a coolish (not cold!) bath. Its horrible isn't it.

youmaynotlikethis · 23/04/2011 00:43

wen my ds10 had it realy bad i was on the phone to the docs n they cud hear him screaming n i begged with them to help,sent me to a n e n they gave me sum medicine to help him sleep n he slept 12hours

Am36butfeel66 · 23/04/2011 00:53

I also agree with piriton, calamine cream (my dd hated the lotion as she said it stung...but the cream was ok), baking soda in a Luke warm bath. Calpol.

You can also make a paste with baking soda and water and dab it on to the skin.

Cool loose clothing.

I also gave my dd a dose of nurofen each day to dampen down the inflammation.

and a bottle or wine for you...

Good luck, it is horrible when they have pox...

Original poster
MrsShrekTheThird · 23/04/2011 01:17

huge thank you - wasn't able to post but could read your words of wisdom. Done antihistamine and a bath with the blue savlon soothing stuff which was the best I could lay my hands on for now
not sure about nurofen, will try a bit in the morning, she has asthma and we've only had it in hospital before now. she was fine tho; so probably ok, I just don't think I should start it at night.
Didn't know about calamine cream - will go hunting for it tomorrow, she complains the liquid's too cold. She has eczema as well and I'm thinking maybe her skin's excessively sensitive.

she's settled a bit, she's peering over my shoulder and wants to know if this is "work" Grin hopefully the antihistamine and previous calpol should knock her out help her sleep soon.

am tempted to do am36's idea and get the wine but alas a bit too late now.

OP posts:
Readytoburst · 23/04/2011 04:07

Piriton, calpol and virasoothe gel worked wonders for my dd. I was advised against calamine as it can infect the spots. Virasoothe gel is pricey but worth every penny! It cools them and soothes.

Original poster
MrsShrekTheThird · 23/04/2011 20:25

calamine cream, got it, fantastic. Just seen the ad for the virasoothe on this page...coincidence huh
will see how tonight goes and have delayed her antihistamine and calpol so both arrive at bedtime Wink

OP posts:
Am36butfeel66 · 23/04/2011 20:31

Hope that you have a better night tonight with dd. Don't forget that wine [busmile]

CarGirl · 23/04/2011 20:32

When my dd2 was miserable and not sleeping with chicken pox we ended up admitted to hospital.

Turned out she also had a hideous ear infection! Don't just assume it's the chicken pox making her so unwell.

I'm sure the hot weather is'nt helping.

cupofteaplease · 23/04/2011 20:43

Dd1's became infected and that is why she was in so much pain, added to that the skin around the spots was red and angry.

Could it be worth getting out of hours doctor to take a look?

Original poster
MrsShrekTheThird · 23/04/2011 21:00

good points, ladies. Will keep even more of an (unblinking?) eye on her to see if there's anything else going on. Yes lots of red inflamation around some of the spots. Some are just the little blisters and some have an area of angry red, double their size.

Wine soon Wink and no I haven't forgotten.

OP posts:
MissBeehivingChoclitWabbits · 23/04/2011 21:01

Found Piriton and calamine of limited effectiveness especially when the itching really started. Try Poxclin mousse - that stuff is magical. Hope she feels better soon.

Restrainedrabbit · 23/04/2011 21:06

One word: Virasoothe Grin

Original poster
MrsShrekTheThird · 23/04/2011 21:07

never heard of that - oooh this place is a mine of info! what is it and where to get?

OP posts:
CarGirl · 23/04/2011 21:07

Yes please be vigilant for sore and very inflammed spots, blood poisoning is a risk of c-pox.

I know they're miserable and itchy but non of mine were in pain IYSWIM - well apart from the one with the ear infection who glowed red and didn't sleep at all for 3 days prior to admission to hospital!

Original poster
MrsShrekTheThird · 23/04/2011 21:08

x-post restrained (love the name btw)
meant the poxclin - what is it and where to find

OP posts:
MissBeehivingChoclitWabbits · 23/04/2011 21:39

Boots - it a kind of foam - DS 2 had CP in the autumn and it was the only thing that really worked.

JenAT · 23/04/2011 21:54

Sounds a bit crazy but we tried oats in the bath. Put porridge oats in a pop sock/foot bit of old pair of tights. Tie off end and put under tap running water into bath, squeeze and milky/creamy liquid comes out into bath water.
it definitely helped soothe dd's skin when she had chickenpox. May also help if she has eczema.

Galaxymum · 25/04/2011 18:06

My DD is just getting over chickenpox that reacted with her eczema - it was infected before we realised it was the pox as the first area was horrid and oozing. We used some gauze and open weave bandages over the worst to keep down her scratching and infection but she did need antibiotics for her leg.

It's been a really difficult holiday just keeping her calm and stopping her itching. We're on day 8 now and she's not fit to go back to school this week. The soothing gel helped on her hands.

Original poster
MrsShrekTheThird · 25/04/2011 23:01

owww, your poor dd Galaxy. That's my fear, tbh. Have been bathing her in savlon stuff, very gentle version, and this lovely lot who told me about the calamine cream :) it's a huge hit. A few of them (knicker lines at the top of both legs) are looking a bit nasty, have had calamine soaked cotton wool taped on but it's such a tricky spot. She's been commando in the daytime with just lightweight trousers or shorts on, cotton or similar, undies would hurt her too much. If they look inflamed and oozy ( a few do) does it mean we need antibiotics? Her skin's rubbish there too as it's a huge eczema target usually.

OP posts:
EllieG · 25/04/2011 23:04

bicarbonate of soda in the bath helped mine lots.

TurtlesAreRetroRight · 25/04/2011 23:08

We've just been through it. DD had pox everywhere. Her eyes, ears, nose, mouth, throat, labia, bottom, everywhere. Some of them were huge and bleeding at times where she'd rubbed with the soreness.

I tried every potion and lotion going and finally tried a sock of oats in the bath and squeezing the juice out of it onto dd. It was the best thing I tried and dd sat there afterwards saying 'it's gone, it's gone, the pain's gone' like I was some kind of crap faith healer.

The aqueous calamine helped briefly too but the porridge baths were brilliant.