Think Ds has chicken pox, what should I give him to help right from the start?

[JaneB1rkin]

He's nearly 5, and off school anyway as he has impetigo/something like that on his mouth and nose. Just been to surgery, and now I've got him home and he seems to have a few spots elsewhere. It's been going round his class so fairly certain that's what it is.

He's also had a temp the last few days, and I've been giving him nurofen.

I heard somewhere that you shouldn't give them nurofen with c.pox but not sure what I can give instead to make him more comfy? He's a bit tearful and sad.

Also if I start him on something like piriton will that help it not get too bad? And virasoothe etc...when do you start giving them those things?

I know about the oats in the bath thing. Thankyou for any tips

Also I know it's a bit unfortunate about going to the Drs with him, but thankfully there were only some teenagers there and an old lady so hopefully he's not exposed anyone unduly...Oh dear. He didn't have anything obvious when we went out!

DD (3) also has the pox atm. I hadn't heard about not using nurofen with c.pox - any idea why? We've been alternating calpol and calprofen, and giving her 2-3 doses of piriton overnight when she wakes. Haven't used calamine lotion on her as my friends older DD had it and said that the calamine made it drier and itchier so we've been slatheirng her in a lavender and chamomile moisturiser instead. Her back is covered and ever so often she reverses up to you saying 'cream' so she seems to think its helping. A friend recommended bicarb in the bath to help dry the spots out quicker but we haven't tried it yet, DD just likes being in the bath anyway.

Hope your DS doesn't have it too badly, watching this space for more tips as expecting DS2 to follow suit sometime soon!

My Gp recomends a homeopathic remedy. I think it's called Rhus tox or something. It's meant to reduce the number of spots. Most pharmisists round her stock them in little green tubes. You need to start the pills (they're tiny, about 2mm across and can be chewed) very easly on to have effect.

BRILL. Thankyou. I'll go and get some now this minute...just rang boots and the lady said Piriton is only for if they get very itchy, so will get some in just in case.

Oh dear I think it's going to be a long week or four (ds1 hasn't had it yet!)

Will leave ds2 in the car when I go in the shop, don't worry. I always promised myself I'd be considerate about things like this so now's the time!
(rang surgery just to let them know, they were dead nice about it)