How does chicken pox start?

[McKayz]

DS2 has woken up this morning covered in spots. They aren't large pus filled spots but just look like lots of tiny zits really.

Is this how chicken pox starts? He isn't ill, he's demanding his breakfast and running around like normal.

I'm going to give the dr a ring at 8.

Thanks.

ime they look like insect bites to begin with, get a bit larger then some will become pusy over next few days. They come out in batches, start with a few, more will appear later to day then tomorrow, if so.

The nurse said it is chicken pox. I am hoping he stays as he is now, feeling fine in himself and just spotty.

Oh god I think my dd has got it. She feels fine and has gone to school but she has been itching a little cluster of spots on her tummy. Feel awful now, should I take her to docs in morning?

Both mine had this earlier in the year. I agree with LIZS in the appearance of the spots. DS sailed thru it no probs but DD had it 2 weeks later to the day and was really spotty and very poorly. The spots can be in the mouth and everywhere. And I mean EVERYWHERE. There's some top tips on archived Mumsnet forums esp the one recommending oatflakes in a sock in warm bath water + Piriton to ease the itching. I always thought calamine was the way to go, as per my 70's childhood but it tends to make the itching worse. Good luck anyone going thru it - it's a horrid disease.

No need to go to doctor unless they have other symptoms. Dd3 has it atm, spotty as anything but eating and drinking happily!

Wibble, the nurse said to use calamine lotion. Should we not use it? He isn't itching them at all.

I was recommended Eurax cream for the itching.

McKayz, I would say if calamine works for you then use it if necessary. It sounds like your little 'un symptoms are similarly mild like my DS's. I just found the warm baths and Piriton worked better for us to alleviate the itching but each case differs vastly. Am sure you will find equal numbers of calamine fans on MN! Like I said, with DS you would hardly have known anything wrong with him apart from him being quite spotty and hardly any itching but DS felt very sorry for herself and was Itch-Central! It was awful. Just wanted to highlight how it differs from case to case plus share some alternative and different treatments that helped me :)

How are all the spotty specimens out there today? And how are the mums?

DS2 is very spotty. More seem to appear all the time. But he's still acting same as normal and very happy.

Do you know when DS1 will get it if he catches it from his brother?

Sounds very much like my experience with DS. I believe the incubation period is 10-14 days but they are contagious a few days before the spots appear and until the spots scab over. I got loads of info from here:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/chickenpox/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Glad to hear your DS2 is well in himself. If DS1 gets it I hope he sails thru it too. It'll be a bit of a waiting game for you a while. Keep smiling! :)

I really need DS1 to get it ASAP as I'm 32 weeks pg. So the sooner he gets it the better.

My DCs have all just had it. DD got it a month ago. Came up with a few spots on day 1, day 2 lots of spots, day 3 very lathargic, day 4 spots all scabed over and fine. exactly 2 weeks later DTs got it. They were very spotty from the start and were quite feverish for the first couple of days. There is a photo of DS1 on my profile at day3. They are now all over it, though all 3 kids still have scabs - DD 4 weeks later! We just used calpol, piriton and calamine cream

McKayz. If you had chicken pox as a child you are probably immunue, but if you become unwell you need to see your GP asap. Checkout NHS Choices A-Z for info.