We have got the pox.

[Handsfullandinamuckingfuddle]

Chicken pox question. One of my DT's woke up this morning with blistery spots on his tummy, groin, bum and face. Pretty sure it is chicken pox. He seems fine with it not itching yet - does that happen later ?

What creams lotions are good to help wit irriation, itching etc ?
I have heard camomile teabags in a cool bath can help but I am otherwise clueless.
TIA

I hope she's feeling better soon. I remember early this week when my dd couldn't get comfy either, but luckily she didn't have a high temp. My one year old's pox are all scabby now. I'm glad we've managed to come through it. Take care xx

Been back to OOH Dr again.

Good news - says all ok, 'her body is coping'
Bad news - nothing can be done. Antivirals can cause renal failure apparently.

She had been refusing to drink anything so dr did say if she doesn't wee in next 12h then she needs to be admitted. She also screamed blue murder throughout the whole experience. :(

We got home, dosed again with Nurofen and she had a bit of milk to drink but continued to scream. I wouldn't be surprised if the neighbours called SS about the screaming baby.

So we're back where we started but with much more frayed nerves as the day goes on. :(

when if she has not passed urine in that time just go to A&E as she would need fluids. Hopefully she will perk up. Have you tried lollies or ice pops? So sorry to hear this x

I've come to the conclusion that she doesn't want to be touched ATM. So she is pootling round the living room. she drank 100ml of milk when we got home and has had a wee so she's hanging in there.

Ds was climbing the walls so dh has taken him out. We're gonna call nursery tnrw to see if they'll have him for a couple of days - he is normally term time only but I think he will be a nightmare being stuck at home with dd screaming/ demanding all my attention.

I am sure nursery will be more than happy to oblige. They are likely to be fairly quiet at the moment. Glad she has had a wee. Many new spots? Do any of the spots themselves look infected?

Good to hear she has had some milk and been for a wee Sleepytime hope she has a restfull night. What day are you on now ?

Wishing you a good night when and DD. I do hope she is feeling better x

Thanks guys!
Dh took her for a drive at bedtime as she wouldn't stop screaming. She fell asleep v fast but only managed about 30 mins in bed before she woke. :( I think she did a wee and it hurt her bits. :(
Dh has just taken her out in the car again as she was howling.

This is the end of day 3. Which means if he has it like ds (and all the dc on this thread) day 4 and 5 are going to be even worse! Although ds did sleep for most of day 5 so maybe she will sleep at some point...

She has managed to drink a reasonable amount considering so she's not at risk of being dehydrated.

She does look exactly like this now.

Thinking of you when do hope you both had a better night x poor little scrap and poor you and your family.

Thanks Valium! :)
She eventually fell asleep at 1am after screaming constantly for hours. But she slept till 7!
This morning she's had a drink, taken her medicines without fighting me and managed a cuddle and a nap! She couldn't bear to be cuddled yesterday! :(
She snoozed for a hour, woke up for a poop and has now fallen asleep on me! :)

If she can sleep it off I feel sure she will start to get better.

Ds has been packed off to nursery for a break. He was getting pretty distressed by her constant screaming yesterday.

Oh good. That sounds like a good improvement to me. So relieved, and I don't even know you! Make the best of the little peace you have to look after yourself as you have been through a horrid time. Housework can wait. Good DS has escaped for a while. Chances are she will feel rotten again late afternoon and evening, but hopefully not as bad. I am sure not as bad x good news on the poo too.

Whenisit, this is probably a bit late but it's not recommended that you give Nurofen to children with chickenpox as apparently it can increase the risk/effects of complications (or so said the paediatricians to us when we were at the hospital last week).

I hope however that your daughter is getting better.

We have had a hideous time with chickenpox in this house over the last few weeks so can fully sympathise.

gastro if that is the case I wish they would tell everyone! It really annoys me that it is such a common illness, yet there is no clear treatment plan for parents. Did the doctors say anything like that to you when ?

I know, I had no idea until they told me. Luckily I hadn't given it to my DD, but the docs said it would have made her reaction even worse.

Gastro I have spoken to Nhs direct 3x and OOH Dr triage nurses on phone and drs in the hospital (where Ooh is). All of them told me to carry on with Nurofen and calpol. NOBODY out of the 8 HCP, told me not to!

Did they say how/ why Nurofen is bad? Dd is in so much pain and calpol alone (even at an increased dose) doesn't do enough.

She is happily ransacking the living room and kitchen cupboards so we are definitely enjoying a lull! :)

Gastro - meant to ask how your dd is now? I am still keeping a very close eye on dd as her spots are infected but we got AB early on so they should start working today or tnrw. I'm hoping that the AB will prevent any other nasty complications....

I have googled. There are a few links to Brufen being taken by folk who later developed the flesh eating disease necrotising fasciitis but not enough proof to have widespread warnings about its use. I think that most parents give PCM as first line treatment, and only use Brufen if the child is really unwell, very high temp not addressed by PCM alone, therefore by individuals who are more likely to have an infection or complications already. I am not an expert on infection or chickenpox, but believe you did the right thing when as the very high temp was the risk at that time, and needed treating. Your little one is already on antibiotics so please God these will protect her from further complications. Even knowing the risk of Brufen I would still give it again in the circumstances you found yourself in. I am guessing gastros doctors are more specialised, so more aware of things like this.

Sorry I don't have much more info than what the docs told me about the nurofen. When DD arrived at A&E the paediatrician asked if we'd given her Nurofen and when I said no, she said that was lucky as it would probably have made things worse. She went on to say that they dont recommend Nurofen for chickenpox just to be on the safe side.

Anyway thank you for asking abou DD - she is gradually improving, though her face is still swollen (she had minor surgery to drain the infected area last week). At least she is out of hospital and we will see the docs again tomorrow to assess progress.

Certainly not criticising you gastro it was very good of you to share. All any of us can do is go by what we have been told by the professionals. Your poor little DD and poor you too. Must have been very scary.

Apparently aspirin is not recommended either. Much clearer link to complications it seems.

Aw your poor dd! Hope she makes a speedy recovery! How old is she? Big enough to understand or small enough so that she'll hopefully remember none of the trauma?

I hadn't heard any of those warnings about Nurofen! TBH tho I'd probably do the same again as her temp was so high I was worried about the complications from that.
I'm guessing the risks from Nurofen are very very slim or they'd have to have warnings all over the box.

I thought aspirin was a no-no for kids in general

It is such a minefield knowing what to do when the dc are poorly- I wonder if HCP find it any less stressful?

I had always thought vaccinating against Cp was unnecessary (based on zero experience) but I'd bite someone's hand off if I could have prevented all of this!

Sleepytime a good nights sleep and cuddles - sounds like a step in the right direction.
gastrognome that sounds awful - glad she is improving now. Good Luck for tomorrow. Thanks for the heads up re Nurofen.

We have had a rough night, poxy one in bed with me, but could not sleep - high temp, itchy uncomfortable and he is covered in big red angry spots.

He hates being in the bath and nothing that worked with DT2 is working with him. We have bought some aqua calomine (couldnt get poxcylin) and it seems to have helped, he didnt scream when we put it on and seems more comfortable now.

DT2 obviously had a very mild does because he was nothing like this.

Good luck for today everyone.

Aspirin should not be given to children, but adults who have had chickenpox have taken it and been very unwell. Your experience has made me think of the vaccination, but that can have serious implications for later in life, and thankfully complications with chickenpox are quite rare. I am sure HCPs find it stressful too, but it is not their child, and they have access to the best information and treatments. They will get 'used' to this as well, and will see much worse in the scheme of things, burns, cancers, other traumas etc..

DD1 had a pretty horrid time with CP at age 2, and she has no recollection whatsoever, yet distinctly remembers her uncle throwing her in the snow a few months earlier.

Sorry about your son handsfull