Bad case of chicken pox leading to a gaping, deep wound... how do I medicate?

[Theonewhowantsitall]

Hi all,

If there are any people on here, ideally with medical experience, please can you help me...

My 3 year old boy developed chicken pox 3 weeks ago. He had a very bad dose and was very flu'y and millions of spots, many big. One particular spot scabbed black (as did others) and as the scab got smaller the open hole behind started to show.
I put antiseptic cream and a plaster on it and when checking the next day, it was open, yellowy/green puss and big. Although I would say clean.

GP came out and confirmed its clean and prescribed antibiotic cream and advised to keep putting on plasters and using cream until it dried up a little.

It isn't drying, after 5 days and is a bit bigger, with a red ring and the 2 cm diameter is darkening slightly. He's happy and not drowsy etc. and it still looks clean, just red ring and yellowy/green deep hole.

Long (gross) story later... do I go back to GP or shall I leave it open and hope it dries well?!!

My 13 month old daughter now has CP and even worse, dreading her getting something like this :-(
Please help/advise if you can? Xx

Go back to the GP as they might be able to suggest ways of preventing scarring. Also ask them if you can apply Aquaphor (link below) as my sons laser surgeon recommends it for healing and scar prevention. It works brilliantly in my opinion too.

www.boots.com/en/Eucerin-Aquaphor-Soothing-Skin-Balm-40ml_1235541/

Hope your little ones get better soon!

go back to the gp. chicken pox can lead to awful complications if it hits the bone. do not hesitate.

Thank you Clockless, how do I know if it's hit the bone? It's on his side so close to his ribs anyway?? I always worry about wasting the GP's time, won't he say it's not a problem if he's reasonably happy in himself? I'm so confused and worried :-/

go back to gp or see the nurse practitioner there - it is not wasting time !

Yep go back, a little girl at the nursery I manage had terrible time and complications due to skin infection following chicken pox. Don't worry about wasting their time, they would rather see him.

He may need a different course of antibiotics.

Hope he gets better soon.

This sounds really horrid, I'm sorry.

I heard of someone who developed something called necrotising fasciitis from chicken pox, you really do need to make sure it isn't this, I'm sorry I don't know much about it but the black scab thing sounds like the story I read.

I think you ought to try and get a second opinion, is there another GP you could see - I think I'd be going to A&E but then I do tend to panic unnecessariy and if he is Ok in himself it might be fine.

Hope this doesn't make you frantic. I just thought it worth mentioning.

Actually having just looked it up, I think he would show systemic signs of illness if it were that.

But still, there could be a secondary bacterial infection in the wound and after 5 days I think it ought to be improving.

Do take him back.

He may need oral antibiotics rather than a cream. The fact the red ring is getting darker may show that the infection isn't been treated effectively by the cream. I'd definetly go back to the dr.

Thank you everyone, it is so comforting to read your comments, just what I needed!
I did take him back today, the doctor agreed that it should have cleared up and was looking worse and very nasty (although clean) and prescribed an oral antibiotic alongside the cream. He also checked my daughter over too, who is smothered and developed a cough last night which hadn't helped me with my maternal panicking!!

I try desperately to handle things myself and not blow things out of proportion but you have all helped me put things in perspective, my babies come first. Please keep doing what you're doing xx

Glad you've been seen and got some different meds.

My DS had it at 7 months and was absolutely covered with spots, not a clear patch. Even his scalp was covered. I give him frequent baths in calamine and tea tree oil, as in 2-3 times a day. I was liberal with how much tea tree went in the bath too, like up to 20 drops in a baby bath full of water. It did seem to heal them up quite quickly.

And kept him in light clothing so that the spots were kept dry. Can you get a breathable wound dressing, like some light gauze, so that the air can still get to it?

I have quite bad pox scars from having it bad as a kid. Horrible illness!

I think doctors prefer a parent that is over cautious than one that waits til it's an emergency situation. The worst that can happen is they'll reassure you everything is ok and send you on your way.

In my experience, with young children, you can't be too careful. Don't hesitate to go back if they're still bad in a few days.

I'm glad you went back to the doctor!

If the spots are very itchy you can give piriton (for age 12months and over), also poxcillin and there are other gels/creams to relieve chickenpox (ask pharmacist/Boots etc.).

Light cotton clothes are best and obviously keeping nails as short as possible and lots of distraction.

If you are at risk of getting it yourself you can ask for anti-virals, they work as long as you take them within 24-48 hours of having contracted cp.

It is a nasty disease, usually mild but by no means always. The worst spots you can also try to cover with 'Mepore', special bandages used after surgery, ask Boots they usually sell them or google them (you can buy them online as well).

I hope they get better soon.

Virasoothe is also good (Boots sells it, others probably as well, maybe even Tesco).

I take photos on my phone to monitor whether a wound like this is getting better or worse.

Hope it's improving!