11 day old exposed to chicken pox

[ThreeBecameFour]

My dd 2.3 seems to have all the symptoms of chicken pox this evening. I have a newborn ds who is only 11 days old. I guess he will have been exposed to it now....but i am really worried as I recall it can be dangerous? Can anyone advise? I'm taking dd to the walk clinic first thing to get confirmation. What do I look out for in ds...v worried as he hasn't had any immunity to anything yet....

My daughter had chicken pox when my son was a couple of weeks old, he didn't catch it and they told me at the time it was unlikely he would as they carry some immunity from the mum for a while.

I'd call NHS they will be able to advise re both your kids. It's likely they won't need to see your dd at all tbh and I certainly wouldn't go to the walk in.

I'd be worried about the newborn too tbh but it's likely they will have immunity from you (presuming you've had it)

What twilight said. There is a lot of immunity passed from mum to baby via the placenta which protects them in early weeks. My ds aged 2 weeks also avoided c pox when Dd had it (although I did try to limit their direct contact once I realised).
This is why pgmums are being vaccinated against whopping cough as the immunity will pass to their baby after birth until baby can be vaccinated at 8 weeks.

We had this at 7 days old, toddler came out covered in spots. GPs have an algorithm to follow depending on risk. If your baby was term, a good weight and you have had chicken pox yourself they won't do anything but if your baby was smaller, premature etc or you never had it then they may give newborn an infusion of antibody to protect them. My baby had 2 spots only! He was fine but may get it again. So ask at walk in or call gp.

Agree don't take your dd to walk in as you risk infecting sick people in the waiting room. It is obvious if it is cp, what you need to discuss is the baby and risk factors.

I know it's a worry but I know of stories of 12-14 day olds coming out with CP & being fine. Just watch for high fever.

Dd came out in chicken pox when she was only ten days old she was fine and the six spots she got seemed to be enough to make her immune. Dh on the other hand who caught them at the same time was bedbound for a week.

My ds1 came out in spots the day ds2 was born... Despite me having immunity and bfing ds2 came out in spots at 14 days old. We rang the ooh num and a paeds consultant finally rang and advised us to get him to the children's ward for antiviral meds. Stayed in hosp with him for four days while they gave the meds in an iv drip. He was completely pickled with spots but very well in himself but they still insisted we have the antivirals.

Was a pain and worrying but was great to be looked after. If I hadn't told anyone I would have been so worried looking after him by myself as chicken.pox can be dangerous in a newborn.

Good luck! (and congrats on your new baby!)

Ps this was three months ago and ds2 was a good weight and born after edd if that helps.

I would call NHS Direct for advice. He probably is protected by anti-bodies he got from you assuming you have actually had chickenpox.

If he however shows signs of cp he may need antivirals as it can be very dangerous.