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Children's health

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Original poster

Five week old chicken pox

11 replies

PassTheCremeEggs · 20/12/2013 22:16

Looks like 5 week old DS has caught chicken pox from toddler DD who had it two weeks ago.

Am I meant to ring doc when it's such a young baby? I assume there's nothing they can do so if I am meant to, anyone know why?

OP posts:

sallysparrow157 · 20/12/2013 22:21

Yes, it is worth getting a medical review, a doctor may want to prescribe anti viral medication for a baby so young

Rootvegetables · 20/12/2013 22:24

I think the nhs website says you should get it confirmed by your GP but I would go with such a little baby.

catsdogsandbabies · 20/12/2013 22:25

My baby had it at 7 days from toddler. There is a protocol as to whether antivirals are given, have you had it? Was baby term? Was baby small? etc etc and then they decide if anti-virals are needed.

Original poster

PassTheCremeEggs · 20/12/2013 22:25

Thanks for your replies. Do you think this can wait till tomorrow or should I be ringing the out of hours service? I'm feeling probably a bit too relaxed about it, should I be more worried?!

OP posts:

StarlightMcKingsThree · 20/12/2013 22:29

My dd had it at 9 weeks. I was on a cruise . Never occurred to me to spend £100 on a doctor and his subsequent confinement order.

Beehatch · 20/12/2013 22:31

I would contact then just to make sure. Also it's worth pointing it out that getting CP at this age makes them more prone to shingles if they get exposed again. I know this because DS got shingles at 18m and we didn't even realise he'd had CP - but it must have been young. Think the antivirals can help.

3bunnies · 20/12/2013 22:36

I think antivirals work best if taken as soon as possible after the first symptoms appear. You could try out of hours service and see what they say. Tell them that your toddler had it 2 weeks ago so you are fairly sure it is CP.

catsdogsandbabies · 20/12/2013 22:38

You could try NHS direct or whatever it is now but mine were useless and told me to contact my GP. The guidelines here: www.patient.co.uk/health/chickenpox-in-children-under-12 suggest antivirals or immunoglobulins are only used in babies under 1 month

3bunnies · 20/12/2013 22:38

Also less likely to develop immunity so more likely to catch it again.

ilovepowerhoop · 21/12/2013 10:00

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Chickenpox/Pages/Complications.aspx - says complications more common in babies under 4 weeks old. I would contact the doctor but they will probably not to anything to treat it.

Jinty64 · 21/12/2013 13:17

My nephew had it at 5 weeks and had no problems. He has not had it again despite his younger brother having it.

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