I need stories of your 18mo’s with chickenpox please.

[NewMumSept2014]

DS (17.5m) has CP really badly. DD- older had it 3 weeks ago and in retrospect probably didn’t have it too badly but he’s COVERED. Loads of really big deep ones and there’s not an inch of his chest/ back/ forehead that’s free of them. I know he’ll be fine and hopefully the worst will be over soon but I’m so worried about scarring, esp on his face.
Anyone else have any advice? Or stories/ reassurance about how similar worked out? I’m using calpol/ piriton/ virasoothe regularly with bicarbonate of soda /aveeno in bath but he’s just so uncomfortable.

My youngest had them at 18 months. Spiked high temperatures for 2 days and was miserable, but bounced back quickly. My eldest who was 6 had a more severe case, but after day 3 was itchy but not feeling as poorly.

If it is really severe and he doesn't seem quite right get him get by a doctor (phone in advance and they will provide a room at the GP or mention it at reception if urgent care/a&e, so you don't expose people in the waiting area). Sometimes they can prescribe anti-viral aciclovir for very severe cases that can reduce the severity and duration.

My DD has them at 18 months and came out with them the day before we were due to fly out for holiday! Needless to say we had to cancel and claim on insurance. DD were very deep, all over her body, in her hair and on her face. I was very concerned about scarring but one year on you cannot see any whatsoever. Only one slight pink mark on her back which was the deepest, biggest one it started on. Not a scar, just pink skin that will eventually go all together. She had very deep craters initially but they quickly filled in. I found poxclin mousse from Boots the best thing. Instant relief and no mess. I just gave piriton, calpol and poxclin. It soon settled down after about 5 days of them coming out. Make sure you cut his nails as short as possible so he can’t scratch as this will make scarring worse or could lead to infection. Please be reassured it will be ok!

My DS had infected CP at 6 months old. You couldn’t put a little finger anywhere on his body without hitting the spots, they were even up his nose and down his throat. The GP said he’d never seen a little one like that, and gave me very strong meds to knock him out with (as he screamed if you touched him so couldn’t even cuddle him) as well as antibiotics. Once the antibiotics kicked in the spaces between the spots cleared up and he looked more human.
He got a horrible cough after the pox, and it was the scabs in his throat falling off!
His abdomen looked like he had a nasty rash still when he was 2 as he was badly scarred, but the GP reassured us that they would fade, and eventually they did, but it took a few years to get rid of all the marks.
Hope your DS improves soon.

My dd had it very severely at 2. She was very scarred initially, mainly on her face. They have faded lots in the 3 years since. Little pock marks are still on her forehead but are gradually becoming less and less obvious as she grows