2 year old with shingles

[StarStruK]

My daughter is 2 and at the beginning of the week she developed a small rash on the side of her face that spread down her neck, under her chin and up the back of her head rather rapidly. I took her to the doctors on Wednesday who diagnosed shingles (I also then had to take her for a Covid test as she has a temperature, it's come back negative!) It's been fairly manageable until now, she has spent the night crying in pain and has been completely inconsolable. I'm giving her as much calpol/ibuprofen as I can but it doesn't seem to be making a difference. She's exhausted. Would I be unreasonable to take her back to the doctors today? I'm quite worried about her

Ah, poor thing. Shingles can make an adult feel mighty rough.

I'd definitely take her back. No doctor minds seeing a small child. And it's Friday... Always better to see the doctor today than having to get an emergency ooh appt over the weekend.

Hope she feels better soon.

Oh, and when I had shingles, I had a calendula cream that really soothed the area.

Poor little one. So hard when they can't understand why they're feeling so awful. I don't know about taking her in if she's got shingles - how long is the contagious period? I'd definitely phone the surgery first thing to get proper advice from your GP though. Good luck. You must be exhausted and worried. X

That's a good point about her being contagious, I will phone and ask them.

My DH had shingles as a young man. He never takes pain killers but even he resorted to paracetamol. Shingles can be extremely painful and , yes, you should take her back to the doctor.

OP, shingles usually develops when the body is really rundown. Is there anything else wrong with her? Has she been unwell before?

I had shingles at 9 and it was because I had developed type 1 diabetes. I'm not saying for a second she has that, but I'm surprised the Dr hasn't investigated a bit more . Poor little mite. Definitely take her back.

I’m not sure but I don’t think you’re meant to take ibuprofen for shingles.
Regular bathing in sodium bicarbonate keeps them from getting too itchy. Six hourly paracetamol too.

Oh and just to say it’s uncommon but not unheard of for toddlers to develop shingles, it doesn’t always mean there’s anything underlying. I hope she feels better

Hey how's your little one doing?

My 8 year old currently has shingles too!! It's awful. I'm waiting for NHS direct to call back as she's been in pain quite a lot (cal poly not helping much) and has intense itching.

Hoping not to be up all night with her again crying as it's heart breaking! Have you found anything is helping? X

When my DS had them at a similar age he was prescribed codeine for the pain in the end. When I went to get the prescription they rang the GP to double check as they said that it was so unusual to prescribe codeine to a child that young.

It worked though, alongside paracetamol.

My dd had shingles during the first lockdown. It was horrific for her.

I bought home bargains version of Zovirax (99p a tube instead of ££ for the real one and it's the exact same)

That, calpol and covering the area with emla and a bandage, there wasn't much else I could do for her.

I also gave piriton when I saw her scratch it incase she was itchy

@seepingweeping

My dd had shingles during the first lockdown. It was horrific for her.

I bought home bargains version of Zovirax (99p a tube instead of ££ for the real one and it's the exact same)

That, calpol and covering the area with emla and a bandage, there wasn't much else I could do for her.

Did the elma effect the rash at all? I would hate to make it worse!

I honestly don't remember shingles being itchy and I've had it twice. It is more a prickly sharp pain. It doesn't feel like chicken pox at all. The second time I had it, 15 years after the first, I went to the GP and told her what I had as it's so distinct. Both times my body was really run down and struggling and I've been told more than once by drs that I had shingles because my body was struggling with something else. (Which obviously also needs treating/sorting)

I personally would contact the Dr or NHS direct with advice before putting anything on the rash. I also have read ibuprofen isn't a good idea with chicken pox so would avoid that. If more pain relief is needed I would not hesitate to contact a doctor as the pain is so unique. Poor kids for them.

@NinaJames no it's a numbing cream. We put it on her patch of shingles and covered it.

Sorry for the late reply...
I took my daughter back to the doctors on Wednesday and they sent us to hospital so the paediatricians could have a look and she ended up spending a couple of nights. She wasn't drinking much so they gave her extra fluid and some more pain relief. We're home now, it hasnt been itchy but stings a lot, especially if she knocks it. The blistering goes right into her ear so she has also be examined by the ENT team and it seems ok but we do need to keep an eye on her hearing and we'll need to go back in a couple of weeks for a follow up.
Thank you for all your advice, it's nice to know I wasn't over reacting!