Chicken Pox Help Please

[tbtf]

DD 19m has got chicken pox, refusing calpol, really under the weather, keeps saying "Ouchie" looks to have some in her ear and one right on her lower eye lid waterline. I think I've seen some in her mouth too 😭 I need all your tips:

How do I get calpol / nurofen in her? She screams as soon as she sees the syringe, refuses a spoon too. I've tried tilting her back and squirting it in the side of her cheek but honestly it feels like abuse holding her like that crying and upset and then she splutters and coughs it out like I'm choking her.

Anything more I can do than calamine lotion? we've had oat baths too. The local pharmacy didn't have anything else so it'll be a drive away which might be a nice trip out at the mo 🤷🏻‍♀️

Can you put the medicine in a yogurt if she will eat that?
We used virasoothe which was a gel and much better than calamine. I've also heard good things about poxclin mousse. You can order them on Amazon for next day delivery.

@Torvi

Can you put the medicine in a yogurt if she will eat that? We used virasoothe which was a gel and much better than calamine. I've also heard good things about poxclin mousse. You can order them on Amazon for next day delivery.

I've not found a yoghurt that she likes, tried all different brands, she's CMPA so tried oat, soya, coconut, fruit flavoured, plain, ones full to the brim with sugar, she's not interested at all.

I'll go to a bigger pharmacy and try and find those you mentioned. Thank you so much.

If she’s drinking milk then add it to that

Otherwise, if she will drink from the teat of a bottle you can place the syringe in there and let her drink it out. I find the calpol syringe very hard so I’m not surprised it’s hurting her

Hope she feels better soon

Virasoothe and poxclin mousse. Keep an eye on any bad fevers or dodgy looking spots, both my boys ended up with infections.

Medicine wise, my youngest is a refuser. Tip from a nurse was literally pin him down, hold his nose, squirt medicine in and blow in his face hard.

It sounds awful (and it is) but it's the only way to get even a little bit into him

@ShirleyPhallus

If she’s drinking milk then add it to that

Otherwise, if she will drink from the teat of a bottle you can place the syringe in there and let her drink it out. I find the calpol syringe very hard so I’m not surprised it’s hurting her

Hope she feels better soon

She doesn't have a bottle, never has, so I don't have any bottle teats.

The syringe isn't hurting her, she's refusing to let it anywhere near her.

@whataballbag

Virasoothe and poxclin mousse. Keep an eye on any bad fevers or dodgy looking spots, both my boys ended up with infections.

Medicine wise, my youngest is a refuser. Tip from a nurse was literally pin him down, hold his nose, squirt medicine in and blow in his face hard.

It sounds awful (and it is) but it's the only way to get even a little bit into him

I am a bit worried that some spots look red around the outside. We're at the weepy stage of the blisters m. I keep checking her temp and it's fine so far but I know that can probably change quickly

Just a reminder to not give nurofen (when you eventually get it down her). It can make chickenpox worse.

Poxclin mousse was amazing when my 18mnth had c pox. Will she suck an ice lolly? Could try freezing Calpol into a sugar free squash or milk lolly or ice cubes. Really silly question but have you tried just giving it on a spoon?

Oh wait yes you have tried a spoon sorry.

Try Playing doctors feeding teddies, then you (with water) then try her?

I would pin her down for medicine .
If she has sores on her eye you need to contact her GP.

I was going to recommend piriton but if you’re struggling with calpol then maybe not. Have you tried oatmeal baths? Works wonders in soothing the itching. Just pop it in a sock and tie with a bobble then pop it in the water.

DO NOT GIVE NUROFEN to a child with chicken pox unless advised to by a medical professional www.nhs.uk/conditions/chickenpox/

Pinning her down for calpol is probably your best option, just be appropriately firm and swift. Seeing a nurse do it to my medicine refuser gave me confidence to try and it's not as bad as you think. Being calm and soothing isn't always the best approach for medicine refusers.

I'd also recommend speaking to your GP because of the eye located ones just to see if they want to check her over. Whilst most children endure chicken pox fine, there are always exceptions so it doesn't hurt to check.

Hope your daughter feels better soon.

Virasoothe was a life saver in our house! 2 DC had chickenpox within weeks of eachother at the start of the first lockdown. We also used piriton for kids. Can you add medicine to a milkshake?

The spots will be red around the edges, as long as they're intact and don't feel warm they should be ok, but of course keep an eye on them. DC had a couple fill with blood and they didn't get infected or anything either. But DC2 had literally hundreds of spots, over 100 just on face and neck, it was a tough week.

Hope she's feeling better!

Thanks everyone! I went out and got the sugary calpol rather than the sugar free ones I had already. She had it mixed with a "free from" chocolate mousse. I was over the moon.

She slept 7pm- 7am and 3.5hr nap in the middle of the day yesterday. She also ate a huge plate of fish chips and peas

Also got virasoothe and it's really magic thanks everyone for the recommendation.

We're on day 5 and still new spots are coming, is that normal?

@DimOndCadwAnadlu

DO NOT GIVE NUROFEN to a child with chicken pox unless advised to by a medical professional www.nhs.uk/conditions/chickenpox/

Pinning her down for calpol is probably your best option, just be appropriately firm and swift. Seeing a nurse do it to my medicine refuser gave me confidence to try and it's not as bad as you think. Being calm and soothing isn't always the best approach for medicine refusers.

I'd also recommend speaking to your GP because of the eye located ones just to see if they want to check her over. Whilst most children endure chicken pox fine, there are always exceptions so it doesn't hurt to check.

Hope your daughter feels better soon.

@DimOndCadwAnadlu thank you so much for the warning on nurofen I saw it on the NHS website and was really surprised, I didn't realise at all. I hadn't given any nurofen but I might have if you hadn't reminded me, I'm really grateful, thank you.

@DimOndCadwAnadlu oh also I did speak to the GP Nurse late on Thursday and they weren't worried about the one on her eyelid, it went down really quickly, I also mentioned quite an angry one in her ear and tongue and back of her mouth / throat... was told to ring back if she had any on her eyeballs

Do you know if new spots on day 5 is common / normal? I hoped we were past the new spots stage?

What about paracetamol suppositories? Works much much efficiently than (oral) calpol & children don't have the eww factor of medicine up their bum

@choosername1234

What about paracetamol suppositories? Works much much efficiently than (oral) calpol & children don't have the eww factor of medicine up their bum

I think I will get some of those, I've never used them before so that'll be something new to learn 😂