Chicken Pox

[tango91]

Hi all, first time posting here. My DS is 14 months old and I noticed a few spots on him Friday. Since then he's now covered, mainly on his back. We're due to go away Friday which I assume won't be happening but how long does CP generally last? I thought he would've turned a corner by now but today has been his worst day so far. More spots appearing and he's been so lethargic. I'm giving calpol and antihistamine, using virasoothe gel and bathing him twice a day with aveeno oat bath. He's miserable and it's breaking my heart. Any advice greatly appreciated. I've attached a photo of his back just incase they're infected or something more sinister and I haven't noticed

I dont see a picture but chicken pox normally scabs over within 5-7 days

They should of scabbed over by then

It wouldn't let me add a photo because I'm new! Scabbed over by Friday? I'll be thrilled if they have but I'm looking at him today I can't see it

DS has chicken pox at the moment too, the first ones which appeared on Friday are starting to scab over.

We were advised by the pharmacist not to bath him and to limit showers. As baths actually spread the infection further. So i would probably ease off on those or he will keep getting more and more spots. The NHS advice says this too.

Where are you going away to? We are abroad and were advised to carry on as normal, don't think other countries require to isolate in any way (although if he is very poorly of course you may choose not to go for that reason).

Hope he feels better soon!

Oh really? Everyone's advice so far has been to bath him with oats. We're just going across the county to visit family, il happily take him if his scabby and back to his usual self but I guess only time will tell. The spots he got Friday are scabbed over now but there's been many since that. The NHS website says for him to avoid newborns, pregnant people and vulnerable people but doesn't specifically say I can't take him anywhere. I guess that's just a moral issue, I haven't taken him anywhere except for a walk in his buggy where we didn't see a single person.

Remember not to give ibuprofen.

I know this isn’t helpful for the OP, but in case anyone is reading this and feeling sorry for a miserable baby and disrupted plans, please just vaccinate your kids…

Yes you have to pay, but compared to the costs of missing work, missing plans etc, it’s nothing

And compared to seeing a small child really unhappy and ill, it’s definitely worth it

The nhs does not say not to give baths and I've never seen info saying baths spread it further (sounds like nonsense). You are supposed to stay home with chicken pox and not go about your usual business.

I'm not an anti-vaxxer, the CP vaccine isn't routinely given in the UK and until today I didn't even know it was an option to pay for it privately. No one I know has vaccinated their baby against CP.

I don't think many do vaccinate in the uk as like you I never even new it exsisted until mine were older and they had CO at 8 months and other at 1

It's getting increasingly popular I think. We got DD vaccinated when she was 1, and the pharmacist said he'd been really busy with them in recent months. Definitely worth doing IMO if you have the money. With how disruptive to work/holidays CP can be, you could well end up saving money anyway.

Hope your little one is doing okay, OP.

Sorry OP, it wasn’t a criticism of you at all

And agree that it’s not widely known that you can pay for the jab
It would save a lot of sad children and disrupted plans if more people knew about it and had it done