When to worry about chicken pox

[trombolese]

Hi, wondering if people had similar experiences so I can calm my brain a bit - for the record I’m waiting for 111 to call me back.

The ol pox has been circulating my kids for a couple of weeks and it was my 4yos turn this week (sods law, the week we are on holiday - luckily a driveable one not a plane situation!). Anyway, it started low key on Sunday with a few spots but Monday morning he had a funny turn, went white as a sheet then very very grey, his lips pale and he said after the event that his legs went wobbly and he couldn’t see properly (so if someone hadn’t picked him up he probably would have fainted). Recovered after about 15 or so mins then got incredibly feverish - temp of 40, chills etc. From this point spots started multiplying in front of our eyes and I just knew he’d have it bad. Assuming the fainting thing was his immune system getting a bit of a shock.

Since then he’s literally got 100 times worse. He is absolutely COVERED from head to toe in blisters, huge huge ones in his ears, eyes, mouth, genitals, legs, palms of his hands and soles of his feet, his back and stomach are unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. Calpol and piriton helps for about an hour as does poxclin but the 4-6 hours between doses of all of these he is screaming in agony, his temperature shoots straight back up after 1.5 hours, he’s sweating beyond belief, he’s now not eaten for 2 full days and has not used to the loo today despite drinking milk and has been essentially completely bed bound since Tuesday morning. He can’t walk or stand up straight, he’s shaky, still feverish. Oat baths aren’t helping him at all and he’s just screaming in agony when we give him them. I’m at a loss. I’m concerned some of them are infected (sort of puss-y around the scab) so have applied some antibiotic cream we have to try and dry them out.

Just wondering if anyone else’s LO’s had it this extreme and what they did about it? Did you treat at home? Hospital? Seek medical advice? Etc. Think I just want to know if this is an extreme case or normal! My 2yo was SO mild in comparison and I thought that was bad. TIA.

I would call 111 now, based on your description.

I would be straight on the phone to 111 now.

I know two children who had it this badly and both needed hospital for secondary infections, hydration and symptom management.

I'd get medical help. Doesn't sound normal

Your child very clearly needs to see a doctor OP, wait for 111 to call back if you want but I’d be taking them to the GP Or a&e now rather than waiting. hopefully theyl will be on the mend soon enough

Yep, I'd definitely be seeking immediate medical attention for those symptoms. My (now 5 year old) had it at 3.5 and apart from a mild fever before the spots came out and just a few days of uncomfortable itching it it wasn't really that problematic.

CP can cause secondary infections and although I wouldn't be alarmed at not wanting to eat, the lack of hydration/toileting would give me great cause for concern, as well as the sweating and weakness/fatigue.

Thanks all. Waiting for 111 to call me back, unfortunately we are in Cornwall and not at all close to a walk in or GP centre or an A&E otherwise would have been down there in a flash. Could be up to 6 hours wait for a call back so if I’ve not heard anything by 4pm I may have to make the 1 hour+ trek there anyway…I just don’t want him to be in the car unnecessarily as he’s in agony. He won’t even let us near him. Poor thing, I’ve never seen him this unwell.

Did you not try calling your own GP?

We are no where near our own GP so not sure they’d be a lot of good? To be honest, they’re not a lot of good anyway even if we were there 🙈 obviously I’d have done that if we were at home!

Oops sorry forgot you weren't at home
Ignore me 🙂

You're right to be seeking medical advice. Your poor little boy. How horrible for him.

Where abouts in Cornwall are you? We go there regularly and there are some excellent medical centres that areveryused to treating tourists. We needed medical help for DD when we were on holiday a couple of years ago and were very well looked after. I'm sure 111 will be able to advise you.

I hope he feels better soon.

What did they say OP?

When my DD was incredibly poorly with C-Pox, horrific temperature etc, turned out she also had an ear infection.

Biggest risk with C-pox is blood poisoning from an infected spot.

I hope 111 have called you back.

We are on our way to an urgent treatment centre for him to be looked over and hopefully they can help. He’s had a very small wee which smelt very strong but he’s still in agony, drowsy, sweaty and feverish etc. If they fob us off I’ll be really shocked if this is what they consider a normal reaction to chicken pox!

We are on our way to an urgent treatment centre for him to be looked over and hopefully they can help. He’s had a very small wee which smelt very strong but he’s still in agony, drowsy, sweaty and feverish etc. If they fob us off I’ll be really shocked if this is what they consider a normal reaction to chicken pox!

Hope he’s ok . My son was extremely ill with it but he was immunocompromised and admitted Very fast and home again after some treatment

hope you’re son recovers well and gets some help he needs
keep going mum you got this

Update: they gave him some oromorph to settle his pain and offered anti virals or a sedative as they didn’t really know what to do with him and of course a drip as he was quite dehydrated. He was really drowsy and had puked up all of his medication and fluids but they said apparently this isn’t cause for concern 😳 The doctor is convinced the spots aren’t infected because they don’t smell (I know things do smell when they’re infected but come on 😩) even though they are very angry and full of puss (not like normal CP fluid) so I will keep an eye out. We have open access to go back..they did say we could stay overnight but they wouldn’t do anything until the morning so we thought he’d definitely be more comfortable at the holiday house. He’s still absolutely refusing to walk which is concerning as the CP on his feet have cleared up, wondering if he’s just being stubborn or something else is going on. They didn’t even check his chest, ears, eyes, nothing despite the fact he was essentially completely out of it with a fever and not making much sense.

All of it is so odd. He has perked up a bit today and has had fluids so I’m hoping it is just a very very bad case and there’s nothing underlying going on. Thanks for all of your replies xx

How is her? I hope he's much improved.

Hope he's okay OP.