Help - anyone else seen chicken pox this bad?

[indigo277]

My son came out in chicken pox on Monday (5 days ago) and he has just got progressively worse.
I called 111 yesterday who sent an ambulance. We were in a&e in an isolated room for around 5 hours. He had a high heart rate and temp. After 5 hours they discharged him and said that his spots aren't infected so take him home and bring him back if after 7 days he hasn't improved.
I'm so stressed, worried.
Looking for reassurance- has anyone else's child had chicken pox like this and healed ok??
He is covered like this over his tummy too

That looks standard to me. Both mine were like that.

Aww poor child. Dc1 was covered all over, scalp, genitals, feet everywhere. He was 3.5. He has one scar on his forehead now at 8. I found baths with a tiny amount of sea salt in helped, dried the spots out and soothed. Hope he’s on the mend.

Poor thing, my daughter had it really badly, her face and neck looked very similar though less on her tummy in comparison. I was shocked at how bad it was and we ended up with two A and E trips. I was really worried about scaring especially on her face as she was covered but she’s healed really well and has very few scars. For a good couple of months you could see darker patches on her face where the spots had been but these have now faded. Poxcilin worked well for us. I hope he improves soon but definitely get him checked out again if you’re worried.

Both mine were similar, a bit less but spots looked just the same. One has two scars on his forehead (but he had it last year, so they might go!)

The youngest has none and she was worse - wonder if the younger skin heals better!

Try not to worry - there's nothing you can really do I don't think. Even with a few scars, it's really not the end of the world.

Look after yourself too. The worst looks like it's almost over!

Vile comment. I hope your children never learn about your priorities.

OP I hope he is on the mend soon

My daughter had chicken pox last year and they were so bad. I honestly can't believe there's not more treatment out there for kids who get it. It's so awful for them. She has a few scars al over despite not picking or scratching. Your doing all the right things, it's just a waiting game for them to start to scan and go.

I hope he's okay and they look like they'll heal soon. Could you make him wear looser clothing so they don't flare up as much? I know you can't help because of the weather. It's heartbreaking. Really hope he's okay. Is he his normal self?

Bless them poor little thing. My boy has chickenpox at the min and it’s nowhere near like that - it must be so stressful for you.

we have been using this foam called poxclin - it’s been good, and putting oats in the bath like you.

ive let my little one have more biscuits and watch more paw patrol than usual - seems to have cheered him up a bit.

hope your little one gets well soon xxxx

Avoid joggers and that fleece material for now and maybe have him in loose pyjamas. With a blanket when necessary.

Oh the poor lamb!

Ds2 was that bad- absolutely covered all over and a couple were infected. I ended up doing skin to skin with him as it was the only way we could moderate his temp.

He's got very few scars (he's got more from bastard molloscum which were huge) and those he has are shallow and light so only visible if you are inches away and actually looking for them. He was one giant scab for ages though.

Hope it eases up soon.

@Velda thats not really in the spirit of this forum is it?

your poor little one OP, I’m a childminder and have seen my fair share of chicken pox cases, and whilst your child is fairly covered, it doesn’t mean they will have scars. I had it very badly as a child (even in mouth and ears) but I don’t have any scars. It won’t feel like it now, but it’s better to get it when they are younger.

If they are finding it itchy, you could try piriton. Just continue to put them in loose cotton tops and calpol when needed.

DD had them like this when she was 18 months. She was really poorly for about a week. We did oat baths, with oats in tights and gently rubbed the goo that the oats produced all over DD.
We were told not to use calamine as it dries the skin. Poxcillin was really good as was virasooth.

You can also give piriton which can help with the itching.

DD has a few pale scars but most healed fine.

I hope he's feeling better soon.

How old is he? You can also give antihistamines to help with the itch it made a huge difference when 3 year old had them. Speak to the pharmacist I think from 1 the dosage is 1ml but definitely check.
Also if you bf and have any left over milk in the freezer we found soothed the skin a lot.
Hope it passes soon and keep hands covered also judes ice lollies can help if not eating mouth sore they are lower in sugar.

My DD1 had it badly - spots in the mouth, etc. She developed thrombocytopenia as a reaction to the virus and spent a week in isolation in the hospital. As the virus entered her system, she is now at risk for shingles.
By the time DS was born there was a vaccine and so he had no illness and no future risk.

Poor child ! my middle child had it bad but not as bad as yours ,his brother had a mild dose at the same time.
I found that when they got to the stage of the scabs drying out they were uncomfortable again so i used oilatum bath which really soothed and sped up the healing.
I hope you little one is on the mend soon .

My youngest was like that. It's hard to imagine them ever looking normal again but they do, almost as fast as it started. Ignore @Velda what an insensitive thing to say

Yes this was my dd at 6 months. It was so terrible. I was sick with worry and frankly scared to look at her in the night as I could feel them coming out in her skin holding her when it was dark. She was ok and only has two faint scars. I did the oatmeal baths a lot but I also used dermol 500 to wash her and mixed in the bath water. It’s an anti microbial so keeps infection at bay and it’s for itchy skin. When I was drying her I used Poxcillin mousse on the genital areas. She didn’t get much relief from virasoothe and seemed happier with old fashioned chamomile lotion everywhere else even though they don’t recommend it nowadays. When she was all healed I slathered her a lot in aveeno. I wish I’d have had her vaccinated, my other two where nowhere near as bad so I didn’t know it could be like that.

Ah that looks horrible, poor lamb.

Two of my three had it badly, and one had to go to hospital. They both had it in their throats, and in willies and bums! This is when I learnt (too late!) why our parents used to have chicken pox parties. Not just to get the immunity, but the second time it comes into a home is worse (ie catching from a sibling leads to worse infection. Idk why). The first to have it had three small spots but was off school for two weeks. And then the others got it. Gah!

The hospital said that although it's deeply unpleasant for them, the only really serious thing is if it's in the eye.

I used a throat spray, and made sure when giving calpol it was 20 mins before trying to feed them, to increase likelihood of actually eating anything. They were school age though, so could at least grasp what was happening. Yours looks much younger.

Sometimes an antihistamine can help with itching (liquid piriton or similar). Also 'can cause drowsiness' which isn't a bad thing if baby needs sleep.

It's horrible, but will pass. Hopefully very soon!

Poor little sausage 😢 DD had them inside her eyelids, ears, throat, genitalia, it was horrendous.
Years ago there weren’t vaccines or anything else you could do except calamine and soda bic in the bath.
I really hope they’re better soon.

Poor thing, my son had it very similar to this and was so distressed.

I sat and dabbed cotton wool balls soaked in witch hazel on him constantly and that helped loads.

he hasn’t been left with any scars.

hope he gets better soon

Chicken pox is usually mild, only lasts a couple of weeks and very few children die from it. The mortality rate is something like 0.001%. So it’s fairly accurate to say the main risk is scarring, and this is what I was told by the GP when I was considering vaccinating my kids. OP said she was worried about whether it would heal ok. I gave my opinion, which is that I think it might not heal ok and might result in scarring.

Poor baby. Ds2 had then very badly and was rushed up to the ward when seen by the OOH GP and started on the sepsis pathway, no time for numbing cream just pinned down, cannula in and both antibiotics and antivirals started. You couldn't touch his skin at all without him screaming in pain and his temp was sky high and wouldn't reduce.

Very sensible to have had him seen, lots of cuddles and keep an eye out for any deterioration, fever etc and don't hesitate to take him back if anything changes.

Don't use calamine, it makes them dry out and itch more. You're better off adding an antihistamine also.

Op I hope your little one feels better soon - horrible for you and him.

@jumanji100
Agreed Velda's comment completely uncalled for, however your information is not correct and potentially damaging as it could deter those wishing to vaccinate.
In countries that use the vaccine, severe complications have been almost entirely eradicated and breakthrough cases are mild.

"Can't vaccinate until 12 months old.
Also has a question mark over effectiveness in later life potentially leading to worse infections then.
It's not straight forward so take your judgement elsewhere."

The 'question mark' is not at all over effectiveness in later life.
The JCVI made a financial judgement call for the UK not to adopt chicken pox vaccination based purely on spending - not on effectiveness of the vaccine.

The concern is that UK adults who have had chicken pox earlier in their lives, will not have repeated exposures boosting their immunity to the virus via their children and grandchildren (as the children would be immune by way of vaccination).

Therefore those adults may experience more cases of shingles which would in turn cost the NHS more.

Financially the severe and life threatening complications in a few are deemed more cost effective than paying for widespread immunity for most, plus healthcare for more shingles cases.

www.ox.ac.uk/research/everything-you-need-know-about-chickenpox-and-why-more-countries-don%E2%80%99t-use-vaccine

My DD had it quite badly at 8 after failing to catch it, despite my very best efforts, before that. She had lots of very deep pustules including lots on her scalp and one in her inner eyelid. She got better after about 8-20 days. Our GP said preventing scratching and possible infection was the main thing.