Shingles in children?

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read it’s pretty rare in children but I’m wandering if dd 10 has them, she’s not poorly now but was last week, a rash on her back which does look very much like shingles, relatives who have had shingles said it looks similar.

I have been to the pharmacy who said they can’t diagnosis under 18 there but said it does looks like it and to contact GP. I’ve sent off a online form with them as can never get through on the phone especially at this time of year!

if it does turn out to be shingles has anyone else experienced this in children?

shes pretty well in herself, first noticed the rash Friday but honestly thought she’d been bitten as she’d been outside just before I first noticed and didn’t think much of it!

it started off itchy, not so much now but says it hurts.

One of my friends DS's had it when he was young - can't remember exactly but around 10-12 years old.
I think it is unusual, but it can happen.

I had it around the age of 10. Very possible. Usually mild in children.

Thanks both. I’m hoping it’s not, but who knows, it’s just the one area her lower back right side above her buttocks (hence why I’m not posting a photo). I’ve also just read that babies having chicken pox before the age of 1 increases the risk of shingles in childhood somewhat - dd had chicken pox at about 6/7 months 🤷‍♀️ as above she was slightly unwell last week but she also had just had the flu spray and thought it was side effects from that!

My son had chickenpox badly at 5 months old and then shingles at 11. He had a rash down both sides of his trunk but was otherwise unbothered. It disappeared within a week or two.

That is interesting! Hoping it will disappear here quickly too!

My DD had it around age 9. Rash on her back that pharmacist was baffled by. Eventually went to out of hours GP who diagnosed shingles. She got over it pretty quickly with no lasting effects. I suspect that, like chicken pox, it's worse in adults.

My ds had shingles age 3 after chickenpox at 6 months. It was misdiagnosed as eczema to begin with; probably as its rare in children. He still has faint scars from the spots under his arm and on his chest

My son had it and felt like he had a a bad case of covid with a painful rash. However thd gp said that covid can trigger shingles so maybe he had shingles and covid

They can prescribe anti virals to reduce the symptoms or duration but I think there is a narrow window to start them for them to do anything.

My son had it after he had flu when he was about 3. He had chicken pox at 7 months because he caught it from his brother who was 3 when he got CP from nursery. It was really obvious shingles. We bought some zovirax ointment over the counter and put that on the blisters. (Be really careful with hand washing and covering the rash).

DD had it when she was 7. Her rash was a very distinctive line of spots up her arm.

She wasn’t well but not dreadfully ill. Similar to a bad cold if I remember rightly, but the tingling/ painful feeling was her worse complaint.

My DS had shingles when he was 14 yrs old.By the time he told me about the rash and I got an appointment with the GP it was too late to gat the anti viral medication.The rash was on his chest and was very sensitive to his school shirt touching the rash.
My friends DD had shingles when she was 4 yrs old.

Thanks all. Not as rare as guidance seems to say then!

still not heard from GP despite sending photos on their request!

don’t want to go go to any form of out of hours to see a GP as she’s fine in herself and feel like any waiting rooms will be a pit for other germs at the minute!

My ds never got antivirals as he was misdiagnosed as having eczema but he seemed ok after a few days. Use any creams you'd use for chickenpox. Antihistamines if its itchy, paracetamol for pain.

I had shingles as a child at around the age of 10. I still remember how painful and uncomfortable it was and I had it between my legs. I couldn’t move as it was so painful. I had a doctor come out to see my on Boxing Day and he confirmed it was that. I remember having painkillers bad soothing cream.

My dc had shingles aged 3. The advice from.GP was keep area covered and bath alone. They were fine again within a few days.

My DD had shingles aged 6. We ended up seeing 3 doctors at the GPs as the first one said it is very rare in children. But also said that you can't get chicken pox more than once and she had definitely had that 2 years earlier. Once diagnosed they said that it is not general practice to prescribe anti-virals for children. DD bounced back pretty quickly.
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DS12 has just had it a couple of weeks ago 🙁

He had chicken pox when he was young but only mildly.

His shingles rash was quite small and just on the top of one leg. He said it was more painful to the touch than itchy. The gp said to just keep it covered and if possible use separate towels after baths etc.

He was given 5 days worth of antivirals by the GP to take 5 times a day and did feel quite unwell with the fatigue that came with it and possibly the antivirals as well. He ended up being off school for just under two weeks he was so tired and just no energy. Touch wood he’s much better now.

My daughter had shingles last year when she was in year 6 so age 10 or 11. She felt fine but had the rash, took her to the chemist who xouldnt officially diagnose as she was under 18, but told me he thought it was shingles. Next day triage dr said it was unlikely and didnt know what the treatment was but booked her an appointment. Luckily that dr had done research and she was just in window for anti virals. She was allowed to go to school as rash was covered but after 48 hoirs side affects of anti virals got too much, though did take the pain away.

DS had it age about 3 after having chickenpox very mildly (one spot) at 3 months. GP didn’t diagnose him immediately as not expecting it. DS not particularly ill with it. I had it age 30 and was really wiped out for a week.

I had it age 11 I was really unwell in general as well as the pain, I had it again mildly age 21.
2 out of my 3 kids had it mildly when little.

Dd has had shingles twice. Was 11yo the first time and about 15yo the next. They did a blood test after both due to it being so unusual in kids. But blood tests were fine.

she has since however been diagnosed with a few different autoimmune illnesses so I do wonder if somehow it’s all linked. She’s got so many diagnosis now the nhs spent about 6k doing a full genome map which came back all clear which I was amazed by!

My daughter had it aged 2, she’d had bad chickenpox at 4 months. GP said he saw about 1 case annually in children. We were told that it wasn’t infectious but her friend then got chickenpox…

My DD had it this time last year when she was 8. Just a small patch on her back which like a PP I originally thought was a bite but it developed into a distinctive shingles rash. She wasn't ill at all and the rash was slightly uncomfortable but that was all. We have health insurance so got it diagnosed in a video call with a private GP, if that hadn't been an option I would not have bothered with her hassle of seeking medical advice as she wasn't unwell and we were too late for antivirals. We were just careful for a few days until the rash crusted up.

Thanks everyone.

pharmacist on the 23rd said it looks like shingles but we had to see GP.

I managed to get her to the GP on Christmas Eve, who had a Quick Look and diagnosed impetigo! I wasn’t convinced, but got the cream which hasn’t helped, leading me to think not impetigo.

she’s also came out in a rash on her leg which the original rash started like.

she’s not quite well in herself the last couple days but nothing too severe! Could also be tiredness from this time of year 🤷‍♀️