Chicken pox. General Advice

[Biosblbay]

I always come to Mumsnet as I much prefer advice from parents that have been through it before.
my 3 year old was so tired yesterday, he napped for 3 hours and hasn’t napped in a very long time, I knew something was up, just wasn’t sure what, it was only until this morning that I noticed the blisters and am noticing more and more. It is 100% chicken pox. I haven’t ever dealt with this before so I am assuming keep him at home, let him sleep when he needs, I have put him back in pull ups as he wet himself on the sofa yesterday.

Is there anything I should be giving him in terms of medication or creams? Does he need to see the GP? Or is it a matter of riding it out.

I also have a 9 month old baby, do I need to try and keep them separate or as I have heard, is it best that she catches it so she doesn’t risk catching it later on in life?

And is it normal for him to have no appetite as he hasn’t eaten much since yesterday?

Thanks in advance x

Main thing is do not give ibuprofen. Paracetamol is fine if needed.

In terms of your 9mo, I would try to avoid her getting it if possible, as she'll be eligible for the vaccine. The vaccine offers very good protection against shingles in later life. If she catches actual chickenpox she will be at risk of shingles (like previous generations).
It will be very difficult to avoid her getting it though.

Calpol if needed, no ibuprofen as it can cause significant side effects with chickenpox.

oat baths are very soothing, mine had 3 or 4 baths a day as it was the only relief they had.

We used Aveeno oat moisturiser, tried poxicillin mousse as I had heard good things but dc found it too sticky.

lots of low energy activities like colouring and sticker books and the main thing lots of cuddles.

I hope they are better soon, I still remember how bloody awful dc having the pox was.

They are contagious before the spots come out so likely your younger dc would have been exposed already. Also it has quite a long incubation period, it was 2 weeks to the day my second dc came out in spots after the first dc had their first spots. Meant a month of being at home for us 🤪.

Lots of good advice up thread. Try to discourage your DS from scratching/rubbing the spots to minimise scarring.

Also, you should spread the word amongst family & friends so that anyone who hadn't has it can avoid and be aware that they may have been exposed and remind them that it has a 2 week+ incubation period.

Since it's a virus, your son is probably feeling pretty grotty so keep up the calpol and TLC. My DDs had it in succession. The older one was fine except for itchy spots but the younger one had virus symptoms too.

@tarheelbaby thank you. do you know if it would be safe for me to have family round this Saturday?

also I am very concerned that I went to my friends baby shower yesterday, is there any chance that I could spread it to her and her unborn baby?

and then I had family round on the 31st March including other kids, so could there be a chance it was spreading then? 😩 I am so worried now.

I wouldn’t have family around Saturday. I would tell people you have been in contact with that you now have chicken pox in the household. Incubation period can take a couple of weeks so your baby make not get symptoms for a while yet if they catch it.

Your child was infectious for a couple of days pre the spots coming out so the 31st may be clear but still inform people anyway.
.

Calpol and calamine cream. It worked better than the lotion and felt more gentle. You could try oat baths. Both of my children had it really young and it passed quickly. My two little nieces have it currently. I wish for a speedy recovery for your little one.

Although the incubation period is 10-21 days they are only contagious for 1-2 days before spots appear. They are contagious until spots crust over which is usually within 5-7 days.

Poxclin and virasoothe are supposed to be good. Aqueous calamine cream can be soothing too. Piriton antihistamine can help with itching (if over age 1).

Absolutely let your pregnant friend know, they should alert their midwife. If they already have immunity to chickenpox, it's fine, but if they don't have immunity, they can be given a preventative/protective antibody. Either way, their midwife can arrange the test to check this for them.

As long as your contagious child wasn't at the baby shower with you then she should be fine. It would be very unlikely for you to pass it on as you dont have chickenpox yourself

@dementedpixie it was just me that went, but was worried incase I could be a carrier and pass it onto others

@OtterMummy2024 I will inform her just to be on the safe side. Hopefully as it was just me that went, and I have already had pox as a child I can’t spread it, I hope that’s the case anyway!

Both mine got it twice (of course they did). Oat baths helped. You just need to stay in til the spots have crusted over.

Sorry @Biosblbay , you won't be infectious unless you have it too. Sorry if I have caused stress unnecessarily.

ok so.

no, you cannot pass chicken pox in this instance to your friend if you have had it already.

re the baby - there is a chance baby being so young that they MAY still have immunity from you, unlikely though at 9 months but is possible, but also if they do get it it’s not 100% that they won’t get it again later in life

oat Baths. Fill an old sock with porridge oats and run the water through it as it fills up and then let it soak in the bath. Did wonders when my kids had the pox. You can also dab at the worst bits with the sock.

I would recommend calomine cream instead of the lotion as it doesn't dry out and is a bit more soothing.You can also give piriton for children to help the itching.
In terms of the baby it might be too late.The incubation is 3 weeks.My sons got it 3 weeks apart so just because she doesn't get it immediately doesn't mean she won't.
Try and keep fluids up if appetite is poor and give things that are cool like yoghurt or ice-cream as they may go down better.
I hope he gets well soon.x

Calpol for fever, NO ibuprofen!!!!

Can lather then in Calomine lotion and bathe them in Head and shoulder classic clean or oats (takes the redness and itch out the pox).

keep them quarantined until ALL spots have scabbed over as well.

main thing is plenty calpol and cuddles 🥰

Calpol for pain relief and oat bath. What you do is let the warm water run over the oats into the water. I put a handful into a ripped up pair of tights and made a ball. The liquid that comes out is silky and good for the skin.
It would be better if baby could avoid catching it but I know it will be difficult.

Head and Shoulders original shampoo used as bubble bath. Magic hack. Stops the itching and heals faster. Way better than calamine lotion which makes the skin taut and more itchy.

A handful of bicarbonate of soda in his bath will help soothe the itchiness.

Calpol and liquid Piriton are brilliant for chicken pox symptoms. My kids didn't even itch when they had chicken pox. Do not give Ibuprofen in any form.

As for the baby, it will be unlikely that you will stop her getting it. My 3 year old gave it to my 10 month old 3 years ago. I thought I had got away with it but hers appeared around a week after her sister was back at nursery.
Interestingly I think the youngest has it again. It’s going around again. The eldest has avoided it but not the youngest. I googled it and apparently if they have it before the age of one they can get it again as their immune system wasn’t fully developed.

Keep at home till blisters are all scabbed over, usually 5 days, the liquid in the blisters is highly contagious. It is in general highly contagious, so even if you try to keep them separate your youngest will prob get it. The incubation period is about 10 to 21 days so may be a few weeks before they show signs.

Oat baths help soothe the skin (put some oats in some tights under the running water) calamine lotion or there is a pox foam that is meant to be good.

They can get them in their mouth so eating may be painful, personally would just let them sleep as needed and eat whatever you can get them to, whether it be a yoghurt or an ice-cream etc.

You can give Calpol but not nurofen as it aggrevates it.

Best of luck, hope they get over it soon.

I found calendula cream was brilliant. Make sure that you get the herbal one, NOT the homeopathic.