Chicken Pox - do we need a doctor?

[IlanaK]

I think my 16 month old has chicken pox. He has been under the weather for a couple of weeks, culminating in temperature and tiredness with yucky nose over hte last couple of days. Today he came out in spots all over. At first I thought non-specific viral rash, but they have developed more and I think its chicken pox. Do I need to take him to a doctor? Ds1 has not got it (he's 4.5). In fact, he seems immune to it as he has been exposed by others many many times and not got it.

WHat do I need to do?

Ilana keep giving plenty of fluids, calpol or similar when needed
I would defo take him to gp just to make absolutely sure it is chickenpox
also get plenty of calamine lotion in as it becomes very itchy
hope he gets better soon

If you're sure it's chicken pox, then from what I recall it's calomine lotion and cool baths to stop the itching, Calpol or similar to bring down temperature, plenty of fluids, soft loose clothing for comfort, keep away from pregnant women and they are contagious until the spots have dried up. With both of mine they had a couple of days of misery and seemed quite happy (if spotty!) after that.

Feel free to correct me anyone!

Some GPs won't seem them with chickenpox. You are meant to keep away from pregnant women so the waiting room is not the best place to be.

You could ring the surgery and ask. If the spots are raised and 'spot-like' (i.e. fluid filled) rather than a rash it sounds like chickenpox.

I didn't take mine to the GP when they got chicken pox. Just buy calamine lotion if the spots are itchy (they don't have to be) and keep him away from other children/pregnant women until the spots scab over.

Our DS had this when he was 15 montsh old. Like everyone says, give him calpol and lots of fliuds. Don't worry if he doesnt eat much for few days - as long as he drinks and has wet nappies with normal coloured pee. Keep him covered in aqueous calamine cream. i mean covered, over all the spots, even in his hair. Smear it on under his clothes. Try not to bath him for as long as possible, so the scabs dont come off too soon. The longer the scabs stay on , the less likely they are to scar. Also it reduces the itch.

If the itchiness is bad you can get an antihistamine on prescription but it makes some kids hyper.I think its Piriton. Need to check with Gp or HV

Forgot to say Ds was poorly for about a week ( we thought it was his teeth),then he got teh spots and was totally miserable for about two days, then poorly for about another 7 - 10 days. They are infectious for 10 days after the first spot comes out. They generally look scabby and horrible for much much longer!!!

I you want your DS1 to catch it, sharing a banana or yoghurt spoon etc seems to work quite well... several of DS1s friends caught it from him that way.

I didn't bother going to GPs when DD got chicken pox. Didn't use calamine lotion either - when it dries it can make the itching worse. We used piriton for the itchy relief instead.

Give piriton. I went to the doctor because DD's 1 & 3 were awfully ill with it (DD2 had it and barely noticed)Dr said to give more than the safe dose on the bottle I am not advising this just telling you what the Dr told me and this worked in that it knocked them out and they mostly slept though it.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I don't think I will bother with the doctor. Piriton is a good idea if he starts to itch. I am not a fan of calamine - I remember it from my own childhood! He is certainly sleeping a lot - a 4 hour stretch midday today! I really don't think ds1 will catch it. He has had such close contact with it before at nursery and never seems to get it. I think he is immume. BUt I suppose we will know in another week or so. The site said that ds2 is infectious from 3 days before the spots appear and the incubation period is up 10 two weeks. So ds1 may show symptoms in about 1 week or so right? We are due to go to centre parcs (having cancelled our florida holiday where we are meant to be now) on the 21st of November so they both had better be over it by then. I am not cancelling another holiday!

Generally there is no need to see a doctor but there are rare complicating factors of chickenpox, so it does depend upon whether he becomes rather poorly

I haven't read all the thread so may be repeating someone else's advice. Even if you don't take your ds to the dr it's worth calling the surgery and telling them he's got c-pox, so it can be noted on his medical records.