Is it chicken pox?

[CnR]

Wondered if any mumsnetters can help me out here?

MIL has recently caught shingles - no idea of where from. She was looking after 18mo DD on Thursday but had no spots that day. Her doctir says that you can only get chicken pox from shingles if the person comes into contat with weepong blisters - which DD didn't.

However, today (Monday) I have just noticed a patch of little red spots underneath DD's arm and down one side. She is in no way poorly at all - quite the opposite in fact. How will I know if it is chicken pox? What do they look like? How long is it infectious?

We are going on holiday on Friday, by car and boat. Will we still be okay with this?

Also, we have been to Tumble Tots today but they are now on holiday for 2 weeks. I feel bad that I can't warn these people of it.

Both DH and myself work with people who are pregnant too - not direct but are in same room/office occassionally. What risks do we pose to them?

Sorry this is so long but I am supposed to be working Tuesday to Thursday (last week of term) and am really hectic at school. MIL has shingles; DH busy because of holiday next week and my parents on holiday abroad - need to try and sort something out!!!

Thanks for any advice.

Claire

The other alternative (wishful thinking?) is teething? DD is definitely teething with her back teeth and has had a bit of pain in her mouth. Can you have a rash from teething?

Also, she only has spots on skin which is feeling rather dry at the moment. Could it just be that?

You don't pose any risks to your colleagues if you have both had chicken pox yourselves; if not then you coud potentially infect your pregnant colleagues if they haven't had it either, but slim chance. Your dd's spots don't sound wildly like CP, but obviously impossible to say for sure! I would have thought your doctor was right, without contact with open sores your dd can't have got infected, and she wound't have developed CP spots already if she only saw your MIL on Thursday (as opposed to 2 weeks agom say).
You poor thing, try not to worry!

Don't panic I think you are jumping ahead of yourself.

It does n't sound likely, especially if she has been otherwise fine, but if it is she will be covered by the morning -red spots which get a head. Incubation is normally 2 to 3 weeks after contact with live Chickenpox but may be it's different for Shingles, I don't know. You are most infectious just prior (24-48hrs) to spots appearing and until they have all crusted over.

I've had conflicting information regarding travel. ds came out in spots on a Thursday and we flew the following Thursday because UK gp said it was ok. ds felt fine and spots were scabbed and going. However our Swiss paediatrician was adamant that, statistically, we would have infected at least 2 people on the flight.

Chances are your dd won't get it and risks to your work colleagues are negligible unless you catch it too (did you have it as a child ?). By the time you would be infectious you will know for sure regarding dd and be able to warn them just in case.

hth

If skin is really dry and spots under her arm could it be a mild eczema. Changes in weather, putting the heating on etc can cause it at this time of year.

Thanks for the quick reply ladies.

Fingers crossed she is okay then; as I say she isn't poorly at all. I just wondered whether DD was the one who was carrying it and triggered of MIL's shingles.

I guess I can't do anything now until the morning and see what they are like then.

Agree with others- too early for chickenpox.

A student of mine wasn't allowed to fly with chickenpox until spots had scabbed over- meant she missed her physics a level practical. Amy well be different for a boat though.

NO she won't have triggered shingles. shingles is just triggered by being run down (its not "caught"- its just the virus reactivating when the immune system is run down).

JimJams - I think we will be going on holiday regardless unless she was very poorly in herself. Noone will even know if she has chicken pox when we embark the boat to be honest.

sounds good to me

I didn't think you could catch chickenpox from shingles? Chickenpox shows as just a few clear blisters to begin with then they get loads of blisters. The ill effects of chicken pox only lasts a few days(usually) in small children. My two had it two weeks apart though, thats alot of time staying away from people/places.

CnR

Don't think it's the pox as the incubation period hasn't been long enough and certianly don't think she would get it after having been in contact with my two when they were infectious in the summer and she didn't get it then. The spots have to be like blisters and usually start on the torso and face area first. If you're still worried tomorrow if you want I can meet you in the pm and take a look??

WM xx

Thanks WM. I have MIL and FIL on standby now to look after DD if it is chicken pox. I really do have to go to work too as I have to get sorted for OFSTED whih is the first day back after half term

I was just wndering if she might have picked it up from someone at TumbleTots or Nursery, without me knowing. MInd she has now gone off to sleep and is still not shopping any signs of feeling poory. And there are no blisters either. I
Feel quite happy that it might be more likely to be some form of excema as her skin is pretty dry at the moment.

Rash no worse today so definitely no chicken pox, so worry over. Why is it these thinks always happen out of work hours or at a weekend?! Thanks for all the advice and not making me feel like a nuerotic mummy!!!