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Shingles or chickenpox?

10 replies

Chandra · 13/01/2006 02:46

DS (almost 3yo) started developing a rash last Monday. On first day he had 3 tiny spots on his neck so I assumed they should be some kind of insect bites (we are in holidays at the moment).

On Tuesday he had 4 more at his back but again, they looked more like mosquito bites than anything else, however, that night I realised he had some blisters starting to form under his tummy. Spots have continue to appear since then. Some of them have developed into blisters and have bursted and crusted over, others remain like red dry spots in other areas but he has his face, neck, back, chest and tummy covered in them and has a few extra ones in arms and legs.

DS seems happy if not a little clingy, he has had no fever so far, but the things continue to appear. I assume that is chickenpox season around here as two of my nephews had it a couple of weeks before we arrived (or so I have been told!), but I also visited an aunt who kissed DS having a cold sore in her mouth . I know that children with eczema are particularly sensitive to this virus, and the rashes appeared 13 days after the kiss. Would it be possible that DS has shingles instead of chickenpox? he also has sore spots in his tongue.

We were meant to fly back to England next Sunday, and I need to change our flight now, can anybody throw any light if this is shingles or chickenpox? I guess the new travel date depends totally on that.

Any answers will be highly apreciated.

OP posts:
Alipiggie · 13/01/2006 03:52

This may help. I got shingles when pregnant with no2 they looked like small blisters which burst, not red or itchy. Been around child with Chickenpox. Children tend to get chickenpox rather than shingles This link may help you shingles

Chandra · 13/01/2006 06:03

Thanks Alipiggie, it seems that for their location they could be shingles but DS does not seem to be expeiencing lots of pain.

OP posts:
Chandra · 13/01/2006 06:13

It's almost midnight around here, so I'm going to sleep afraid that by the time I wake up I would have lost several hours of Mumsnet's wisdom. Could any of you be nice and kind and bump this thread in case iot starts to slip out of the active convos? TIA

OP posts:
carla · 13/01/2006 06:15

Message deleted

BudaBabe · 13/01/2006 06:45

Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chiken pox (varicella). The virus lies dormant in your system and flares up again as shingles (normally in an adult).

So it is more likely to be chicken pox as you cannot get shingles if you have not had chicken pox.

littlemisspiggy · 13/01/2006 15:45

Definitely sounds like chickenpox to me. Ds had it just before xmas and the spots were very few at first then over a couple of days they really multiplied. As you say they are blister like and then turn to deep pitted scabs. DS got them all over his torso, back, arms, hands, face and scalp. it's good if yours is not too aware. Hopefully he won't scratch too much. Good luck with it!

littlemisspiggy · 13/01/2006 15:49

forgot to add - with regard to contagion Ds' nursery says they are ok to come back around 7 days after they started cropping or when they are all crusted over. We kept him home until the scabs were dropping off though.

misdee · 13/01/2006 15:58

he cant have shingles if he hasnt had chicken pox.

Hadalifeonce · 13/01/2006 16:03

A doctor told me they are still contagious until all the 'crusts' have dropped off, as apparently these contain the virus.

Blandmum · 13/01/2006 16:32

Also shinges often forms in lines or patches rather than all over the body....sounds mad but it is because the virus lies dormant in nerves, as the shingles follow the path of the nerve.

You can't get shingles unless you have had chicken pox before. It is very painful, rather than itchy, photo

here

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