Chickenpox advice needed please

[MaggieW]

DD, 2, has chickenpox - was expecting it (perhaps not so soon)as she played with a friend 8 days ago who went on to get it the day after they were together. Lots of people are saying lots of different things so want to sort fact from fiction...
Over what period is she infectious?
How long do all spots take to appear (she's already got quite a few on tummy, pubic area, chin, has high temp, strange cough)?
What happens once they appear?
When do they start itching?
What's best treatment for itches?
When will DS, 4, be likely to get it from her? We're off to New Zealand in 3 weeks and it would be good to have it all over with by then but obviously impossible to know. Any other info gratefully received! Thanks.

She's infectious until the spots scab over.

They itch while they're scabbing over.

Some people say 'dry them out' and others say, 'keep them moist' so I'm not sure.

You can use calomine lotion. Or put porridge oats in a sock, tie a knot in the top, and rub her spots with it whilst in the bath. To rinse sock turn inside out and flush it in the loo to get oats off.

It's not usually too bad and it's good to get it out of the way.

Eurax cream or lotion was THE best stuff we found for the itching. It stopped it instantly and for hours.

incubation period is about 10 days but can be anywhere from 1-2 weeks. New spots usually appear for 3-5 days and she is infectious until all the spots scab over. I prefer Calamine cream instead of clamine lotion. You can also put Aveeno oil in the bath (contains oats I think like spidermama's suggestion but less messy!) No way to know for sure with DS - it could be a close call. Then again he might not get it at all - some kids get exposed to it dozens of times before succumbing! Good luck, I hope it doesn't spoil your trip.

The spots may appear for up to 5 days after the first one. They look like insct bites , then pusy boils which scab over. Try to avoid knocking the tops off or they may scar. There is contradictory info about the contagious period, A day or two before spots appear until either 5 days after or all scabbed over or 10 days from onset ! Incubation 7 days to 3 weeks so yes if your 4 yr old holds out towards the later end of this he could well be contagious when you are due to fly. Do you have insurance ?

We used tepid baths in a teaspoon of bicarb of soda to prevent itching. The first spots stayed the longest with dd and have scarred the most deeply. Don't mention the I (itch) word and we found they didn't scratch them .

I've just looked in a book I have and it says, Incubation period 2-3 weeks. Rash mainly on the trunk,made up of crops of spots.
After a few days the blisters dry up to form scabs.
You can apply calamine lotion (which I did when ds1 had it). Give oral anithistamines.(pirton)
Bath child in warm water containing a handful of bicarbonate of soda. Give paracetamol to reduce fever,and plenty of liquids.
Chicken pox is infectious from 1 day before the rash appears until all the blisters have formed scabs.
Children usually recover completely within 7-10 days.