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Original poster

Is this chicken pox?

30 replies

Hattie2 · 05/02/2006 18:50

DD (3) has approx 10 spots on face and neck - has ahd since this morning but hasn't got any worse. Some are red and others are like small blisters so sounds like chicken pox but I always thought the spots were supposed to spread really quickly?
Apart from that she is v tired, but generally OK otherwise.
Also, does anyone know how long nurseries usually exclude children who've had chicken pox for? Thanks.

OP posts:
mszebra · 05/02/2006 18:51

sounds like cp to me. DD only had about 10 spots, all on her face. Ask your nursery for their policy (probably 2 weeks).

Cadbury · 05/02/2006 18:52

Sounds like chicken pox to me.

No idea about nurseries. I kept mine off until they felt better and all the spots had scabbed over.

zippitippitoes · 05/02/2006 18:56

contagion is normally once no new spots and existing ones scabbed over, which can take a while..some children are unwell and others are fine

LIZS · 05/02/2006 19:04

minimum 5 days and no fresh spots. Some may insist on them all scabbed over.

tortoiseshell · 05/02/2006 19:05

NHS say that there has never been a case of transmission after 5 days. Nurseries say all spots have to be scabbed over.

pompom · 05/02/2006 19:08

Hi, It does seem like chickenpox, the tiny blisters are a tell tale sign. My daughter just had it at the beginning of January and I kept her at home until the spots had "crusts" (scabs) on. That was the nursery policy. In fact once they scab over , your child is not contagious any longer. Do you know the product called Calamine Lotion? It is a liquid which you put on the spots with cotton, doesn't hurt and the scent is fine. You can even get it on prescription by your GP once he confirms the chickenpox. Good luck, it shouldn.t be too long.

Hulababy · 05/02/2006 19:11

DD didn't get many spots with CP. We kept her away from nursery for a week, until all scabbed over. She wasn't poorly with CP at all fortunately.

Original poster
Hattie2 · 05/02/2006 21:17

Thanks - looks like a few days off work for me then!

OP posts:
zippitippitoes · 05/02/2006 21:23

I f possible it wil also help to wear fewer lighter clothes if you csn turn the heating up (assuming she isn't feverish)

Original poster
Hattie2 · 05/02/2006 22:18

She's hot, but it doesn't seem to be bothering her. I took her temp before bath tonight and was surprised she hadn't been complaining as it was 39.2 - she's usually a bit of a wimp when ill, takes after dh

OP posts:
HappyMumof2 · 06/02/2006 11:09

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Hattie2 · 06/02/2006 11:20

Pharmacist at Boots recommended a homeopathic remedy for my dd, called rhus tox. No idea if it will do any good - I've never been into alternative therapies myself - but thought it might be worth a try.

OP posts:
HappyMumof2 · 06/02/2006 11:30

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Hattie2 · 06/02/2006 11:32

It's supposed to - not sure if it's working or my dd is just not itchy!

OP posts:
JennyWren · 06/02/2006 11:40

How big are the spots?? Sorry to butt in, but I'm still trying to figure out whether dd has cp or not. We are kind of expecting her to, as she has been exposed, and now she's got a few tiny red spots, some of which have a pus-filled centre, But they're not really proper blisters - more like pimples! She's only 8 months and still breastfed, and I had cp myself as a child, so we're wondering whether she just has a really mild case, or whether I'm just seeing things that aren't really there, IYSWIM. But the doctor told us to keep going out etc unless she actually gets a rash, and I'm not sure if this counts! She's absolutely fine in herself, and the spots don't seem to be developing into anything more sinister.

But I want to go out!!!!!

LIZS · 06/02/2006 11:42

dd's were like insect bites, some big some smaller.

Original poster
Hattie2 · 06/02/2006 11:51

I wasn't sure if mine had cp as spots didn't seem big enough yesterday - but they definitely are today!
I know what you mean about going out - 4 hours in the house this morning and I'm desperate to escape but don't think our presence at the park or the coffee shop would be appreciated.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hattie2 · 06/02/2006 11:52

I wasn't sure if mine had cp as spots didn't seem big enough yesterday - but they definitely are today!
I know what you mean about going out - 4 hours in the house this morning and I'm desperate to escape but don't think our presence at the park or the coffee shop would be appreciated.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hattie2 · 06/02/2006 11:52

I wasn't sure if mine had cp as spots didn't seem big enough yesterday - but they definitely are today!
I know what you mean about going out - 4 hours in the house this morning and I'm desperate to escape but don't think our presence at the park or the coffee shop would be appreciated.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hattie2 · 06/02/2006 11:53

Apols for duplicates! Not sure how that happened.

OP posts:
JennyWren · 06/02/2006 12:13

Hmm. She's had them since yesterday, but they're definitely not getting larger or more numerous. Maybe I'll stick to a walk on some deserted lanes. Rabbits don't get chicken pox!

HappyMumof2 · 06/02/2006 12:40

Message withdrawn

JennyWren · 06/02/2006 13:14

You can catch chicken pox from someone with chicken pox or shingles, but you can't catch shingles. Shingles occurs as a result of the reactivation of the chicken pox virus which lies dormant in your nerves after you've had chicken pox. Some people don't get chicken pox 'noticably' though - apparently you can be infected without showing symptoms. The consensus seems to be though that 80% of people have had it at some time, and the younger you get it the milder it is - maybe they had it as young children but don't remember because it wasn't all that traumatic?

HappyMumof2 · 06/02/2006 13:50

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Jockey · 06/02/2006 14:26

JennyWren I hope you are right about the younger they get it, the milder it is. Recently had 2 down with this and now my 4 month old baby has it - but she does seem generally very well and it is now day 3.

Think I will be going down some deserted lanes too - 3 year old driving me mad!