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Original poster

Urgent -Zovirax for 5mth old with severe Chickenpox?

20 replies

princesspeahead · 04/02/2004 11:55

Hi, does anyone have experience of this? My almost-5mth old has really bad chicken pox, which is getting mixed up in his ezcema. It started on Sunday evening. He is completely covered with poxes on his tummy and back, it is very bad on his head and behind his legs and under his neck. My GP put him on Flucloxicillin yesterday because he was worried about bacterial infection of his poxes and the ezcema - he had a fever that wasn't going down with calpol and nurofen. today his spots have doubled, his fever is back (39.5), he is listless (which he wasn't yesterday) and the GP now wants to put him on acyclovir. I thought that antivirals weren'r recommended for children under 2, and that they only really worked if they were started very early on - ie day 1, not day 3.5. I'm confused as to what I should be doing. Aurghghghgh.
Does anyone have any views?
Poor little thing - he also has them in his mouth so getting any fluids down him is tricky.
Help?

OP posts:
noddy5 · 04/02/2004 12:29

I was in thailand years ago and contracted shingles a type of chicken pox I left it for about 2 weeks thinking I just had food poisoning or something but got v ill so eventually was given acyclovir in a local hospital it took literally hours until I felt better and after 2 days I felt brilliant although the treatment lasted 5-6 days in all.I know it is different with a child but if hes really suffering give it a go

M2T · 04/02/2004 12:35

Oh PPH! the poor wee thing.

The antiviral creams originally were only recommended to be used at the very start of a viral infection (tingling stage of a cold sore)to prevent to infection appearing. But now apparently they can be used at any stage of infection to greatly reduce the symptoms.

Good luck, that just sounds terrible.

Helsbels · 04/02/2004 13:12

my ds had aycclovir for a viral mouth infection when he was just over 1. It worked very quickly and with no noticable side effects. We have just got over chicken pox so I know how horrible it is. My brother had it with ezcema at 8 mth but that was nearly 30 years ago so no help there. Keep ds cool and try and get some rest yourself when he does. {{{}}}

Original poster
princesspeahead · 04/02/2004 13:18

that's really helpful everyone - thanks. I'll fill the prescription and read the leaflet and decide. I'm just worried because he is so young - he is big though - the size and weight of a 1 yr old - so glad to hear your ds was fine on it helsbels. thanks

OP posts:
Helsbels · 04/02/2004 13:39

PPH, be aware that Boots had to order it in for me - it is apparantely very rare for GPs to presribe it! Good luck, he'll soon be well again {{}}

Original poster
princesspeahead · 04/02/2004 14:43

yup, I've just discovered that! 5 chemists later... they won't have it in until tomorrow morning. the saga continues.

OP posts:
lou33 · 04/02/2004 15:19

Dd2 and ds2 both had zovirax for cp when they were very small, about 10 weeks and 1 year I think.

Coddy · 04/02/2004 15:39

Poor you pph

Original poster
princesspeahead · 04/02/2004 21:48

he's in really bad form. he has more spots on his head and front than he has good skin. fever back too.

OP posts:
Jimjams · 04/02/2004 23:08

DS1 was given oralacylovir a 11 months as he had eczema herpeticum. it's tricky one. Giving it can intefere with producing immunity (so in other words your son could get chickenpox again). I was happy for him to have it as eczmea herpeticum can be fatal (!!) I can;t even say to you "oh it all worked out in the end" as I think his autism dates from then! HOWEVER I think the antibiotics and possibly virus itself had more to do with it. If I was in that position again with hingsight I think I would still give the acyclovir.

At the time the pharamacists expressed more concern about the antibiotics than the acyclovir- although that may just be because hospital pharamacists dispensed the acylcovir (prescriebd by a consulatant).

If he;s realy poorly with it I would take it, but if you think he;s on the mend leave it.

marthamoo · 04/02/2004 23:41

No experience - but bags of sympathy pph. Poor little boy

Punnet · 04/02/2004 23:48

Hi. Sympathy to your little one.
Ds3 had a similar chickenpox eczma event at three months (indeed all three had it at once). My GP wouldn't prescribe anything but antibiotics. It did clear up fairly quickly- a week- but i'd have tried anything under medical supervision.

Bonjela is good for the oral spots, if that helps.

Hope he is better soon.

Marina · 05/02/2004 13:54

Poor little guy and poor you, PPH. I really hope he recovers fully soon.

Coddy · 05/02/2004 13:56

spoke to her highness this am and she is getting the prescrip at 11 today

Hope all is well

aloha · 05/02/2004 14:15

Oh, I missed this. I am so sorry. Poor little mitelet. I do hope the acyclovir helps and he's feeling better.

Original poster
princesspeahead · 06/02/2004 15:51

nightmare. been in hospital with him this morning after worst night ever - chest xrays showing he has chest infection as complication. not well at all. but think he is turning the corner now - will post more when I can but thanks all for your nice posts
x

OP posts:
bundle · 10/02/2004 13:38

pph, thinking about you & your ds, x

Marina · 10/02/2004 13:41

Oh, pph, I'm very sorry to hear this. Thinking of you all and wishing him safe home soon.

outofpractice · 12/02/2004 12:01

pph, just seeing this now - hope your little one is OK now and on the mend. you must have had an awful week.

Original poster
princesspeahead · 12/02/2004 20:19

thanks v much oop and everyone else - he is FINE now, has been since sunday. amazing how they suddenly get better. even his skin is improving - it was a complete disaster area but again, even today it has visibly improved. scabs falling off in profusion. thank god that is all over, v stressful week that was.
xx

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