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Original poster

the pox

27 replies

Cod · 28/03/2004 21:14

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Cod · 28/03/2004 21:19

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sammac · 28/03/2004 21:22

When ds had them, he was only a bit off for a day. The itch is worse than the ill feeling, so cool baths and calamine!

Once the spots are dried, it's okay to go back to school. The infectious period is before the spots come out.

Original poster
Cod · 28/03/2004 21:24

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sammac · 28/03/2004 21:31

It's probably just doing the rounds- there'll be others in his class too.

It's much worse as an adult. I got it when I was 21, and it was horrible. ( Did miss my final exams at uni because of it as my eyes were wonky, and spots everywhere- and I mean everywhere!!)

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Cod · 28/03/2004 21:31

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hmb · 28/03/2004 21:31

He might get worse, he might not. ds had it very young and had less than 20 spots and was never ill with it. You can go out once the spots have crused over. Worse thing for us was when the scabs dropped off en mass....yuck!

Hope your ds gets well asap

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Cod · 28/03/2004 21:32

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stellarmum · 28/03/2004 21:34

They are usually ill in the first day or two, often before the spots appear... if he's got this far without feeling too bad, it's likely the only thing he'll suffer from is the itching!
As for the party... I sent my dd1 to play with every child who had the pox to try and get them out of the way, it still took her till she was 9 to get them, unfortunately whilst we were camping in the Alps and 500 miles away from home! She wasn't ill, just looked dreadful. I wouldn't worry about the party, it can't be helped, and the incubation period is about 10 days, so your ds would have been infectious for some time before.

Original poster
Cod · 28/03/2004 21:35

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hmb · 28/03/2004 21:35

It was all over in 2 weeks, and that was with both of them getting it, one after another. But ds wan't in nursery then, just dd in school. Neither of them were ill with it. dd was grumpy and itchy but ther were fine.

Dh was in Australia for 5 weeks at the time, natch!

Hope time passes quickly for you.

stellarmum · 28/03/2004 21:36

Oh, and I think they recommend about a week to ten days off school... when the spots are drying up. I know I've had lots of still spotty children appear in my class about two weeks after getting ill!

Original poster
Cod · 28/03/2004 21:39

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hmb · 28/03/2004 21:41

Spotty is ok as long as they have dried up and crusted over.

Original poster
Cod · 28/03/2004 21:42

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stellarmum · 28/03/2004 21:46

ooh yes, something that means you have to go to bed, but doesn't stop you reading or eating chocolate!

Original poster
Cod · 28/03/2004 21:48

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SoupDragon · 28/03/2004 21:50

Both DS1 and 2 were off school for a week and both were "ill" for only about 24 hours, about 24 hours after the first crop of spots. They itched most of the week but that was it.

Rhus Tox pillules, something by "New Era" for childrne's sckin ailments, piriton, calpol and Nurofen syrup. Tea tree & lavender oils and sodium bicarb in the bath. Calamine lotion is cr*p, get a creamy one. Eurax cream was good for itching (but is for over 2s I think - OK for DS1 tho)

Original poster
Cod · 28/03/2004 21:51

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Original poster
Cod · 28/03/2004 21:52

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SoupDragon · 28/03/2004 21:53

DS1 wasn't really itchy until he was fairly covered with spots approx 24 - 36 hours after the first lot.

Original poster
Cod · 28/03/2004 21:54

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SoupDragon · 28/03/2004 21:54

DS2 caught it 2 weeks after DS1 so I had a week in between when both were well. I did make sure they played together a lot and bathed together as usual... Essbee even came round and made her DD share a banana with DS2 when he had it!

SoupDragon · 28/03/2004 21:56

The homeopathic thingies just taste sweet so you can palm them off as a treat.

hmb · 28/03/2004 21:56

Piriton syrup helps the itching (and helps them to sleep a bit), calpol for a temp, bicarbonate of soda in the bath helps as well.

stellarmum · 28/03/2004 21:57

They might not even get it this time around. I found tea tree really helpful in drying up the spots, my dd was absolutely covered, everywhere in her hair, on her feet, but treated her with tea tree and they went without leaving any scars.