Any ideas for coping with chicken pox?

[nicand2]

My 2yr old has gone down with the pox.

I'm currently relying on the three c's calpol,calamine and c beebies.

Is there anything else I can do? he is getting very aggitated by the itching, how long does the itching go on for?I've also got a 14 week old baby is he likely to catch it too?

piriton or eurax good for itching, tepid baths in bicarb of soda or oatmeal ! Your baby may well get it , especially if on formula.

Piriton is the best thing for the itching IMO.

Calamine dries, and as it dries it can actually be a cause of itching in itself.

My 1 yr old had the pox whilst we were in Oz at xmas...he was sufferring with the itching, piriton didnt seem to help a great deal and even seemeed to make him a bit hyper I had fully expected it to knock him out!

Anyway on the advice of my friends mum who we were staying with we bathed him in PINETARSAL which is a pine tar oil for the bath. Not sure if you can get it here (but it might be worth asking in Boots as they do have a book they can order unusual things from).

I think it's quite old fashioned and it does stink (coal tar soap with a hint of pine) but seemed to relieve the itching immediately for him. If you can't get this stuff i would try a bath with Oilatum or Aveeno oil in as they both seem similar to me (ie make the bath water cloudy).