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Original poster

Does this look like chickenpox????? Been about 23yrs since I had them so can't remember

18 replies

fannyannie · 04/05/2007 15:42

What they look like.

here

here

and here

They are on DS1 (6 1/2yrs) back, front and some on his legs- plus it looks like a few are starting to appear on his face too.

He seemed to be in a foul mood after school yesterday - really grumpy and sullen but assured me nothing was wrong just that he was in a bad mood.Was fine when he woke up this morning and as he wet the bed (again) I had to give him a quick strip wash and they weren't there then. But has just showed me them now as he's getting changed after school.

Does it look like chickenpox - and if so do I need to do anything.........oh and I'm 35+3 weeks pg - and am not sure if DH has ever had them!

OP posts:
clayre · 04/05/2007 15:49

yeah they look like chicken pox, i would fone and ask to speak to your dr for any risk to you or baby

fryalot · 04/05/2007 15:52

yes. they look like chicken pox blisters to me, too

ShowOfHands · 04/05/2007 15:53

If it is chicken pox you should be fine:

Risks to the Baby

Firstly, if the mother has definitely had chicken-pox, there is no risk to the baby or her. In any case, even if she doesn't recall having had chicken pox, it is likely she has antibodies (80% do) from a silent (asymptomatic) infection. So if there's any doubt about it, she should see a doctor for a blood test to check if she's immune.

Risks to the baby are important at the following two times, if mum gets chicken-pox:

  1. Before 20 weeks - risk of chicken pox syndrome. This is actually quite rare. Up until 14 weeks the risk is about 0.4%, whereas between 14-20 weeks it is 2%. If a woman has VZ-Ig treatment (see below) after being exposed, the risk is even lower.
  1. Mum's rash developing within a week before delivery to a month afterwards. It takes about a week for mum to pass the protective antibodies to the baby, so if born before that time, the babe is at risk of overwhelming infection after birth.

Between 20 weeks and term there is no risk to the baby. The other big risk of chicken pox is to the mother. She is much more likely, during pregnancy, to get a chicken pox pneumonia (10%) which can be very severe (even life-threatening).

Original poster
fannyannie · 04/05/2007 15:53

oh marvelous - that's all I need......I suppose DS2 will be coming down with them too...........mind you just spoken to DH and he did have them when he was younger so at least I won't have him down with them too.

OP posts:
nailpolish · 04/05/2007 15:53

yes i think that is definitely chickenpox

speak to you r community mw or gp re you being pg TODAY

nailpolish · 04/05/2007 15:54

DS2 WONT necessarily get them - when my dd1 had them dd2 didnt get it - even tho they shared a bath and everything

WigWamBam · 04/05/2007 15:55

Yep - looks like chickenpox.

If you've had it then you should be OK - there are risks if a pregnant woman catches CP but if you've already had it then you should be immune.

You can have your immunity checked by the GP or midwife - just a blood test - and can be given antibodies if you're not immune.

SoupDragon · 04/05/2007 15:56

If you've had them and are immune, you're fine and the baby is fine. You can get your immunity checked by a blood test I think. The risk would be if DS2 comes out with them/is contagious when the baby is born.

Original poster
fannyannie · 04/05/2007 15:57

Thanks everyone - just about to call the Dr.s for advice...........is there anything I can put on his skin to try and stop him scratching at them so much - I can tell he's already been at them at school.....

OP posts:
nailpolish · 04/05/2007 15:58

calamine lotion and piriton syrup does the trick

fryalot · 04/05/2007 15:58

calamine lotion.

When all the spots have come out, you can dose him with piriton, but not till they are all out.

nailpolish · 04/05/2007 15:59

squonk i gave dd1 piriton before htey all came out

why are you not meant to?

BettySpaghetti · 04/05/2007 16:00

a cool bath with bicarb in it is good for drying up the spots quickly, also Piriton to reduce itching.

Good luck

JeanieG · 04/05/2007 16:01

Yeah they defo look like chicken pox

Original poster
fannyannie · 04/05/2007 16:04

well just called my Dr.s surgery and I'm now waiting for one of the Dr.s to call me back - noway I'm walking all the way up there at this time in the afternoon unless I have too lol

OP posts:
Original poster
fannyannie · 04/05/2007 17:13

Right well after having had 2 call backs from the Doctors (he asked me to call my mum to double check that I had definitely had them when I was little). He was pretty confident from my description that it was Chickenpox, of course it does mean that he's probably going to be infectious for another 10 days or so........meaning that if DS2 doesn't get them now and waits until the end of DS1's 'infectious' period to get them - then he could be infectious when DC3 is born .

Dr. says as I had a particurlarly spectacular dose of them when I was little I may well pass the immunity on to DC3 - but we'll cross that bridge if/when we come to it...

Thanks for your help.

OP posts:
SaintGeorge · 04/05/2007 18:02

Just make sure the midwife/hospital are aware of the situation if DS2 is infectious when you go into labour.

They can arrange to have gammaglobulin available to give to DC3 if needed as an extra safety measure. They don't tend to hold supplies but they can get hold of it easily from the local Public Health Lab.

Original poster
fannyannie · 04/05/2007 18:06

Don't worry I'll make sure they know if that eventuality happens

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