CHICKEN POX: Symptoms before rash?

[StrawberryMartini]

I'm 99% sure ds has chicken pox but I've not seen any spots yet. It's day 13 after exposure to it. Last night he woke 3 times.

Today he has been off his food and gagged a few times. He's developed a fever this afternoon and has been generally exhausted. He also has a cough. Having googled it seems these are common symptoms that occur before the rash.

I know I'll find out tomorrow but just wondered if anyone else's dcs had similar symptoms.

Should I go and see the doctor when the spots appear or just assume that it's the pox? Is there anything I can do apart from calpol and piriton?

TIA

Sounds like it. Many children get hardly any spots at all. Try the NHS Direct site. They are really good...or even the NHS Direct phone number...often busy (0845 4647). Once spots come out and they start to ITCH...i used Germolene (with anaesthetic )for both dds and it certainly helped.

High temperature, poor appetite, grizzly/unsettled - for about one day before insect bite type rash appears.

By day 3 expect loads of crusty spots.

Calpol/ibuprofen to reduce the fever, antihistamine syrup (paediatric version available from Boots, own brand) to make spots less itchy, and calamine cream (as opposed to lotion, which can make them itchier when it dries apparently). Am sure your pharmacist will be able to help.

If you know your kid has been exposed to c-pox in the last 10-21 days, you can assume it is. Look on NHS Direct though for other symptoms to look out for, as in a very small number of cases there can be complications. On the whole though it is less stressful than other childhood illness, IME, and your kid is less likely to have the nasty complications if they are a bit younger (although under the age of 1, or if they only get it very mildly, it can be caught again).

HTH.

Thanks, I'm just panicking re all the news about the vaccine recently.

How is your DS today. My DS has had a temperature and cough today. He also has 4 spots but not sure if they are chickenpox spots. Will know by the morning!