Does chicken pox start with general illness rather than a rash?

[GrinningSoul]

The list of chicken pox cases at nursery has gone onto two sheets this week and i keep waiting for my dd (4) to get it. Today she has asked to stay in bed, is ashen, says she feels sick (though that's always her first reaction to illness of any sort) and has now fallen back to sleep. i can't see any rash and she's not particularly hot.

I'm kind of hoping its CP but i don't remember this stage when DS had it 5 years ago. Any experience?

they are sometimes ill the day before the spots start to develop.

thanks. it's odd to be at home and have spare time because she's ill. i must get off the computer and on with some task or other...

My dd1 (5) has got it at the moment. She was off her food, and extra tired for a couple of days before it came out. It could well be.She didnt have a fever until the spots were out.Hope this helps.

yes, could be - get in the calpol and teatree antiseptic cream just in case

hope she feels better soon

DD and ds had them at christmas, easch of them was sich exactly a week before the first spots appeared and were generally off colour for the rest of that week.
No fever here until the spots came either.

ok looking likely then. thanks all. calpol at the ready...

grinning i had it as an adult a few years ago, very unpleasant, and used the nelsons teatree antiseptic cream, it was wonderful. I have since used it on both of mine when they had it and recommended it to anyone who's kids got it too - best thing in the world for soothing their spots - you can get it in boots and maybe even tescos

i had it as an adult, had the worst sore neck/throat EVER to start with and a fever.

I can also recommend getting in some Piriton or similar. DS wouldn't have got any sleep without it. Relieves the itching and helps the sleeping.

thanks for all the advice! fab. just hope it turns into cp now.... she's got up and asked for egg, but is still in sofa-mode...

My ds (3) came down with Chicken Pox on Sunday after a really rough night on Saturday when he was very upset, restless, and generally not feeling great - much like your dd. Since then, he has been much better - the spots have now completely covered his whole body, but other than being a little bit quiet and not eating quite as much, he seems to be quite normal. He has been sleeping fine at night so far and playing during the day - I hope that if you have it on the way that your dd is the same as having it at a young age seems to be better. All of ds's friends have been coming down with the CP so I guess that it is inevitable that your dd will have it as it is doing the rounds. All the best and hope for an itch-free time!

Can I just say porridge oats in a sock in bath water is the best thing I found for reducing the itch. Sounds mad but both DC have recently had it and it was fantastic. My DC were also hugely improved the minute the spots appeared and their temperatures went back down. Hope DC are better soon