Chicken pox - DS might have caught it, tell me everything

[flowerybeanbag]

My niece has come down with chicken pox, came out in spots yesterday. She was up with us on Saturday for DS's 1st birthday party, so he might get it (along with all his mates).

Is it true that the last 24 hours before spots come out is the key, therefore DS might be all right?

What do I do with him in the meantime, do I assume he is going to get it? Do I not go out? How long for? We have a nanny starting tomorrow, what do I do about that? If she's had it is it fine? If not, should she not start?

Any advice appreciated!

From my knowledge and experience it is most contagious 1-2 days before the spots start. So you could be fine. I would tell the nanny, so she knows to look for it. Most adults are immune whether they have had it or not (you can build up immunity). Would just wait and see, we've had lots of false alarms and had the chickenpox. From my experience the younger they get it the easier it has been to deal with.

Thanks sdr. The nanny has a little boy. I am assuming if she is fine, he will be - I mean you can't pass it on as a third party or anything can you? He won't be coming with her to work so won't be in any direct contact with DS.

Any more thoughts anyone?

Hi, A few kids at DS childminders have just got chicken pox and my GP says it is contagious from when the 1st spots/blisters appear until they scab. Its the liquid inside the blisters that spread them. And it can take 12-14 days for the spots to appear if you have contaminated it.

Hope this helps

Jodie x

If he has chicken pox do everything in your power to stop him scratching/picking spots/scabs. It will scar.

My twin 2 year old DS's have got chicken pox at moment. I took them to a chicken pox party cos the earlier they get it the easier it is to deal with (nurse at doctors confirmed this). One a bit grumpy for couple of days and off food but other ok. Just kept them dosed up and bathed in bicarb of soda. Its no worse than dealing with teething. Infectious 2 days before spots come out until they dry up. Incubation period up to 14 days. Not good to mix with pregnant mums and cant go to play groups but my mates dont mind me going round and still go out for walks. They started getting spotty Friday and up to their usual mischief yesterday. My oldest had chicken pox when I had twins and he couldnt come to hospital but I could still see him at home. Passed on through contact or coughing. Nothing really to worry about.

that's really helpful thanks all

My DS was luckily taking cetirizine daily for his hayfever when he caught chicken pox (3 days before we were due to fly on holiday, but that's another story..) - and he hardly scratched or itched at all. Our doctor said the anti-histamine helps, and that he prescribes it sometimes for chicken pox, so might be worth asking your surgery?

If he does get it, try Piriton syrup to stop the itching (and there fore the scratching that can cause the scarring). My dd1 got it when she was 2, and the Piriton was fab! Checked with GP, and she said it was fine to use it for a couple of weeks till all the spots went. You don't need a prescription for it either, if I remember correctly.

Unusual, but just in case: sometimes a spot can get infected, so if one goes very red and/or swollen, or temp goes v high, call GP asap. Can be nasty.

Tis rare, but happened to friend's dd, so best to know about. Requires ABs.

thanks

Particularly keep an eye on any nasty ones in the nappy area or round the mouth. IME those were the ones that left scars with dd, as they don't the chance to dry up properly.

Dd2 has just got over chicken pox(passed on from Ds) she was absolutely covered in spots. All the spots have scabed over now but she still looks aweful.(turned a few heads in town today!).
I was a bit concerned about the amount of spots Dd2 had so i took her to the GP who prescribed her Benadryl which is ment to be better than Piriton.
I was also adviced to use Calamine cream and not lotion, something to do with the lotion making the spots more itchy once it has dried.
Apart from the spots and a few unsettled nights both my kids have coped with chicken pox quite well.

My DD has managed not to catch chicken pox dispite being with her cousins, two babies at nursery and her best friend immediately prior to them coming out in spots, all of them had it very badly, but mine? nope, not a spot. I wouldn't worry too much, he may not catch it at all.

Children over thhree can use Eurax, calomine cream is useless. My dd who is three and my other dd who is 16 months have just had it. Dd1 was ok but dd2 was in a very bad way so I disagree with it being easier the younger they are. My 16 month old was in pain we missed sleep for over 48hrs it was horrendous for her and for us. We bather her in baking soda and covered her in cream and dosed her with piriton.
My experience of chickenpox is horrific.

don't think my dd is ever going to catch it - shes been exposed to it so many times.

thanks everyone

I'm kind of crossing my fingers that he won't catch it, but also feeling that it's going to happen at some point so may as well be now!