Chicken pox- how long do the spots keep appearing for?

[RBH]

According to the info from the doctor the spots appear for 5-7 days, but we are now on day 8 and loads are coming up. The first lot came up and by day 6 had all scabbed over so we were going to go out the next day. However on day 7 there were a whole lot more and they are still coming. How many more days (and more importantly, nights) of this should I expect?

Thought we were getting away lightly but appears not!

[nicesurprise]

Please be careful and check the bottle when it come to *ibuprofen as this has been know to make the virus much worse. Without scaring people and from experience it is vital you get medical advice on this too if you are uncertain.

[scats]

Hi any suggestions for soothing chicken pox spots in the mouth, by the eyes and on the lips.My daughter is 2 and has sensitive skin. I did wonder about Piriton but there seem to be a lot of articles saying it doesn't have any effect. Has anyone used it that it worked for?

[scats]

Hi
My daughter has started erupting in spots over the last 24 hours. They are in her hair, privates ears and the corner of her eyes. She also appears to be getting some inside her mouth. Today she is bright and breezy - but last night I felt like I'd lost a boxing match!
Has anyone any suggestions for her mouth and her eyes? The medical blurb seems to imply that piriton doesn't make any difference - is anyone out there who thinks it def helps...

[RBH]

Well DD2 seems pretty much back to normal apart from the odd "ow" as she moves sometimes.

DD1 still has an eye that looks like she has been hit. I have eye ointment in case of infection- any ideas on how to get a stroppy 3 year old to let you put it in?! Can't even prise it open as so puffy. Cold compresses seem to be helping a bit. She now has a bad cough and her temperature keeps spiking. Doing another day of calpol/ibuprofen/piriton and if nothing changes going back to the doctor again tomorrow.

So much for 5-7 days- we are now on day 13! They will definitely be immune after this!!

[blackrock]

DS developed chicken pox exactly two weeks after a visit to a poxy friend of ours. He was ill for less than 24hrs (high temp/sleepy). Spots came up over about seven days, in a specific order. We were going on holiday and he had to get the last new spot seven days clear of the flight. He made it bt a day. i needed a doctors certificate for the flight to say that this was the case.

We had a great holiday. DS had time to recover as it does zap energy and slowed development for a week or so!

[Jojay]

It's given me comfort too!!

My 19 mth old DS has just had chicken pox, not too badly, but his eyes are still red and bloodshot.

Seeing RHB's / Fluffybubble's comments about red eyes, I now know that it happens, and he's not the only one!!

They're not bothering him in the slightest and they're not gunky, so I'll leave well alone I think!!

Thanks for the reassurance

[Bettymamma]

I think this thread may have finished but its given me comfort! My dd (nearly 3) has just got over chicken pox but my dd (nearly 7 months) appears to be getting it badly - that or she's having a complete personality transplant. Not eating, thirsty, not sleeping, won't let me leave the room etc etc. I was wondering why the spots are coming and going but the bit about medised may explain that. Poor things. Thank god you only get it once!

[Eilatan]

Can't aid much, except to say it does pass, just when you think it won't. My little boy had it at 11 months, he's now 1 yrs and the only sign is two tiny scars either side of chin - that look like dimples if you didn't know - that are fading fast. Sunshine helps clear up the spots - although that flies in the face of the advice of avoiding sun exposure....but it works fantastically! Here's hoping everyone is spot free for the summer hols!

[LittleMyDancing]

DS has just eaten the most mahoosive roast dinner, followed by a banana and a yogurt, so I think he may be feeling better

And this is a boy who normally has the smallest appetite in the world, too.

Hope all your LOs are feeling better.

[Fluffybubble]

RBH - I spoke to dr about red eyes as ds has these as well as cp & infection of his willy (yey!!!) - apparently they should clear by themselves, if they go gunky you will need antibiotics (conjunctivitis). HTH.

[LittleMyDancing]

Ds has one eye that's a bit swollen, not much though.

[LittleMyDancing]

Yep, think we'll be at the docs tomorrow too

[RBH]

Can't help with that sorry, but does anyone have experience of swollen eyes? DD1 looks like she has been hit in the eye by Mike Tyson. Back to the doctor's tomorrow!

[LittleMyDancing]

Anyone's DC had joint pain as part of their symptoms? I thought Ds was nearly better but he's complaining that his leg hurts and crying like mad. any thoughts?

[TheMadHouse]

Complete survial guide www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=138&threadid=549577#11220349 here - which I have found a godsend

[aDad]

and good luck all...

[aDad]

My two just had it over the last month. First dd2 - really bad, huge spots, seemed really unwell for at least a week. Then two weeks later dd1, not that many spots, seemed kind of ok very quickly. Funny how different it can be in different children. DD2 who had it first is definitely going to have some scars, DD1's you can hardly see.

Things we found to be good: Bicarbonate of soda in the bath - generous amounts, piriton and occasional calamine creme.

They loved 'cooking' in the bath with the bicarb - just put some in a bowl and give them a spoon.

[LittleMyDancing]

40-50 spots sounds like he's in the midst of it to me - they don't normally get very ill with it, a bit quiet is about right. DS was fine in himself but got very tired and wanted to lie on the sofa more than usual.

DS had a very itchy head too, I tried calamine but he wouldn't have it, so we resorted to Piriton, but only just before naps and bed to help with good sleep.

You could try an oatmeal bath - just fill up a muslin with porridge oats, tie it up and run the hot water through it - it makes the water go all cloudy and it's meant to be very soothing. We did one for DS but it's hard to tell if it had any effect.

Hope it helps - going out now hooray! Can't remember what the ouside world looks like....

[HairyMaclary]

Can I ask all you pox veterans a question? My DS was sent home form nursery with chicken pox yesterday. He doesn't seem very unwell, just a bit quiet, and only has 40 - 50 spots or so, but load of them are in his hair and they are really itchy. What is the best stuff for the itching in terms of cream, I'm reluctant to give piriton just yet, want to save that for when it's really bad!!

[RBH]

Enjoy escaping from the house for a bit! Think things are on the up here too. I am now so glad mine have had their MMRs cos at least I don't have to go through measles, mumps and rubella too!

When the govt talks about wanting to cut unplanned teenage pregnancy rates they are missing a trick. Include a stay in a house of pox as part of sex ed and that'll put people off!

[LittleMyDancing]

Glad to hear you've been to the docs RBH, set your mind at rest!

DS is much better the last couple of days, his spots are drying up nicely, and today DP is going to look after him so I can go shopping yay!

Hope all your LOs are on the mend

LMD x

[RBH]

Well we went back to the doctor who has taken swabs to be on the safe side, given us cream and weighed the kids so I know how much calpol I can give over a 24 hour period. Just a matter of waiting it out now!

Interesting about vit c- dd1 will drink it so will funnel it in! Good luck everyone!

[UsNow]

Vitamin C in large doses is meant to inhibit deaminizing proteins that release histamine. Give him some orange juice!

[TheMadHouse]

OK, docs said to just dose with calpol and nurofen. Give the piriton if required, but Ds2 is hyper with AntiH.

So once DH is in I am off for the script

[RBH]

So far dd1 has all of 10 spots. Had thought that maybe she was getting it more mildly than dd2 but now am wondering whether it is just biding its time!