Is this chickenpox?

[willow2]

Ok - started new thread as others seem v long.
Tried trawling through them all but gave up!

Most of ds' nursery have had chickenpox over the last month. He woke up today with about a dozen small red spots - few on tummy, back, arms, armpit, one ear, scalp - so I was pretty sure he was getting the pox. However, no more spots yet (or at least don't think so) and they don't seem to have changed very much in appearance. They look a bit like a flea bite(come here you bloody cats) although one or two seem to have tiny heads. Maybe i'm wrong, but if this is the pox shouldn't he be covered with spots that are already turning blistery? Or can it all develop very slowly?
He has been ok in himself apart from a bit grizzly mid afternoon. Gave him medised whereupon he slept for about two hours. Now awake, happy but bit subdued. (No doubt will truly get in to his stride at 8pm just as Buffy starts). He is supposed to go to nursery tomorrow - obviously won't take him if he get worse, but don't know what to do if things stay the same.

Any advice gratefully received.

That's really odd because DS has developed lots of spots under one armpit over the last few days. They haven't got any worse but they do look suspicious. He doesn't have them anywhere else. I was thinking of asking exactly the same question i.e. can it develop slowly?

yes, willow, could be. we started with v. small, bite like eruptions, which spread over a couple of days to a really nasty looking (but ultimately harmless) total body experience.

don't want to alarm you but the spots protocol in our house is always to do the glass test immediately in case of meningitis.

having done that, and of course assuming negative, go and see your gp.

i would stock up on child/infant nurofen and bicarb of soda (put some of this in the bath to relieve itching). check with your gp or nhs direct but something like piriton (anti histamine) might help with the itching. then there is the bog standard calamine lotion.

hth and good luck.

very odd - seem to have started two threads on same subject. Not sure how that happened.
Have already done glass test BK - thankfully ok.
How much bicarb do you suggest? It's definitely the pox as lots more spots now.

I don't know whether this will help, but, when dd1 and dd2 got them 2 weeks apart, they started with a single spot that looked like a blister. within a few hours (after a nap) more had started appearing. If it is chickenpox, put calamine lotion in a spray bottle with a little water and it covers a better area and stops your child getting bored whilst applying it.

willow, we did a couple of tablespoons of bicarb to a bath. this seemed to be the most effective relief for ds, although as he was under 1yr when he got it, things like anti histamines were not appropriate then - how we longed for them... see what your gp or nhs direct has to say.

good luck, we had two/three disturbed nights...

When DS (17months) caught chickepox a month ago we didn't notice at first as he only had one spot in the centre of his back. It looked like a scratch at first, then an inflamed scratch then a blister. 3 days later he had a couple of spots on his neck and his hairline and then 2 days later he was absolutely covered in them. So in answer to your question it did develop very slowly. We were recommended Pine Tarsol for the bath and if I remember rightly Phenergan (sp?) an antihistamine syrup and of course Calamine lotion! The worst bit was keeping him indoors for 10 days!!!!

We also gave dd1 piriton syrup. It really did seem to ease the itching.

When there was an outbreak of CHicken Pox at my ds's nursery he got a few bite-like spots, but not many. The GP said it was chicken pox, but as long as he didn't have a fever he should just go to Nursery anyway!! I was quite surprised, but he said he would rather encourage Chicken Pox to strike while they are young..... sounds a bit harsh, but ds went to Nursery with all the other 'spotty' children and was ok. Obviously there are varying severities of symptoms, ds's was very mild.

Katierocket,

Are the spots like little blisters with fluid filled heads ? If so could be molluscum contagiosum, which ds had behind his knee, rather than chicken pox - I think they occur in crops particularly in creases and are therefore difficult to notice until there are quite a few. They disappear spontaneously and are not contagious but can take 6 months to go. With ds it was after he had chicken pox that it went too, but that area was also particularly badly affected by the chickenpox spots.

Anyway I guess by now you will probably know ,

Lizs

Thanks for all the advice. Poor little thing has loads more and, while not too bad during the day, had a dreadful night last night - I ended up sleeping on his floor it was that much fun.

Anyway, he's particularly spotty around his bits (bless!) - the minute I put his nappy on tonight (he's dry by day but we haven't attempted nights yet) he started really scratching. Figured it must be really uncomfortable so gave him the option of going without, which he's taken. Am I mad to contemplate having to deal with him wetting the bed as well or do others think this was the best thing to do?

Cheers for all the suggestions - got everything except Pine Tarsol (? Never heard of it, is it chemists only?) - don't know if they're helping but makes me feel better to be doing something.

Oh, can my DS2 join the party too.....he came out in spots this morning and over the day the they have quadrupled in number, I know this as he wants me to count them!!
Anyway I've been told to give him a bath in Bicarbonate soda and to also put 2 camomile tea bags in it!! My neighbours little girl had the pox last year 3 days before they were due to do on holiday and this bath time concoction dried the spots out before they left the airport, she also told me to rub calendular (sp?) cream all over him after his bath.
Anyway I'm off to check DS2 for spots as they're sure to appear soon.

Willow

Slat in the bath water really helps - I had chicken pox at 22 so can remember feeling absolute bliss in salty bath water - also helps to sry the blisters out a bit and heal more quickly. I also swaer by camomile (sp?) lotion - the runny one in a bottle - I dabbed it all over my two when they had it and it seemed to help (ds gave it to dd when she was 6 weeks poor mite!)

My typing is apalling - I meant salt - sorry

LIZS - no, I don't think they do have yellow heads - just lots of red spots but only under one of his armpits. I think one of the spots looks slightly 'blistered' but not all. What is molluscum contagiosum?

Can we join too? DS came out in spots yesterday and has about 30 now. He doesn't seem to be suffering with the itches (he's 8 months) although he has been quieter than usual and rather cuddly !

Famous last words, I know...

Footnote - leaving nappy off v stupid idea!!!

God I'm knackered.

hi there willow. yes dh and i both ended up sleeping on the floor in ds's room when he had it - nightmare. any luck with the antihistamines? from what i remember, today has probably been your worst day and from now on things may well be on the mend. fingers crossed anyway. best wishes .

Hi BK, He slep through last night - think most of spots have scabbed up so over worst I hope. Thanks for your suggestions and concern. Friend of mine has just told me about piriton lotion and also some form that goes in the bath. Am off to investigate.