Does this sound like chickenpox?

[TheLemur]

On Sunday night/Monday DS (2.11) had a temperature

Yesterday he seemed to have a heavy snotty cold

Today the cold has totally dried up and he has approx 8 small red spots on his face (on the cheeks) - none anywhere else on his body. The spots just look like small acne pimples not big angry blisters

He seems fine 'in himself' apart from his appetite being a little down.

Is chickenpox in the post do you think? DS is PFB so I've no experience of it before. If not, what else might it be? I've kept him at home today but it would be good to know how much time I'm going to need to take off with this!

Forgot to say, he doesn't seem to be bothered by the spots or itching them

If you don't see blisters tonight or tomorrow then it isn't he pox. They are very distinctive. DS1 has just had it and DS2 got the first spots and blisters yeserday, so I have seen a lot of chicken pox lately.

Itching usually comes when the blisters burst and scab over (but DS1 didn't get itchy at all).

Unusual to start on the face. Check behind the ears and all over the head. DD started with a temp and cough then woke up on day 3 of temp/cough with spots all over her back. Very distinctive, I knew right away it was chickenpox.

I thought the body was the most usual place to start, and behind the ears, but the NHS direct website (I think) said the face was the most common place, which surprised me. DS1 started on his back but DS2 started on his face. Neither of them had a temperature beforehand and DS2 is still fine now.

Ds2's chicken pox started like this. About 48 hours later he was covered in 'proper' chicken pox spots.

Thanks for all the input, it sounds like it starts in different places for different children.

NHS direct is unspecific about where it starts

I can't see any on the scalp or behind the ears but I'll keep my eye out. Think I'll pop to the pharmacist too to see what he reckons

If it is chickenpox do you think he will be well enough to potty train while we are at home for a few days? Seems like a good opportunity!

Just an update - the pharmacist said it might or might not be chickenpox

However there are no more spots today and the ones on his face have cleared up! Hurrah