Help pls - Chicken pox or something else

[Beth2022]

Hi lovely mums,

Chicken pox have been going around my 18 months old nursery for over 2 weeks now. On Saturday I noticed my little boy had spots all over his nappy area, definitely didn't look like the nappy rashes he's had before. On Monday I noticed more spots on the top of his legs, he has a couple on the top of his foot.

But I've done some research on Chicken pox and it isn't following the usual course. He was very irritable on Monday and bad nights sleep, but otherwise he's been absolutely fine. The spots aren't itchy and they haven't blistered (save for the 1 on his foot) or crusted over.

We are due to go on hol on Wed, but of course won't go if it does transpire to be pox and if doc thinks still contagious, but just wondering if you'd had experience of a milder case of chickenpox that didn't necessarily follow the expected course.

I've added a photo, first one I took at 4.30pm (pic of him in nappy), the second I took at 7.30pm the same day. They just suddenly massively reduced which has confused me, no cream applied or anything.

Will give docs a call tomorrow, but just interested in other mums experience. He's my only child so never experienced this before. Thanks so much x

Hand foot and mouth can appear in the nappy area

I would be certain that isn't chicken pox. By the sounds/looks of it it's likely just a viral rash. Young children get viral rashes A LOT! Hope he's fully better soon!

HFM for sure, my son had it buttocks and thighs mostly (just like your photos). Hands and feet barely noticeable.

Chicken pox was very noticeably chicken pox as in blister spots that started as one or two then spread.

Both they usually tend to be a little off and maybe a temp, runny nose and even a cough.

Hope it passes quickly for you all

💐

My 4 year old currently has chicken pox, it’s doing the rounds here at nursery too. I would guess a mild case of CP only because it’s going around your nursery and it is highly contagious. But, kids do seem to present very differently with CP, some barely have a spot.
However, the spots do tend to have the same grain of rice shape which blister, burst and crust over. Could well be HFM which was actually probably more horrific, but again, every child is so different.
Good luck, I hope that he feels better soon. Fwiw by next Wednesday I reckon you’d be fine for your holiday if it was either virus!

My first thought was hand foot and mouth. Chicken pox is more individual spots with blisters whereas hand foot and mouth is more rashy and clustered x

Thanks so much everyone, so helpful. He doesn't seem too bothered by it so I've not been putting creams on it. He's just been nappy free basically since Sat and I think he's been enjoying the freedom 😂

Hopefully will be all clear in time for hol on Wed whatever it is🤞 x

If you go to your local pharmacy and ask for a face to face consultation with the pharmacist, they should be able to tell you what it it. Or your HV if you can get to see them.

DS was sent home from school with suspected chicken pox, took him to the pharmacy and they said it was an allergy (DS has had chicken pox so I knew it wasn't that).