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Original poster

Chickenpox etiquette

58 replies

Mamabear04 · 24/02/2023 22:10

DD has come out in chickenpox type spots today. 99% sure it is chickenpox. Obviously will call her nursery on Monday morning and keep her absent from 5 days from today. Just wondering about chickenpox etiquette...

Can I take DD to the shops with me?

Can I take DD to the playpark?

Can she see GP who are in their late 60s with no serious underlying health conditions - will they be at risk of shingles?

How long before I can visit a friend with a newborn? (DD won't be with me but may have DS who has never had it/might have it but not showing any spots)

How long before it's safe to visit a friend with cancer?

And some advice...

What can I do if DS (7 months) gets it? Should I call the GP?

Can I do anything to help? I ran to the chemist tonight and got antihistamine and lotion for DD. Should I start giving her these when she wakes up in the morning? She's 3 years old.

Anything else I should know? Obviously planning to avoid places like soft play, swimming, play cafes etc.

OP posts:
VeryLittleBrain · 24/02/2023 22:13

www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/chickenpox
If your child has chickenpox, try to keep them away from public areas to avoid contact with people who may not have had it, especially people who are at risk of serious problems, such as newborn babies, pregnant women and anyone with a weakened immune system (for example, people having cancer treatment or taking steroid tablets).

katsue · 24/02/2023 22:14

You have to wait until all of the pox have scabbed over. I would wait for that before taking her out and then add another week before visiting vulnerable friends.

PuttingDownRoots · 24/02/2023 22:17

Definite no to friend with cancer, it can be really dangerous for them. (Relative said she felt relieved when DDs and DN all got CP... felt more relaxed at family gatherings knowing they couldn't be incubating it!)

She needs to stay home. No parks or grandparents if it can be avoided.

With baby... be aware he may get it and not develop immunity. Alternatively if he is breastfeeding he may have antibodies from you.

Oat baths can be very soothing. (Fill old sock with oats and hold under tap while bath is filling.

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SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 24/02/2023 22:18

DS has it atm and we are housebound until at least all the spots are scabbed. Some have started already after only a couple days but many are just starting to blister. Personally I'd wait until after everything is scabbed over and then a day or two for safety.

You can't catch shingles from someone with chickenpox btw, but someone who's never had chickenpox can catch them from someone with shingles.

whoami24601 · 24/02/2023 22:19

Just to add you can't catch shingles from chickenpox but you can catch chickenpox from shingles!

Maryandherlamb · 24/02/2023 22:22

Yes to shops if they stay in a pushchair, but I wouldn't put them in a trolley or let them touch anything that others might touch. No to visiting vulnerable people, even if it's just with your other child who might be infected but not showing. No to seeing a GP if your other child gets it (just treat it as normal... my daughter got them at 5 months old and they were quite bad but she still recovered just fine). Obviously if they're very unwell then that's different... but I wouldn't book an appt just because they have chicken pox.

ironhelp · 24/02/2023 22:26

It's airborne so people can catch it from breath etc.
I wouldn't take them anywhere unless I had too but I understand that's going to be hard.

Your DS may have it for a while before actually coming out in spots so I would definitely avoid anyone with cancer for a while.

Slightlydustcovered · 24/02/2023 22:26

Yes unfortunately it's one of those things, stay clear of public places. I would avoid the newborn until you know you're all clear. Oat baths and hope it scabs over quickly. It can take a bit longer than 5 days DD1 took 10 days DD2 took 6 days. I can't remember but I think you are also supposed to avoid ibuprofen, but I may be muddled so best to check.

Barleysugar86 · 24/02/2023 22:27

Bi carbonate of soda baths work too.

Incubation period is two weeks for your little one. you'll want to keep your little one away from anyone you are worried about (eg newborn). When my elder kid got it his baby sister was exactly two weeks behind. I got caught out thinking we were safe and exposed someone immunocompromised I felt awful.

Stay home unless you are really stuck. I felt awkward taking my kid out even once they had scabbed as I didn't want to worry people. No need to go to the GP unless there are complications.

Dammitthisisshit · 24/02/2023 22:40

Maryandherlamb · 24/02/2023 22:22

Yes to shops if they stay in a pushchair, but I wouldn't put them in a trolley or let them touch anything that others might touch. No to visiting vulnerable people, even if it's just with your other child who might be infected but not showing. No to seeing a GP if your other child gets it (just treat it as normal... my daughter got them at 5 months old and they were quite bad but she still recovered just fine). Obviously if they're very unwell then that's different... but I wouldn't book an appt just because they have chicken pox.

It’s airborne so if you have to take them into a shop then it’s pushchair with raincover over, and avoid doing it at all if possible.

mummyh2016 · 24/02/2023 23:05

I did head and shoulders baths on a morning and oat baths on an evening with DD. She was only poorly on day 1 and didn't suffer with it really. They were scabbed over by day 6.

carpool · 24/02/2023 23:14

DGD has chicken pox currently. Was staying with us for half term and DD noticed a couple of spots on her back the day we took her home. I wouldn't think GP would be at particular risk unless they haven't had CP or are immunocompromised. Obviously we were exposed to it as they are infectious from 2 days before the spots appear (NHS website) but we are both fine (as we were when our own DC had it 30 odd years ago). As someone else said they are no longer infectious once spots have scabbed over. Incubation period can be up to 21 days (DGS hasn't got it yet but probably will in the next week or so) They have just been staying home but we have been babysitting as normal as we were exposed anyway so avoiding them would be a bit shutting the stable door after the horse bolted!

MrsSkylerWhite · 24/02/2023 23:16

In the grand scheme, a week at home will make very little difference to you and your little one. Could make a big difference to someone else, though. Please stay at home.

JussathoB · 24/02/2023 23:20

For goodness sake don’t visit a newborn. Please have a quiet few days and don’t go visiting people.

JussathoB · 24/02/2023 23:21

Your DS is extremely likely to get it too, and will be most infectious just before he comes out in spots!

sixtiesbaby88 · 24/02/2023 23:24

And definitely don't give ibuprofen, it can be quite dangerous with chicken pox virus

LoveBluey · 24/02/2023 23:26

My 5 year old got it and it was exactly 2 weeks to the day when her baby sister came out in the first spot so I'd continue to be careful with visiting vulnerable people for at least 2-3 weeks from today as the younger one could be infectious.

lopsees · 24/02/2023 23:35

My child caught chickenpox at 5. A decade later she still has around a hundred visible scars.

Whilst the majority of children are ill for a short time, others live with lifelong scars or worse, and tragically occasionally chickenpox kills.

Please protect others by following nhs advice to stay home until the infectious period is over however inconvenient it may be for you.

yikesanotherbooboo · 24/02/2023 23:54

Just to add, it is likely to be more than 5 days. You wait until all the spots have scabbed and ver which is usually at lest a week. It feels a bit like prison staying in for a week with an irritable toddler then getting the hint of a reprieve before the next one develops spot!

Spongeboob · 25/02/2023 00:35

Just stay in. Seriously. The answers to most of your questions are no.
Poxclin mousse is brilliant for taking away the itchiness and Virasoothe gel also helps prevent scarring. No nurofen anything containing ibuprofen is a no go, just calpol. Oat baths can help too. Same goes for when your younger one inevitably catches it.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 25/02/2023 00:40

Spongeboob · 25/02/2023 00:35

Just stay in. Seriously. The answers to most of your questions are no.
Poxclin mousse is brilliant for taking away the itchiness and Virasoothe gel also helps prevent scarring. No nurofen anything containing ibuprofen is a no go, just calpol. Oat baths can help too. Same goes for when your younger one inevitably catches it.

Fuck fuck fuxk!! DH gave DS nurofen and he has CP!!

Bollocks shit. I never knew this!

FridayNightOnHereIsBetterThanDrinking · 25/02/2023 00:41

Stay home
No GP, No friend with Cancer, No Park
Nowhere

FridayNightOnHereIsBetterThanDrinking · 25/02/2023 00:42

No nurofen / Ibuprofen

Can make Chicken Pox very bad and cause a child to be seriously ill

Shoemadlady · 25/02/2023 00:51

You should stay at home with DD until it's scabbed over and absolutely not visit your friend with a newborn baby with your son who hasn't had chicken pox. If your daughter has it, he has it even if he's not displaying symptoms and it's the last thing a new mom needs is a baby with Cp. stay away until at least 21 days after intubation period

LadyYsabellDuchessofStoHelit · 25/02/2023 02:38

You need to keep your dd at home until the last spot has scabbed over not just 5 days. It took nearly two weeks for ds to be completely scabbed over.

Definitely no ibuprofen/neurofen/calprofen. Virasooth (sp?) was like magic for my dcs when all four got it within two weeks. Eurax cream was fab for my older dcs but it's only for over 3s.

If your ds does get it I'd recommend having him in sleepsuits with built in scratch mitts if you have them. It's the best way to stop him scratching as they can't be pulled off. You don't need to see the GP if your ds gets it unless he's very unwell or one (or more) spots get infected.

Stay away from the newborn and the friend with cancer at least three weeks after dd's last spot has scabbed over to be on the safe side. As unlikely as it is your ds could catch it the day before the last spot is scabbed and then take three weeks to get the first spot while also being contagious. Cp is very dangerous for those having cancer treatment and newborns. It sucks but it's just not worth the risk of causing lifelong issues, or short term serious illness like pneumonia, for a newborn for the sake of waiting a few weeks.

No to the shop (unless you literally have no food in and no one to get you some) and no playpark even if its empty.

Gps I'd say it's up to them if they've already had it. It's rare but you can get cp twice and it can lead to serious illness in older people.