we've got chicken pox!!!

[clux]

Hello, my 4 year old daughter has woken up with chicken pox this morning. When I phoned school they immediately said "are you from Bee class? We've had 7 parents phone in already this morning from that class!"

She doesn't seem to have it too badly yet but i#m not looking forward to the itching stage! Would really really appreciate any advice anyone has on how to deal with it

And my nearly 2 year old is completely miserable today so i expect she's about to get it too!!

[The Nappy Lady]

Hi Clux,

Good to get it out of the way though - our eldest got it 4 days before our first ever holiday abroad and so we couldn't fly!

Itching these days is usually OK - you can give them liquid Piriton - just buy it over the counter at any chemist. Don't bother with the other stuff that they used to put on us with cotton wool when we were kids and had it (can't remember what it is called, but the chalky stuff)...it doesn't really help, but the Piriton does.

The worst thing is being cooped up - they are said to be most infectious before the spots occur of course, but officially contagious until the last spot has scabbed over. If you know any children who have already had it they can of course come to play, which can help.

There was a thread on here ages ago, not sure if it would come up if you search as I think there has been a clear out of old messages. I think baths with rolled oats tied up in a muslin can help too if I recall rightly. I'm sure someone else on here will know for sure.

For the 2 year old, if still in nappies that is going to be the area that will get the spots the worst. If you can dare give her nappy off time so the spots can dry out and scab over that will help too.

Hang in there....Molly

[clux]

Molly, that is really really helpful. Thanks ever so much.

The idea of being cooped up for a week is really not appealing to me!!

[sillywoman]

Bicarbonate of soda in the bath (or the oat bag thing). And it's calamine lotion that Molly couldn't remember the name of - I certainly found it helpful when mine had CP. I used it in conjunction with Piriton & my lot all seemed to like the soothing, cooling feel of it, each to their own I guess.

A trip to the library to stock up on new books, story cd's & dvd's might be worth while if you can find someone to mind her for an hour while you go? Poor you, but it seems to be so much better if you get it over & done with early.

Wishing you good luck & loads of patience!

[ryedalema]

Good luck with that - our eldest had it when she was about 2 I think. It's not a bad age to get it - old enough that they don't get it again (so they say) and young enough that they don't know to scratch too much.

Tips from me would be - shake the Calamine bottle (if you use it) as I didn't know (derr) that it all separated - and I was left with a load of sludge at the bottom that I couldn't get to.

Better is something called Dermol that the Doc prescribed. It's better than Calamine as you can use it as a soap substitute too - so they can wash with it.

Also - I asked the Doctor to write it in 'the Red Book'. They don't necessarily do it but I wanted it recorded. My Mum died when I was 20ish and I don't remember what I've had and not had (my Dad's not great at that sort of thing)so it's good to have something noted that will stay with them into adulthood.

All the very best - it's a trying first few days then it all seems to get better. And all the best with the cabin fever - I was climbing the walls to leave the house afterwards - as you can't really go anywhere ('cept the park and outdoor places) when they are contagious.

[*Anna*]

If you want someone to pop up to the library for you let me know! I'm a nanny in East Dulwich and more than happy to include your books/DVDs on my 'weekly' run!

Think of things you might not have done before - cooking/baking/play dough?

Remember too you can always create activities in your garden too - treasure hunts? Put up a tent and play in that?

Best of luck!

[clux]

god you lot are really good!!!

thanks everyone for the fantastic tips and ideas! Somehow i don't feel quite so alone knowing you've all been through it!!!

Anna, that is a really really kind offer - thank you so much. My sister is coming over later (with her 2 year old who hasn't had it but she's happy for her to get it out of the way!) so i will manage to pop out to the chemist and the library later hopefully

[The Nappy Lady]

Clux,

So glad you will be able to pop out for a while.

The c-beebies website has some fab stuff on it that may keep your 4 year old going for a while - they have pictures you can print off and colour in which my daughter loves doing.

sillywoman - it was the doctor who told me not to bother with the Calamine, and I took him at his word, but I can imagine it would feel cooling and soothing if they are feeling really itchy with it. I remember Mum putting it on me when I had it (and measels) long ago....

Ryedalema, that is such a good idea about recording it in their red book, thanks for that tip.

Molly

[melbourne groover]

There is a Calamine and aqueous cream that was quite good - seemed to soothe for longer than the lotion and (as above) in conjunction with the Piriton the nasty early bit seemed to be over quite quickly.

[Pickle]

My son had the pox in summer (in the heat, not a good combination!), and we found the calamine with aqueous cream a lot more effective than just basic calamine. Piriton was also brilliant, and cold baths... although your little one may not struggle as much given that the weather is cold.

We had two really tough nights with it at the height of the spotty stage, but after that it wasn't too bad. My daughter, despite out best efforts, didn't get them - I was gutted as I would much rather have got them both out the way at once!

Good luck.

P x

[trinity]

Pickle

Many people have natural immunity to chicken pox and so your daughter may be one of those lucky ones.

All of mine have had it really mildly with middle son only having 2 spots. Hopefully that is enough to keep it at bay in future years.

Trinity

[Pickle]

I hope so Trinity! My younger sister has never had them - she was exposed as a baby when I had them, again when our brother got them, and my Mum says that the whole of her reception class came down with them and she still didn't, so she would appear to be one of the lucky ones.

I was still breastfeeding my daughter at the time, so it may be that she was protected through that - but at the time she wouldn't leave her brother alone (poor wee man, just to add to his misery) and one night even crawled over him in the bathroom so had skin to skin contact with the spots.

[The Nappy Lady]

I find the younger they are the less poorly they are with it....can't always rely on it, but my daugther at 2 wasn't actually 'ill' at all, just very spotty. She still went to the Childminder (as the other children there had given it to her), which was a big help, and really didn't seem off colour at all.

Guess we were v. lucky going by other posts on here.

Molly

[buggie]

skin to skin contact with the pox wouldn't make much difference as it's a droplet infection (carried in breath).

Camomile lotion on the whole stops being affective as soon as it dries - not heard of the camomile and aqueous cream but it sounds really good (and could also be used as soap). Another cream I've heard is good is Eurax cream.

Hope lil ones are feeling better soon!

[cate]

You can get it twice - just thought I would mention it! It happened to me! Not nice.........once as a kid and then as an adult.

[The Nappy Lady]

Isn't it classed as shingles when that happens Cate?

I think it is quite rare, but possible...could be wrong though.

Molly

[trinity]

I don't think its always shingles Molly. My husband got a few spots every time another of my children got it. Really weird but definitely chicken pox each time.

[cate]

No, I also got shingles as well later on. That was only on my back with the most awful nerve pain. I know 2 other people who have had chicken pox twice. Luckily I haven't had the shingles again. Was told my case was very mild. It is more painful than chicken pox.

[The Nappy Lady]

Interesting. I have heard Shingles is very painful.

So if you get Chicken Pox more than once I take it the 2nd and subsequent times it is very mild, not a 'full on' attack like first time around?

You learn something new every day!

[cate]

I don't really remember how bad it was the first time I had chicken pox as was very young. Just remember feeling itchy and having baking soda baths to stop itching plus calamine lotion. All the children in the family had it at the same time so my mum was run ragged. Remember having the pox in my hair and eyebrows though!

[Fuschia]

eurax cream also great for the itching

[gwod]

I have it twice too. The first time very mildly and the second time full on. Ive also had german measles twice....(I may be a freak). The deal is you can only get shingles if you've already had chicken pox....that's why more Americans get it as everyone is inoculated against Chicken Pox by law.

[helena handbasket]

I think the chicken pox vaccine is part of the vaccination schedule, but pretty sure that it is not enforced "by law" any more than it is here (which is not at all, only social pressure). Canadians also get the chicken pox vaccine.

The vaccination program is fairly recent (it wasn't around for me, I had the pox and have the marks to prove it) yet most Canadians who get shingles are older than me, soooooo can't see a vaccination/shingles connection. Then again, I may barking mad.

[candj]

I don't think the chicken pox jab is enforced by law in the States either, but you do have the option of having it now. I know a few friends in the States who never got the jabs for their children.

I too have heard that if you had a mild case of chicken pox, that you could get it again because your body hasn't built up an immunity with the first round. Eeeek.

[cate]

I got shingles when I was 27! Really hope I don't get them/it again because the worst form can cause blindness. Mine appeared as a cluster of itchy spots in the middle of my back and caused terrible nerve pains which radiated over my upper torso and arms. Having it on your face and around your eyes would be dreadful.