Chicken Pox?

[MerryPoppins]

My DD 11 could sure use some anti-itch pixie dust! She's been running a temperature since yesterday and she has a scratchy throat. Today she is breaking out with red spots that have raised centers that itch. She has never had chicken pox. I'm waiting for the doctor to return my call.

DS had a very light case when he was 2. He only had about 5 pox, and that was before DD was born. Hope that doesn't mean he will get them again. Our doctor said at the time that has been known to happen. Oh joy!

Anyway, I haven't done the pox in quite a few years. Any advice? I know about oatmeal baths and Calodryl. Someone told me that there is a medicine that they can give if it's early enough to lessen the effects. Is that true? Any help is appreciated.

 

[Serena]

Aveeno oatmeal baths helps a little. Poor kid. Sending some of that anti-itch pixie dust.

 

[RUDisney]

My Mom would buy calomine lotion and coloring books. I guess that the books distracted us, at least for awhile, and kept us out of her hair.

When my youngest sister had chicken pox, she was about 3 and she went around telling everyone she had 'turkey pops.'

I hope your daughter feels better soon. Maybe some benedryl will help dull the itching, too?

 

[browneyes]

Oral benadryl will help.

I hope your ds doesn't get it again. Is he fair skinned, btw? I heard fair skinned people don't get a bad case of chicken pox. My dd is VERY fair skinned and she didn't have a really bad case of it (well, her back was awful looking to me, but it still wasn't too bad).

 

[MerryPoppins]

Yes, both kids are pretty fair. DS even has the blonde hair. DD's hair is a darker brown, but her skin is light, too.

DS had lots of spots under the skin every time we put him in the bathtub, but they wouldn't come through. They'd just fade again after he cooled down.

I'm still waiting to hear back from the nurse after she talks to the doctor. The nurse was pretty certain that I was on the right track. She suggested Aveeno, Benadryl pills and oatmeal baths.

We are watching old musicals to keep her mind off the itch. I'm thinking of making a trip to Michaels or Hobby Lobby for some craft kits later today. Anything to make the week go faster.

 

[Serena]

I don't know about the fair skinned thing. My niece is fair skinned and she got it twice. The second was really bad.
Merry, I think the hobby store is a great idea.

 

[fklhou]

We went to the chiken pox with all three kids 10 years ago. My youngest was just out of the hospital for viral mengitsis and so the doctor did not wanted to lessen the exposure. There are anti-viral medicines that will stop or lessen chicken pox if taken during the first 48 hours of symptoms. The down side is that the child will not have the full immunity that a good case of chickenpox will give.
We gave the medicine to my youngest and you could almost see the effect. The sores just stopped speading half way down her arms and legs and then cleared up. This is a prescription medicine and the doctor may be hesitant about using it due to the lack of immunity.
Good luck

 

[Princess_Aurora]

I caught the chiken pox from my sister when I was about 9 months old. My dr told me that I could possibly get them again since I was so young when I got them. I'm hoping I don't get them again. I know I'm going to have to go through it when my kids get them and I hope that I won't catch it from my kids. They say adults with chicken pox is a bad thing...I know I sure don't want to find out first hand.

Aveno makes some very good stuff for itchy skin. My sister gets poison ivy a lot and she uses Aveno body wash and lotions. Try letting her take a nice hot bath in some Aveno.

 

[RUDisney]

Just thought of something a little bizaar. Speaking of poison ivy, I read last summer that the rind of a watermelon can take away some of the itch. Maybe it would work for chicken pox, too.

If nothing else, your DD would get to eat watermelon (hopefully she likes it) and she'll come to worry more that Mom has fallen off the deep end than about her itchies.

 

[MerryPoppins]

The doctor decided she wants to identify the bumps at 4:30. A doctor at church camp a couple of years ago suspected she was getting Chicken pox, but it never happened. I think that one was just a weird viral rash or maybe she was allergic to something outside. No blisters or scabs that time.

I'm pretty sure that this is the real thing. We've found 10 or so, so far. They are on the trunk of her body and her neck and scalp. I put her in a warm bath to see if that makes any more pop out. She says they are very itchy.

I never got the shot to protect her from Chicken Pox. That one bothers me that it has to be repeated every few years or you aren't protected. I can just see a parent forgetting to get the booster and getting them from a child. Besides, if her brother is going to get them again, it's better now from her than waiting until he is grown and has to miss work.

I'll let you know after we get the doctor's diagnosis. Her fever is dropping, by the way. So I think she is feeling better.

 

[MerryPoppins]

The nurse felt sure it was Chicken Pox. The doctor was pretty sure it was. She said we caught it so early that it was hard to tell the difference between another virus and CP. Poor DD has blisters even in her throat. No wonder her throat hurts.

I have to take DS to the lab tomorrow for a test to see if he is immune. If not they will give him the two shots it takes to keep him from coming down with it again.

After DH gets home, I'll make a run to the pharmacy for all the itch remedies. Thanks for all the advice.

 

[Nutsy]

My youngest DS got Chickenpox 3 yrs ago & he is fair skinned & he really got them bad. All in his mouth, throat & ears.

Calamine lotion is useless for chickenpox sorry. We had to get antibiotic cream for him & tablets, as he was soooooo bad.

 

[MerryPoppins]

She has at least twice as many pox tonight and more starting to appear. I'm feeling pretty sure that she has them. She even is complaining about a spot on her gums. Poor baby!

The Aveeno lotion seemed to really help and she fell asleep soon after I gave her oral Benedryl for the itching. Unfortunately, she still has a long way to go.

 

[Serena]

{{{hugs}}} for her and mom too.

 

[Pam]

Melissa,
My two had them when they were in 3rd grade and kindergarten. Both are very fair-skinned and were covered with them - both internally and externally! Their scalps were also covered, inside the mouth, and even between their toes. They each ended up with a couple of scars, which have faded over the years!

The Aveeno bath is wonderful.

 

[MerryPoppins]

At last count she had 365 + spots. Whew! She is covered and more are popping out all the time. The bath is wonderful and so is the Aveeno lotion. I think it is much more helpful than the Caladryl was. She's also taking Benedryl and so far the itching isn't unbearable.

I'm kind of mad at her school. I called them this morning and told them it was Chicken Pox. They said I can't get her work until she has missed 3 days of class. I explained that she will be out 3 days without a doubt, but they wouldn't budge. That means they won't ask the teachers for her work until next Tuesday, because we are out of school Wednesday, Friday and Monday. GRRRRR! She may be back at school before we can get her homework. Isn't that stupid under the circumstances? I went ahead and sent email to her teachers. Maybe some will come through with assignments, even though it's not the usual policy.

I told her we'll just have to call a friend and get the assignments by phone if we can't get them from the school. It's silly for her to have to do all that make-up work next week when she goes back. After all, she isn't feeling that bad. A week at home can be pretty boring!

 

[Pam]

Melissa,
I think I would go through the back door, since the front door was slammed in your face, and contact the teachers personally and explain the situation. I am sure the teachers would be understanding and accommodating.

Hope she feels better, soon!

 

[ead79]

Poor thing! That's certainly no fun. I had them when I was 14 (a pretty bad case since I was older when I got them) and the oatmeal baths worked pretty well. I would ask the doctor first, but maybe one of those over the counter canker (sp?) sore medicines that numb the sore would help the one on her gums?

 

[MerryPoppins]

Help!

She keeps running a temperature and then breaking out more. This morning she had a temp and once it went down she felt better all day except for the itching. Tonight she had a temp of 104 +. That scared me a little. I've got it down to 101, so I guess I'll be up and down all night feeding her more pills to try to keep it there.

I honestly don't know how many more spots she can get. She's almost getting spots on top of her spots already. I've never seen anything like it. I should post a picture for you to see! It's amazing.

Any late night DISers have good temperature reducing ideas? All prayers and pixie dust are welcome. She's pitiful!

 

[KimRaye]

That sounds awful!! Prayers & Pixie Dust a-coming!

Well, the usual, tepid/cool bath, alcohol bath, little clothing (which she probably already has), cool washcloths for the forehead while sleeping/resting. They make strips of those also (Be Cool strips) that you can buy. They stick to the forehead and, they are REALLY cold!

Sometimes, they say a fever has to run its course also. Best you can do, is make her as comfortable as possible.

Oatmeal baths & Calomine dreams for your DD.