Chickenpox

[NicoJono]

Hi,

Just wondered what your recommended hints and tips are for relief from chickenpox for my DD who is 2!

How long did your children have chicken pox for and how unwell did they become? Unsettled nights etc.

Thanks in advance x

[SuperMum411]

Can you use calamine to help with the itching with chickenpox? There is not much you can do.

[NicoJono in reply to SuperMum411]

Thanks for your reply.

I know some people previously have mentioned about a gel and an anti itch cream. I want to say Eurex cream?

Thanks

[Seb9]

I used poxclin, oatmilk baths, calamine lotion and paracetamol. I tried to keep them in loose clothes so they aren't irritated by the clothes and plenty of baths with oats in. Hopefully the itching will go away fairly quickly.

[NicoJono in reply to Seb9]

Thanks Seb9 appreciate your reply x

[MrsOrangejuice]

My LG got it when she was about 14mnths - developed it while on holiday during a heatwave(!) and we ended trying to sleep on the bathroom floor just to try and get her cool. She didn't sleep for about 3 nights and was throwing herself about with the itching, but she was in good spirits and kept her temp under control with paracetamol (think they're not meant to have nurofen with it for some reason). Tried all the new specialist creams and lotions from the chemist but nothing worked, then went to good old calamine and it was like it gave her instant relief - wish I tried that immediately. All the spots dried up pretty much straightaway and it stopped the new ones getting angry. If they get spots in their nose and ears, on eyelids or bum/genitals, these can be the worst, but again calamine seemed to sort them pretty quickly and she doesn't have any scars as it stopped her scratching. Distraction is also key. It lasted about 10 days from first getting a temp to final spot fading, and was only really bad for about 4/5 days. It's hard watching them uncomfortable but probably better they get it now and then it's over with.

[NicoJono in reply to MrsOrangejuice]

Really appreciate your reply. Thank you.

[JoyfulStar]

DD was about 17 months when she caught it at nursery and it lasted for 7 days before scabs started to form. We had 2 really bad nights quite early on and then it eased. She was generally in good spirits during the day.

DH bought some fancy gels when he went to the pharmacy because that is what they recommended but they did nothing. So I went to get some good old fashioned calamine lotion which worked much better. She caught it in summer so just left her with no clothes on- just a nappy. At night we put on loose clothing on her. DD suffered with itching in her scalp the most because she had lots of hair so I kept her nails very short.

Her scars have mostly faded now and she is 22 months.

[NicoJono in reply to JoyfulStar]

Thank you for your reply. Calamine is the way forward by the sounds of it x

[Purpledoggy]

This won’t help your current situ but for anyone reading whose child has not yet had it, there is an effective vaccine available. It’s not on the NHS for (IMHO) sketchy reasons, but if you’re willing to pay for it it’s there for kids over a year old. My Canadian hubby (who works in paediatrics) could not believe we don’t give it to all kids here considering CP is not always a benign disease, and it’s pretty wretched even if only for a week or two. Hope your LO feels better soon xx

[Seb9 in reply to Purpledoggy]

I saw an article the other day saying that it's been recommended that we change our vaccine schedule to include the chicken pox vaccine. I had my daughter booked in for it but I had to cancel it because my 2nd was due and it fell right on my induction date. She then caught it at pre- school and I felt so bad for her. She still got a scar on her eyebrow from it 😪