My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Children's health

Chickenpox, or not?

14 replies

glastocat · 06/01/2009 22:37

My seven year old was a little bit under the weather for a few days with what we thought was a cold. Then on Sunday he was out in lots of spots on his back and torso, with what we thought was chickenpox. He was pretty under the weather yesterday, but still able for playing with his lego, also came out in a few more spots on his face and behind his ears, also in his hair. So we took him to the doc today, even though he was feeling a lot better. He is only a little itchy, not really scratching at all ( although he is on Piriton and I put some Eurax lotion on him). Anyway, the doc says she thinks it is chickenpox 'because common things are common', but she says it isn't typical at all - he only has a few spots which are blistering, and he seems to have loads of spots on his upper back, but hardly any on his limbs. She mentioned another thing, mollusc something (?) but said it didn't really look like that either!

So, anyone else know what his could be? J is delighted that he is off school for a bit (he is meant to be back tomorrow after the Xmas break). And I have tomorrow off to spend with him, which I thought would be a snuggly day on the sofa, but he appears far too sprightly for that. Perhaps he has just had a mild dose of chickenpox? Any words of wisdom appreciated!

OP posts:
Report
scrooged · 06/01/2009 22:39

Sounds like mild chicken pox. This probably won't make him immune I'm afraid so he can get it again. Children with mild chicken pox do often catch it twice.

Report
glastocat · 06/01/2009 22:47

Really? he has hundreds of spots on his torso and head, he just doesn't seem to be itchy and only a few are blistering. Akkk, don't fancy going through this again really, even though he isn't that ill! Can you test to see if he has immunity after?

Trust my kid to get a weird version of it!

OP posts:
Report
scrooged · 06/01/2009 22:49

What do the spots look like? Pink? red? purple? flat? slightly raised?

Report
glastocat · 06/01/2009 23:02

They are like small red pimples, some of them have a small head, but most are flat. They are only a few mm across, but on his upper back there are so many they have joined together to look worse. He is a little bit itchy ( I saw him scratching in his sleep), but he is able to resist scratching mostly, which I know isn't typical chickenpox at all.

My mum reminded me that when I had chickenpox when I was 16 (a week before I was due to go on holiday to Spain), I was completely healed by the time I went away. Maybe he has just inherited my natural resistance preens?

I say its the breastfeeding has given him such a strong immune system .

God, he's bound to wake up covered in weeping pustules now I've said that!

OP posts:
Report
scrooged · 06/01/2009 23:03

does he have a sore throat?

Report
glastocat · 06/01/2009 23:08

Yes, he is a bit croaky, the doc says he has a few spots in his mouth (and a small one inside his eyelid) .

OP posts:
Report
scrooged · 06/01/2009 23:10

Hmmm. Could be chicken pox and something else. Did the doc say what the spots looked like? Are they on his tonsils?

Report
glastocat · 06/01/2009 23:11

She didn't mention any on his tonsils. She said they looked a bit like mollusc something or other, but apart from that she was a bit baffled.

OP posts:
Report
scrooged · 06/01/2009 23:17

Mollusc are like these

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molluscum_contagiosum

whereas chicken pox is like a cold sore. I'd take him back for a second opinon. There's loads of things it could be but without seeing it it's hard to tell.

Report
glastocat · 06/01/2009 23:37

It costs me 55 euro for a doc appointment so would prefer to keep a close eye rather than go for another appointment just yet!

OP posts:
Report
scrooged · 07/01/2009 18:29

You have to pay for a doctors appointment!

How is he today?

Report
MadameCastafiore · 07/01/2009 18:35

DS had Molloscum and was diagnosed with chicken pox by mistake - go and ask the doctor if they are MC and if they are Elizabeth Ardens 8 Hour Cream works a treat - has cleared up DSs almost completely - he now only has 1 spot - change PJs and clothes every day and make them used their seperate towels and do not bathe with them - they have to be covered when swimming too so one of those zippy suit things works really well.

Sorry am in huge rush!

Report
nooka · 07/01/2009 18:40

There are other less common infections similar to chicken pox. I had one that pretty much covered my torso for a fortnight or so. The doctor initially said it was chicken pox, and then when I went back a week or so later (when I had millions of spots instead of a scattering) decided it wasn't. Do you know anyone he could have caught it off? I had not (knowingly) been in contact with anyone who had chicken pox. It didn't make much practical difference, and I had already had chicken pox, so I wouldn't worry too much.

Report
glastocat · 10/01/2009 22:51

Well I till don't know if it was chickenpox but he is completely recovered within a week of first spots appearing, and was only really a bit listless for a couple of days. The spots are all dying now, so I'm hoping it was just a mild dose.

OP posts:
Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.