Shingles - how long they last???!!!

[geekgirl]

Poor ds (5) is really suffering with the bl*&dy things... He started getting a few tiny blisters about 9 days ago (which I mistook for nettle stings), but it didn't get properly going until Sunday. He's now got a large, very nasty-looking angry & blistered patch on his back, and his chest is just starting to blister.
He is in a lot of pain from it, we got hardly any sleep last night and dh was reading Rainbow Magic books to him (yes he has big sisters) at midnight to take his mind off it all .
The GP prescribed Aciclovir yesterday but it doesn't seem to do anything... At the moment it all seems to be getting worse tbh. Does it really take weeks to shift? Poor ds (and poor me! I had been looking forward to them going back to school and now I've got a cranky child attached to me most of the day instead)

[Seona1973]

nhs direct says it last 2-4 weeks. feel sorry for you and your ds - hope he perks up soon.

shingles

[geekgirl]

thanks seona, that's what I'd read too, I'm just hoping that it might be shorter in children?
Another crappy night for the poor little chap