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Oh no ! Its Chicken pox !

(62 Posts)
NanaandGrampy Sun 21-Feb-16 09:42:46

This morning my youngest daughter let us know that our DGS3 has chicken pox ! He's getting more spots by the hour although he's still quite lively. DGS4 is waiting in the wings to join him I suspect.

I have a couple of questions - Can an adult get chicken pox twice or it is only shingles the second time? I caught it as the age of 30 and thought I might die smile I was laid up for 6 weeks and have never felt so sorry for myself in my whole life . So just checking whether I need to avoid the little chap or not.

And secondly , any hints and tips on how to stop him itching too much? I remember a number of tales from my gran and there is often a hint of truth in the old ways.

Any advice gratefully received smile

ElaineI Sat 09-Apr-16 17:10:38

It is unusual but possible to get chickenpox twice. Adults usually feel worse than children and it can be quite serious. Any lotion that stops itching is good. I found calamine as good as anything.
Most important thing is NEVER give aspirin or ibuprofen to someone with chickenpox as they can cause a fatal reaction. There was a very sad case in the paper last week and I had forgotten that.

Elrel Sat 09-Apr-16 17:58:00

DGS 5 had a single spot on his back on Friday evening a week ago. Went home with definite chicken pox. Light case, few spots. Cheerful and behaving normally throughout.
Today I facetimed them, DGD 1, his little sister, has more spots than I've ever seen before, everywhere. Surprisingly cheerful and normal most of the time but not sleeping well.

pompa Sat 09-Apr-16 18:11:15

Sorry if I'm repeating previous posts. You can only catch chicken pox once,

You cannot catch shingles, it is a virus left over from having chicken pox when younger. This virus settles in the spinal nerves (I stand to be corrected on that) and activates when the host becomes susceptible due to minor illness etc (similar to herpes).

Maggymay Sat 09-Apr-16 23:46:15

When DD and DS had chickenpox in their mid teens they suffered really badly and calamine lotion wasn't giving any relief to the constant itching ,so I used germaloid ointment instead which is normally used to relieve pain and itching for haemorroids (Piles),It has a local anesthetic and cooling affect and gave instant relief.

Revis Sun 10-Apr-16 18:32:47

Just read on Facebook - NEVER give Ibuprofen to people with chicken pox - will make it a lot worse!

Izabella Sun 10-Apr-16 19:23:08

Scalamine CREAM rather than lotion. The lotion dries the scabs and makes itching worse.

Izabella Sun 10-Apr-16 19:23:48

.........or you could even try calamine!!!!!

granjan15 Tue 12-Apr-16 20:59:41

Sorry pompa but you are wrong. I have had chickenpox twice. Once as a young child and then again in my teens. Both times it was diagnosed by a doctor. It is rare to get it twice but definitely possible.

pompa Tue 12-Apr-16 21:11:57

I stand corrected.

granjan15 Tue 12-Apr-16 23:13:58

Creams to help soothe the itching include Virasoothe gel, Poxclin, calamine aqueous cream and Eurax cream. Oh and Piriton.

Newquay Wed 13-Apr-16 22:10:41

When our DDs were little they had CP which I then caught, never having had it as a child-boy was I ill! Poor DH spent his entire summer holiday (from teaching) nursing us all. DD1 wasn't too bad, DD2 had it worse-I was covered internally and externally too.
Than a few years later they gave me German measles-again they had a mild illness while I was very poorly with swollen elbows and knees one day, next day swollen wrists and ankles and finally swollen toes and fingers-I think it then must have poured out of the ends. It was grimsad