Chicken Pox - Renton, WA

My older three had it together when the youngest was about 8 months(boy was I upset, the exposer didn't think it was good information BEFORE they came over). She was quite misserable but she came through it! She was so very sick for a full week. She was nearly as bad as my hubby was. Keep watching her for them. It's not common for many symptoms pre-rash no matter the age. The fever poped up about the same time as the pox.

In our experience, all 4 of ours got the "chicken SPOTS" (THEIR words for it=-hee-hee!) within days of eachother. They had a slight fever, the "itchies" and finally, the spots, all within days (3-4 days). Of course, that was right when I was supposed to do my pre med finals....(but that is another story). The best you can do is soak "all infected people" (I kept a quarantine at MY house of little friends that probably had it) in a tub of finely ground oatmeal (if you're low on money, as we were at the time) OR, you could buy Aveeno tub soak powder (same thing, but in a pricier package)--and GOBS of calamine lotion. We had "baby motrin" for everyone, lots of movies that went on and on for DAYS---as the fevers went up and down--and I continued the "bathtub parties" in oatmeal powder a few times a day--it kept the fevers down, and got their minds off of the scratchies. AND, our living room was the "sick area"--pillows and blankies everywhere (there were 6 kids all together with "spots"). And the parents that would take over when I had to go to class, were a life saver. We all just took turns in the "sick room" and after about a week, they all started getting better, with no unnecessary exposure to others that didn't have it.
Good luck, sweetie!!
Becca

My husband had shingles last year and was around our kids every day. The kids never got chicken pox. The doctor said it was a slim chance for them to catch. He said they would actually have to rub there skin on his shingles to get it. Hope thats not what it is. Good luck!

My daughter got chicken pox from one of my friend's son. She was 6 months old and both her older kids and her 3 wk old baby got it. My daughter was amazingly fine during her bout with the pox. She had a little fever and was extra tired but not overly cranky. I remember being misserable when I had it. The only thing that saved her was she didn't know how to scratch the rash so I'm sure it didn't itch as much. I bought Aveeno's calamine histamine cream and I put it on her 3-4 times daily. She has a couple scars but other than that she faired fine. I made sure to put her in really soft fabrics or left her naked and with out a diaper as much as possible (obviously with a towel to help prevent messes). Chicken pox really isn't that bad of a deal especially when your babes are young. Baking Soda cool (101-105 degrees) baths are really soothing so your older one might enjoy those. Use tylenol to control fever and try not to break the blisters on the bumps-that's a big part of how the rash spreads. Good luck and don't be too worried.

Hi J.,

My oldest two got chicken pox when they were around 2/3. We had gone over to visit with a certified childcare giver, and she had 2 kids in her care she swore weren't contagious anymore(their sores had scabbed over and they were supposedly in week 3). Well, my kids ended up with them, and my husband, who was around 27 at the time and had never had cp, got them too.

He started exhibiting symptoms before he got the spots, but the kids didn't. He was sicker than a dog(high fever, extremely itchy sores, and the whole 9 yards. They say adults will have it worse than children. The kids, on he other hand, the worst for them were the sores. Pretty itchy and hard to leave alone. We never had to go to the doctor for the kids, but I did call the nurse line to find out what we should do when they got them.

Calamine, and oatmeal like the other mom suggested, should help alot. Keep your Motrin on hand for the fevers, and socks on her hand for when she itches, if she'll keep them on.

Best of luck, and I hope your baby gets through it without getting too awfully sick.

K. W

Hi, I have been through this 5 times and at that time they did not have the vaccine. I do have a 4 yr old son and grand daughters ages 4, 2, 2, 1 yrs old. they all have been vaccinated. I thought my son had the pox and took hime to the doctors. His doctor explained to me that he was vaccinated and should not get the break out (he just had a alergic reation). She did say he could have gotten the fevor and felt yucky.
For youe 2 day old daughter, she should be ok for all the yucky kids get.
I would take your kids to their doctors, this way the the community health department can be notified if there is an outbreak.
I hope this helps

Hi J.! Chicken pox ran through our family three years ago. The only thing I remember is that MELAGEL worked wonders on their itchy bumps, and helped them to heal better than anything my doctor gave us.
If you want more info on MELAGEL, call me:
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Hey J., I'm not much help, as my 11 y/o had chick pox when he was 18 months and I don't remember much except for putting Calamine lotion on him, lol.

BUT, if it does turn out to be chicken pox, I know of several people who would be very interested in having a playdate. My little ones have not caught it yet and I really wanna get it out of the way. LMK

Hi J.,

I'm afraid no help either but if your sweet girl does come down with chicken pox I'd be happy to trade you a supply of Melagel for a playdate. I desperately want my kids to get it and be done with it already.

Did your visitor have blisters. The only way to catch chickenpox from shingles is to have contact with the oozing flued.

I had chicken pox as a toddler. I remember having a fever high enough to be uncomfortable, that my eyes were very sensitive to light and I had a very itchy rash. I think I must've been quite uncomfortable to be able to remember this even tho it occured when I was 3 or 4. I think the rash usually shows up 1-2 days after the fever. YOu can look it up on the Internet. I queried "shingles and chickenpox."
(I must learn how to cut and paste Internet addresses.)

I was surprised to learn that there is a vaccine for chickenpox when I adopted my daughter. I grew up with lots of kids who had chickenpox. Chickenpox was not considered to be a dangerous illness. As a child I had the most discomfort with light and itching.