Chicken pox nuggets

I'm all for learning curves and have been wandering up a new one lately, Abbie has two spots the Sunday before last at bath time, which turned into 20 the day after and confirmed by the nurse practitioner the following Tuesday as a "classic case" of chicken pox. I've been finding out what I can from friends, health professionals and good old NHS direct health information service (understanding the exact risks - when my children are contagious, for example). I thought it was a matter of some itching and stopping her picking them over a week or so, but actually it was quite an unpleasant few days for her. Thought I'd layout what I've learnt here for future reference for any readers who've yet to be struck! 

  Where I got muddled

When we saw the nurse practitioner, she confirmed Abbie had it and said that Thomas was likely to get it in a week or so, as a young baby, it usually starts with them being unwell for 5 days or so then the spots start. However, when the health visitor came that Friday, she said that he may not get it, due to the fact that I was breastfeeding and that I had already had chicken pox so he would receive some of my immunity. I'd have to wait and see what happened. This was great news - that I may be able to prevent Thomas, at only 5 1/2 weeks, from having to go through it. Joy! But I couldn't be sure that he would avoid it either - could I be clearer on this? Another factor that was confusing me, and was most important, was that we were due to visit my family next weekend, which included my Grandma, who'd had a nasty case of shingles last year; my Grandad, who is in a nursing home and meet my cousin's son, who's the same age as Thomas. Was this safe? Who could catch chicken pox/shingles and who was safe? Already the weekend visit was being called off for fear of the bugs we'd take with us, so it really helped to get the lingering confusions cleared up so that we knew that we were being responsible, but not so over-cautious that we missed out unnecessarily on giving many close family members the opportunity to meet Thomas.

Although I tried to gather as much as I could from friends, family, the nurse practitioner and health visitor,  after becoming unclear on the risks to others of being infected and whether my children were contagious and when they were not, I went to NHS direct for the chicken pox essentials, which resulted in the bullet point list below:

Chicken Pox basics (from NHS Direct)

• Chicken pox is very very contagious, transferred by coughing, sneezing etc., also can transfer from surfaces, e.g., changing mats.
• Once you've had it, it is very unusual to get it again, this includes babies, who may get a mild case
• A 'mild case' refers to mild symptoms of chicken pox, the immunity is developed just the same (children get a milder case than adults)
• Those more likely to get it again are those with a weakened immune system, e.g., due to not making enough antibodies as the result of disease, undergoing chemotherapy or other medications which reduce the immune system capabilities.
• Incubation is the time from contact with the virus to when symptoms are visible. During this period there is a risk of contracting the virus and spreading it to others. This is 3 weeks. [For Thomas this is 3 weeks from when Abbie was contagious (2 days before her symptoms started)]. After this incubation period, if the chicken pox hasn't shown itself, it hasn't been contracted and there is no risk of spreading/contracting the virus.
• No longer infectious once the rash goes dry, the spots have scabbed over (not wet/blistered). This tends to take 6 days.
• Babies are protected from chicken pox whilst in the womb, as long as the Mother has had chicken pox. 
• Breastmilk protects the baby for the first week after birth, but is not 100% reliable after that: might develop, might not.
• Babies under 4 weeks old are in the high risk group if they contract chicken pox.
• Pregnant women who haven't had chicken pox are also high risk.
• Once you've had chicken pox, the virus goes into hiding or "sleep mode". It reactivates to cause shingles.
• You cannot catch shingles. It is not the result of being in touch with chicken pox.
• So, if you've had shingles, you've had chicken pox and not at risk of catching chicken pox again.
• Reduce risk of passing on virus by washing surfaces coming into contact with virus, e.g., door handles, changing mats, with warm soapy water and washing clothes and bedding etc. Anti-bacterial spray would not work: this is a virus! (Yes, I asked the stupid question).

Ways to ease symptoms and reduce scarring

These are suggestions from friends who've either had it, or whose children have:

For soothing the itching:

• Oatmeal (porridge oats in a stocking) or bicarbonate of soda in the bath
• Cooler baths were better
• Calamine lotion (as it dries it pulls the skin a little tighter which relieves the itch)
• Aqueous calamine (alternative to calamine)
• Poxclin (antiseptic foam, easier to apply than calamine)
• Antihistamines, e.g., Piriton (make sure appropriate age group, not suitable for babies), we used Benadryl once in the morning and once before bed.

Clothes and washing:

• Non biological washing detergent causes less irritation, also thorough rinse cycle
• While blistered try wearing no clothes, or loose fitting cotton
•  Once the scabs harden, beware clothes with brushed cotton next to the skin, they can catch and pull the scabs off before they are ready, and cause scarring. Jersey cotton is the worst - avoid anything fluffy on the inside.
• Keep their nails short and clean
• If child is scratching then put them to bed in mittens

We also gave Abbie children's paracetamol every 6 hours when needed to keep her temperature down. We found nights were worst, with little sleep for the first few days in particular.

At last, I now am clued up and feel responsible about going down to visit my elderly relatives next week (if they let us come!). (We're not going near the nursing home due to the potential risk to all residents, even if my Grandad has had chicken pox, or our cousin's young baby, in case Thomas is contagious, even if not showing symptoms by then.)


Abbie's feeling better now too.


STOP PRESS: We're at the end of the incubation period and Thomas did not contract chicken pox.


Links sent by NHS direct

http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/ChickenpoxVaricellaZoster/GeneralInformation/
http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Chickenpox-in-Children-Under-12.htm
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chickenpox/Pages/Introduction.aspx#close
http://www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health/clinical-guidance/chickenpox-pregnancy-what-you-need-know

Accompanying note from NHS direct email: Health information is provided for information purposes only, and is not intended as a substitute for a consultation with a health professional. We aim to ensure that information about services and organisations listed in our Health Directory is accurate and complete. If we send you information about a service it does not mean that NHS Direct recommends or endorses it.