12mo has chickenpox (day 2) ... should I treat, despite no sign of itch?

[AndiE]

Just after some feedback/thoughts.

DS3 has chickenpox - the spots started coming up yesterday, with some more still appearing today. Some have just started to blister. At this stage it doesn't look like he will have a bad dose (fingers crossed), and they are mainly on his back, neck and head (thanks to him not having heaps of hair I can see them).

He doesn't seem to be worried by them at all - he's not trying to scratch, rub etc. DS1 had them almost three weeks ago, with some mild itching, DS2 got the spots last Friday and has had no itching, and now DS3. And it is chickenpox - no doubt about it at all. I am giving him an oral antihistamine (suitable for 1 year olds and above) - so maybe that is what's helping with any itch.

My question ... should I take "evasive action" and treat him as though he might be itchy? Or do nothing until something obvious indicates itch. I feel like I'm flying blind, as obviously DS3 can't talk. He's a bit sleepier than normal (not lethargic - just having longer sleeps) and is a fraz more irritable than usual (... but that could be because I'm on the computer! lol). Other than that, he's fine. No temps either.

Anyway, just after thoughts and any would be welcome.

[Pholi]

What other treatment would you give him, other than oral antihistamines? I think that sounds like it's doing a good job, so far.

[AndiE]

Oh yeah ... sorry. Pinetarsal bath and calamine lotion (or something similar, if not calamine).

[Pholi]

Oh... no, I wouldn't bother unless he shows signs of being itchy. Calamine always made me pay more attention to my skin - it would get kind of itchy as the calamine dried and crusted and flaked off. And pinetarsol stinks.

The antihistamine is doing it's job beautifully -

Don't fix what ain't broke!

[AndiE]

Indeed. Pinetarsol and calamine did the job for DS1- he actually loved his "yellow baths" and DS2 demanded them too just because DS1 had them with his chickenpox. I'll be glad if I never have to smell the stuff again lol.

[Pholi]

Ha ha! Ewww, yellow baths!

Enjoy the fact that he's still too young to demand everything his brothers have had.

[Arimeh]

I have no advice, but OMG I can't believe he is 12 months already!!!! Seems like just a few months ago you were waiting for him to come.

Sorry for the non-helpful post, but I just can't believe it!

[AndiE]

I have no advice, but OMG I can't believe he is 12 months already!!!! Seems like just a few months ago you were waiting for him to come.

Sorry for the non-helpful post, but I just can't believe it!

You're not the only one, trust me! And if it makes you feel any better, I keep looking at your ticker and thinking how quickly the past 9-odd months have flown (well, for me ... anyway lol).

[AndiE]

Update: So, we're up to Day 4 and the poor little bugger is covered in the rotten things. He'd been coping really well, until last night when the itch obviously set in. He couldn't sleep except for 30-minute max stretches, then he'd wake crying and screaming and obviously uncomfortable. At 1.30am, I caved in and gave him an antihistamine with a sedative (dosed suited to his age). Last resort stuff, but at least he got a few hours sleep. Other than two short sleeps today, he's still not very happy today but at least the dr gave me something for his nappy area, which is a mess.

In short. I hate chickenpox.

Now I'm waiting on my blood test to see what my immunity level is like. Fingers crossed!