Should I take my kid to the doctor if she has chicken pox?

Only if it's a fiasco.

I have no idea, but how do you know it's chicken pox?

hfghgd wrote:

I have no idea, but how do you know it's chicken pox?

I said she "seems" to have chicken pox. I don't know it, but I think it is extremely likely. For a couple days, she had a fever, fatigue, and little desire to eat. Then these went away, and spots appeared yesterday, first on the chest, back, and chin, and then spreading to her arms and legs. All of this is very consistent with chicken pox.

This is how a doctor diagnoses chicken pox - from the symptoms. There's no blood test for it or anything. :)

No. But you should take her to the playground so she can expose other kids to it. And get some Aveeno-type bath soak to help with the itching.

of course take your kid to the doctor whenever you suspect something is wrong. your'e not a doctor. let the doctor do their job. it's your kid for the Love of Allah. God is Great !

If the kid is eating, playing, and otherwise feeling well, no urgent need to see a doctor. They will look at them, decide that they are probably chicken-pox, and tell you to avoid pregnant women, or anyone with weakened immune systems.

Probably a good idea to take a few pictures of the lesions so that you can show them at the next scheduled check-up, and they can then judge how likely it was that they were indeed due to chicken-pox (varicella). From the description, sounds likely. Should start on chest, spread to arms/face, have lesions of different ages (some new ones, some open and crusting, etc)

Should any of the lesions show signs of getting a super-imposed bacterial infection (since the breaks do allow bacteria better access to the tissue), then the kid does need to be seen. That would be a focal area of redness or swelling, possible with pus in the area. Would then need a culture and antibiotics.

-MN MD

That's what I was thinking. Thanks. :)

I agree with the other doc. We would not necessarily need to see a child with simple, uncomplicated chickenpox.

Many parents, on the other hand, will confuse any rash illness with chickenpox. You should be able do make the diagnosis if you look at new, fresh unbroken lesions very carefully. Chickenpox first form as a tiny, fluid filled vesicle or bubble, with a tiny red ring around the base. They used to call it 'a dew drop on a rose petal.'. The little bubble ruptured fairly quickly and then turns into a crusted or scabbed over sore. More common these days are a multitude of minor rash illnesses that typically consist of tiny red bumps. These do not have vesicles.

We tell parents to come in if any of the red bases enlarges to a nickel size or larger, or if the child starts to act really ill. The feared complication is a strep secondary infection of the open sores.

Taking a photo is a very good idea. The child will need to be immunized to attend school (and day care in many areas). If she has really had chickenpox she will not need the vaccine. Without evidence, you may be requested to get a blood test later on (IgG varicella) to prove her immunity.

One last thing. Keep her cool, not overdressed, andcshe will get a milder case with less pox.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for this. Her spots just showed up yesterday morning, first on her chest & back, and then on her arms & legs later in the day & today. However, unless I am seeing things, this evening the bumps on her chest & back are already fading. That doesn't typically happen so fast with chicken pox, does it? What are these other "minor rash illnesses"? On the other hand, I think my wife has had chicken pox, and is still breastfeeding. It is my understanding then that she should still have varicella antibodies in her breastmilk. Then, it would seem reasonable that perhaps this could still be a very mild case of chicken pox. Do breastfed babies often have more mild cases than those on formula? I'm not sure about the vesicles. I haven't noticed any, but I'll look again more closely. :)

AZ pediatrician wrote:

Many parents, on the other hand, will confuse any rash illness with chickenpox. You should be able do make the diagnosis if you look at new, fresh unbroken lesions very carefully. Chickenpox first form as a tiny, fluid filled vesicle or bubble, with a tiny red ring around the base. They used to call it 'a dew drop on a rose petal.'. The little bubble ruptured fairly quickly and then turns into a crusted or scabbed over sore. More common these days are a multitude of minor rash illnesses that typically consist of tiny red bumps. These do not have vesicles.

Okay, I checked, and she does have tiny white vesicles on her arm. They are really small. And by the way, she seems to be feeling much better. She acted the most sick when she had the fever, before the spots appeared. :)

I don't want to diagnose your toddler over the Internet but the illness you are describing really does not sound like chickenpox. Breast feeding will not alter the course of chickenpox. Newborn babies do have maternal antibodies on board for the first 3 - 6 mos of life and thus often either don't get chickenpox or have very mild cases. These antibodies are passed via the placenta before birth.

Chickenpox kids continue to erupt in new pox for anywhere from about 4 to 7 days. By the end of the week they are covered with scabs. They are everywhere - scalp, face, trunk, lots under the diaper. Even ulcers in the mouth.

The fading red bumps you are describing sound much more like one ofvthe many summer enteroviruses that are extremely common this time of year. The virus is called entero because it multiplies in the gut. Most of these kids are feverish and fussy and often have some diarrhea. Towards the end of the illness they will erupt in this fine red little rash that then goes on to fairly quickly fade. Unlike chickenpox, you can make the rash blanch and temporarily disappear ifvyou stretch the skin with your fingers. Another classic minor peds rash illness of this type is roseola. These kids have high fever for about 3 days, then erupt in the fine rash at the end of the illness, at the time the fever disappears.

Since most kids are now immunized, chickenpox has become a relatively rare illness. We have peds residents who have never seen a case. Enteroviral rashes and roseola, on the other hand, are very common. I see multiple cases a day this time of year.

What kind of a fool are you, coming to letsrun for medical advice when your child is involved. Get your ass to a doctor today. You are a fool.

Thanks for all that info. She did have some new bumps yesterday, but some of the first ones already seemed to be getting more faint. But, perhaps that was just my imagination. I'll check again this morning when she wakes up. She does have them on her face, scalp, and lots under the diaper. I haven't noticed any in the mouth. This website http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/vaccine-protection.html says that breastfeeding helps protect some against chicken pox, but says that breastfeeding doens't provide full immunity. That is why I thought its possible that she might be getting a more mild case. Thanks for giving me those names of the other ailments. I haven't tried stretching her skin, to see if they disappear or not. I'll try that. :)

AZ pediatrician wrote:

I don't want to diagnose your toddler over the Internet but the illness you are describing really does not sound like chickenpox. Breast feeding will not alter the course of chickenpox.

Chickenpox kids continue to erupt in new pox for anywhere from about 4 to 7 days. By the end of the week they are covered with scabs. They are everywhere - scalp, face, trunk, lots under the diaper. Even ulcers in the mouth.

Unlike chickenpox, you can make the rash blanch and temporarily disappear ifvyou stretch the skin with your fingers.

Enteroviral rashes and roseola, on the other hand, are very common.

Oh, and also she hasn't had any diarrhea. :)

I see this regarding roseola:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseola

That does seem to describe her pretty well. However, her fever was perhaps not quite that bad...maybe it was 39C at its highest point.

But it sounds like roseola doesn't result in spots on the face? She definitely has them on her face and scalp.

Since your child should have been vaccinated for Varicella (chickenpox), you should contact a physician to verify the diagnosis. The vaccine has a very good effective rate, so it is unlikely your child would get chickenpox.

I am vaccine wary. We elected not to give her the chicken pox vaccine. :)

H2Omelon man wrote:

I am vaccine wary.

Don't be.