my 9 month old might have chicken pox how can i tell ?

Question

my daughter stayed the night with her grandma and her 10month old cosen and they both have had feavers and same semtioms my mother in law told me that my 10 month old necie has red bubes but my daughter dosen't but she is acting just like her cosen dose my dughter have chicken poxs or just the vires

Answer 1

Here is some information let me know if it was helpful or not. I hope the baby feels a lot better. If you can take her to her pediatrician.
What is chickenpox?
Chickenpox is caused by a virus called Varicella Zoster Virus.
Most children who get chickenpox have a mild illness, but some can become quite ill. Usually adults who get chickenpox have a more severe illness.
The illness with chickenpox usually lasts about 7-10 days.
The illness may start with a fever and feeling unwell, like having a cold. In some children the first sign of the infection is the rash.
The rash usually starts on the chest, and most spots appear on the chest and head (including in the hair), although some children and adults can have spots all over the body (rarely on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet).

The spots start as red, itchy lumps, which then become blisters. The top comes off of the blister and watery fluid escapes. Then a crust forms on the spot. This crust takes about 5 days to fall off.
Chickenpox close up
MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia


The spots often come in waves for several days so that there will be new lumps, blisters and crusting sores on the skin at the same time.

How is chickenpox spread?
The infection is spread when the person sneezes or coughs, or when someone touches the fluid in the blisters. It can also be spread by touching something that has touched the fluid from the blisters (eg a dressing which covered the sore).
Chickenpox can be caught from the fluid in the blisters of someone with shingles, though this is rare.
The person with chickenpox is contagious from the beginning of the illness (up to 2 days before the spots appear) until about 5 days after the first spots appear. So long as there are no new blisters or moist crusts on spots, the person will not be contagious even if there are still crusts on the skin.
Chickenpox is very contagious (easy to catch). Over 90% of close contacts (such as other family members) will get chickenpox if they have not already had it or not been immunised.

How long does it take to develop?
Chickenpox usually takes around 14-15 days to develop after contact with someone who has it (range 10 to 21 days).

Keeping children away from school or child care
A child should be kept at home for 5 days after the first spots appear, or until all blisters are dry if this takes longer. Some scabs will still be there but as long as they are dry the child does not need to be kept out of school, or away from others.


Health problems from chickenpox
For most children chickenpox is a mild illness, however some can have spots over the whole body, including in the mouth and in the genital area. They may have encephalitis (infection of the brain). They may be quite unwell from this, but will usually recover fully.
The spots are very itchy, and scratching can cause a bacterial infection (the same as impetigo, or school sores). An infected spot is more likely to leave a scar. (Note: the spots are very itchy. Expecting children not to scratch is usually too much to ask of them).
Adults usually have a more severe illness, and a few get pneumonia, and some will die from the infection (this is rare, about 3 people in 100,000 healthy people with the infection die from it).
Chickenpox can be a fatal illness for people who have immune problems (eg with HIV/AIDS, treatment for severe asthma or cancer.) All these people need to be seen by a doctor urgently if they are in contact with chickenpox. There is a treatment which will protect them from the severe effects of the infection if they get the treatment soon after coming in contact with it.

Chickenpox in pregnancy and newborn babies
If a pregnant woman gets chickenpox during the first half of a pregnancy, there is a small risk that the unborn baby may be affected (less than 2%). Some of the effects include scarring, and birth defects.
If a woman gets chickenpox from 5 days before delivery to 2 days after delivery, it is estimated that there is up to 30% risk that the baby will develop a severe infection. Many of these babies will die from the infection.
Pregnant women should see their doctor if they have been in contact with chickenpox and are not certain that they have had chickenpox.

What parents can do
There is no specific treatment available which affects how bad the chickenpox is or how long it lasts. People who have other severe health problems affecting their immune system may be able to get some anti-viral medications.
Give the child plenty of drinks and give paracetamol or ibuprofen if needed, for fever and pain (see the topic 'Using paracetamol or ibuprofen').
If blisters are in the mouth don't give food or drinks that have a lot of acid or salt. (Orange juice is acidic, try pear juice instead. Ice-cream and jelly are often accepted.)
You can get soothing mouth washes from a chemist.
Soothing lotions, such as calamine lotion, or special oils that reduce itch can be used. See your chemist for advice about which ones to use and how they are best used. Some oils are added to cool baths. Sodium bicarbonate or oatmeal in the bath can also help soothe the itching.
Anti histamine medicines can help with the itch. Talk to your doctor about this.
The topic 'Feeling sick' has suggestions for caring for a sick child.
http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=114&np=303&id=1853#1

Answer 2

The incubation period (from exposure to onset of symptoms) is 14 to 24 days. The initial symptoms are mild fever and headaches - younger children may seem generally grouchy.
These are followed within hours by the appearance of a typical rash. Crops of red spots appear, which quickly develop central fluid-filled blisters that are intensely itchy. After a couple of days these scab over and dry up.
The rash mostly affects the trunk, but may be anywhere on the body, including the scalp and in the mouth. In about one in ten cases symptoms are so minimal the infection goes unnoticed.
The most common complication is a secondary infection with bacteria, such as staphylococcus or streptococcus, which can lead to potentially fatal conditions, such as toxic shock syndrome or necrotising fasciitis.
A persistently high fever or return of fever should raise suspicions.
Other complications include pneumonia, encephalitis (usually settles without lasting effects) and inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis).
Talk to your doctor if you're unsure of the diagnosis or if your child seems particularly unwell, has a cough, headache, if the skin is particularly inflamed or infected, or there are other worrying symptoms.
For young babies or children with immunity problems, always seek medical advice.
Give pain-relieving syrup and plenty of fluids. Calamine lotion and antihistamine medicines may relieve the itching.
Keep your child's hands clean, their fingernails short and try to encourage them not to scratch the spots, as they can scar. The spots may be infectious until they've fully scabbed over.

Answer 3

If you wonder if your baby has chicken pox take her to the doctor. Don't mess around with guessing when your baby is so young. Go to the phone and call the doctor's office.

Answer 4

chicken poxs look like little blisters. however if she is getting a rash after a fever, it could be roseola which is basiclaly a rash, which is a virus. if it contiunes to get worse, and spreads through her whole body than i would take her in just to be safe. is your dr up to date on her vaccines? becasue it is less common for children to get chicken poxs because they get vaccinated from it.

Answer 5

If your daughter is having any symptoms or has any rash you should take her to the doctor. It could be chicken pox or it could be something else. I would take her to ther doctor ASAP.

Answer 6

Definitly call the doctor, and tell your mother in law to advice the other parent with the bumps on her to get her to the doctor as well.