How can you tell if your child has chickenpox or not?

Question

My son has some rashes,,they look like pimples, 3 on his leg, 3 on his hand one on his cheek

They are small red, itchy and have lil fluid in them. The Doctors office told me they don't want to see him because it sounds like he has chickenpox.....he is carrying the active infection.He is 6 and he doesn't have any fevers or chills. He is running around as usual and playing.

The nurse told me to get some creams and Benedryl. I never had it. and I have never seen it b4?

any help from moms,,dads,,nurses.?

Answer 1

Symptoms of chickenpox

The chickenpox rash passes through a number of stages.

    * Pre-rash symptoms can include headache, fever, sore throat, backache and a general feeling of being unwell.

    * Small, itchy, reddish spots on the skin surface then form. This rash often appears on the face and scalp first and then spreads to the chest, arms and legs. The time between catching the virus and the appearance of the rash - known as the incubation period - is usually about 11-20 days.

    * The spots go on to form raised papules (a pimple-like skin rash). These can develop into small blisters called vesicles. The vesicles are filled with clear fluid.

    * Finally, the vesicles form into pustules (spots with pus in) which crust over and heal, usually in less than 16 days.

The spots are usually very itchy. New spots appear over about five to seven days, so that at the peak of the illness there are spots at all stages of development, from new vesicles through to crusts.

Generally, chickenpox is a milder illness for children than it is for adults. Adults often feel quite unwell, with a temperature, a dry cough, a sore throat and may feel sick for several days.

Answer 2

they usually start under the clothes ,on stomach ,back diaper area first ,starting off like red pimples they are just as you describe . I had a family of 5 kids in my day care one year and they got chicken pox one behind the other ,when one got well the next kid came down with them ,the last kid in that family was so sick she had to stay at my house over night until her got better 2 weeks ,I feel for you but one kid is not so bad

Answer 3

Don't diagnose this by yourself or asking questions here. Ask a licensed pediatrician.

Answer 4

It sounds like chicken pox.  Young kids sometimes do not seem to be bothered much by it and it is not unusual that he would be running around and seem ok, especially if he had the chicken pox vaccine.  Usually there are spots on the back and chest also.    Here are a couple of links.  Best of luck.

Answer 5

it does sound like the chicken pox but if they get bigger and u see something changes he might have it but besides that he is just getting a real bad rach