Chickenpox?

[icemaiden]

My Mum has had chicken pox three times and apparently when I was young I had it three times too. All the outbreaks were very mild and all were diagnosed by a doctor.

My daughter felt unwell on Tuesday, achey, tired and hot, felt a bit better on Wednesday. She had some spots come up on Thursday and then more on Friday and over the course of the day more came up. Small red itchy raised spots that looked like blisters. I would say between twenty and thirty on her legs, neck, torso and arms.

This will be the third time she has had spots like this. The first time she was about three and the doc said chicken pox then again a few years back (Didn't take her to the docs that time). Could this be chicken pox again? Could she have had it three times like me and Mum?

TIA

[Sqad]

Unusual, but yes one can have chicken pox more than once, but the other consideration might be that the previous chickenpox was misdiagnosed.

[icemaiden]

Yes I did wonder that Sqad. Children get so many different rashes, hard to know what sort they have.

[atalanta]

My son had chickenpox twice. Both times it was diagnosed by different doctors and an experienced fever nurse
Try and stop her scratching, or she will have scars for life.

[icemaiden]

She has one scar on her stomach from the last outbreak.
I bought some Calamine lotion as soon as I saw the spots and smothered it on her! Seemed to work.

[saxy_jag]

According to my mum, I had chickenpox when I was small, as did my older sister. Yet when I had blood tests for a care job a few years ago, I was told I had no antibodies and had to be vaccinated against it.

But both my boys had chickenpox at the same time (in a bout that was going around school). I'm sure if I hadn't had it already then I'd have contracted it then.

Also a few years ago, my sister had shingles, which I'm told you only get if you've had chickenpox.

[Sqad]

saxy

<<<<Also a few years ago, my sister had shingles, which I'm told you only get if you've had chickenpox.>>>>>

Not true...........different viruses within the same group.

[saxy_jag]

I did wonder about that.

[slaney]

Mmm -sqad..
http://en.wikipedia.o...aricella_zoster_virus

[Sqad]

slaney...point taken, but I was answering the question:

<<<<<<Also a few years ago, my sister had shingles, which I'm told you only get if you've had chickenpox.>>>>>>
by saxy jag.

Shingles can be caused by varicella virus, BUT also by herpes simplex virus which would explain the situation of no chicken pox as a child, but shingles as an adult. Different viruses....same group.

[slaney]

I've never come across shingles caused by Herpes Simplex sqad - only that caused by reactivation of childhood chickenpox caused by the Varicella-Zoster virus.
You can only get shingles if you have had chickenpox previously.

[Sqad]

slaney...we will have to agree to disagree.

[Sqad]

I hate using websites as I often disagree with them.......but:

http://www.webhealth....plex_and_shingles.asp

[slaney]

Herpes simplex can indeed hide in nerve tissue but more locally, and reappears as cold sores - not in a dermatomal distribution as shingles - Herpes Zoster - the clue is in the name!
We will indeed have to agree to disagree..

[slaney]

..and memo to self - go back to sitting on your hands! :o)

[Sir Alec]

I still have shingles after 2 months. The blisters have gone and the rib pain and headache disappeared for 2 days, then came back with a vengeance. I have a temperature, headache and rib pain today.
Your daughters symptoms sound exactly like mine. I don't remember having chicken pox as I was very young, buy I can sympathise as it is very debilitating and uncomfortable, not to say very painful too.

[Sqad]

Slaney......cap in hand......humble pie.........I have been musing.

You are correct the chicken pox virus and the shingles virus is one of the same an the herpes simplex virus does not cause shingles.

I stand corrected.

[Sir Alec]

Herpes simplex usually appears as cold sores.

[DEN53]

My son had chickenpox 3 times aswell.

[icemaiden]

Glad everyone now agrees regarding shingles.

I'm sorry to hear you have shingles sir alec. I do hope your symptoms improve. Nasty thing to have.

Interesting DEN53..

[Sir Alec]

Thank you, ice maiden! I hope your daughter improves soon, too. She must be miserable.