Chicken Pox?

[MeanMom]

Can anyone advise me if there are any special problems with diabetes and chicken pox?

K has suddenly developed quite a few spots on her face a few on her neck and a couple on her tum - K says she's just spotty but my Mum is staying with us and she thinks it may be Chicken Pox

K has has symptoms of coming down with a cold (achy, tired) yesterday and today but I have had a very bad cold for almost 3 weeks now, and OH had a cold starting last week end and is still sniffy.

Will wait to see how things progress today - but if it is CP what should I expect the Diabetes Fairy to throw into the mix?

 

[Twitchy]

I had cp as a kid, can'g recall much about itbut i would just be wary re ncreased levels (sick day rules!!) & be wary of scratching the spots in case of infection. I know a lot of people swear by giving a dose of piriton (other antihistamines are available lol) depending on age, to reduce itching, & we found calamine cream/ointment better than the lotion, which is quite runny. Good luck!! X

 

[Copepod]

Any infection can affect blood glucose levels - usually higher insulin doses are needed, and it's important to keeping eating. See sickday rules for diabetes eg http://www.diabetesuffolk.com/managingdiabetes/Sick day rules.htm

However, to get a diagnosis, so that you know things like incubation period, method of transmission etc, which are different for different infectious rashes, and some rashes aren't infectious, I'd suggest calling NHS Direct 0845 4647 (for England & Wales) / NHS 24 on 08454 242424 (for Scotland) - better than taking a child who might be infectious to a GP or A&E waiting room, where they might pass on infection to ill people.

 

[Tina63]

The spots start off red then very quickly turn into fluid filled blisters. They pop up before your eyes for the first day or two (and sometimes longer). A handful of bicarbinate of soda thrown into a warm bath is very soothing too. No experience of D & chicken pox together - sorry. Good luck.

 

[Ellie Jones]

Sounds like she's got them and if mum says they are then they probably are, as once you've seen chicken pox you then known them when you see them...

Don't forget she's infectious until the last blister has scabbed over, so outings or school for K I'm afraid..

Keep an eye on them, normally kids go through them without any problems, but you can get a secondary infection though which needs likely to need antibiotics to sort, I had this with my oldest daughter her clear blisters started to turn green and gunky not nice at all

Calomine (sp) lotion is very good for soothing the itchiness, and you can keep applying as needed..

As said, sick day rules and just keep an eye on BG's

 

[MeanMom]

Thanks for advice 🙂

Yup she's got a fair sprinkling now mostly on her face (hence her thinking she had a outbreak of pimples) but about a dozen on her torso- little pink blobs of jelly (need a 'yuk' smiley, lol) They have started to itch/sting but she is dabbing with cold flannel - managing with that til we can get some supplies tomorrow. No discernible effect on BS yet but she had highs earlier last week then lower numbers with same food/activity later in week- may have been it 'brewing'?

Bad timing (as usual in this house) - she has her first appointment with CAMHS on Tuesday - we have been waiting since September - don't suppose they will want her to go in case she spreads the 'pox' ? Will have to phone tomorrow - sigh

 

[MeanMom]

Update

Thanks for the 'heads up' Elle Jones - K has managed to get an infection in her 'pox'

Diabetes has done her a favour for a change - managed to get script by having phone appt. - doc said 'she diabetic isn't she?' - end of discussion - left script for OH to pick up.

She is covered, bless her, having trouble finding a space to inject😱

As usual she has to be different - no obvious effect to her BS - in fact they are quite good

 

[Northerner]

Hope she recovers quickly! She's very lucky that it isn't affecting her levels as well. 🙂

 

[newbs]

No experience of D and chickenpox but both my girls have just had chickenpox, it is doing its rounds a lot at the moment apparently, so I know what you and K are going through! Injecting must be really difficult though. I bought something called Virasoothe that helped a lot (it is expensive at around ?8 per tube though) and isn't messy or smelly like calamine lotion. Hope K gets through it without too much trouble.