Chicken Pox - useful meds info

[The Nappy Lady]

I'm on 'CP watch' as youngest has been exposed via another child she goes to the same Childminder.

Popped into my trusty chemist to make sure I was stocked up with the right stuff & he said:

Allerief oral solution is like Piriton but more effective

Eurax lotion is more effective than calomine lotion & stays on skin for up to 10 hours

Calpol as always for any fever (can be used with above meds)

There is a new medication - vira-something out which is supposed to be specifically for CP but he looked at the box & wasn't too impressed, felt the stuff in Eurax was better.

Just thought I'd share!

My kids are unbelievable, oldest caught CP a week before our first ever planned flight with her, ended up driving & ferrying to France. Now youngest may be about to come down with it when we are all (bar her) due to fly off to Africa for a safari for my hubby's 40th in 3 days time! Perfect....not. Thankfully family still happy to care for her so we can go away but just another thing for me to worry about when I'm already feeling bad about leaving her.

:-((((

[Fuschia]

Oh no, sorry to hear that

Eurax cream/lotion is brilliant!

[dully]

virasoothe - it is rubbish. Calamine lotion is still the best.

[The Nappy Lady]

Chemist said Calomine rubs off in 2 hours & doesn't do much - Eurax better....but guess we all have our favourites!

[Fuschia]

I have a severe allergy to insect bites and Eurax really does kll itching, for me at least!

[Saffron]

You also have the option to vaccinate immediately after exposure. Vaccination within 3-5 days of exposure can reduce the risk of developing an active case of CP by 70-90%. Complete immunization requires a booster at 6 wks, and another in the teen years is highly recommended.

You might want to consider vaccination particularly if you have older children who have been exposed to CP, as the active infection does seem to be worse in older children compared to babies. Vaccination is available privately. My daughter had hers done at the MediCentre at Vic Sta. They seemed the most reasonable for cost.

Also, some medical experts are now recommending the CP vaccination to older adults to help prevent shingles.

xx