Needing MORE info on CP & Measles, please......

[danalyn]

first of all, let me state that I am slightly embarrased by having to ask these questions when I am the mother of 6, soon to be seven, unvaxed children ranging in age from 19m to 15 years.  I'm feeling really riduculous for not being "prepared", so to speak.  anyway, here is my situation:  oldest  child is 15 and he was vaxed until 18 mos of age or so.  He did have the CP vax at 12m.  the other kids are 11, 9, 6, 4, and 19m, all completely unvaxed. 9 year old and 11 year old go to school, the otthers are homeschooled.  yesterday my 9 year old dd started itching on her lower legs and forearms.  today she has red spots, looking somewhat like hives.  her back side, and the backs of her thighs are all spotted.  this evening she has a couple spots on her face.  and her hands are spotted.  I'm wondering if someone could give me info and opinions on what this might be.  I gave her benadryl this evening.  she did not go to school today.   so far no one else in the family has any spots.  she has been feeling tired today, not eating much, sleeping a lot.  no fever,  throwing up, ect.  I've been reading online sources regarding cp.  my sister mentioned that it could be measles.  I am 28 weeks pregant, had cp as a young child, my dh has never had cp or the vax.  we rarely go to the ped, so i have little experience dealing with a doc regarding our choice to not vax.  I do quite a bit of reading on mdc.  as well as other sources who "teach' about the risks of vaccines.  I'm very eager to see how my dd looks in the a.m.  totally not sure about seeing a doc for this.  thanks for any responses. 

[Marnica]

Sounds more like CP

A measles rash is quite distinct from what I understand (follows a specific pattern) and there is usually other signs such as high fever and koplick spots in the mouth. (white spots). The rash begins around the ears and on the forehead at the hairline. Over three days, it spreads sequentially to cover the face, neck, trunk, arms, buttocks, and legs. Over this same three-day period, the Koplik spots disappear, and the fever begins to fall. The rash disappears over another three or four days in the same order in which it started. As the rash fades, it looks coppery, then brownish, with fine white flakes.

What you described sounds like hives or CP. If it is CP, you'll know it soon enough. Your LO will be contagious until all the spots have crusted over.  Your DH may get it and as an adult, it may be more serious for him. He should steer clear of your LO as much as possible and do extra things to support his immune system.  

[Mosaic]

Moving to Health and healing...

[danalyn]

this was diagnosed as Fifth Disease, (parvovirus), I was told (and read in an information sheet) that it is contagious ONLY up until the rash appears.  it's a virus that you catch from people, airborn I'm assuming, without even being aware the other person is infected.  I was also informed by the ped that it is dangerous for pregnant women to have this disease, and he told me to tell my OB right away.  I contacted my OB, and her nurse told me that the concern is  for those who are at the very end of their pregnancy.  I am 28 weeks.  apparently my daughter will have the rash for up to 3 weeks, but she is no longer contagious.  Incidentally, regarding our vaccine status, and my initial thought (hope, rather) that this was chicken pox;  the doctor was in his 70s, which I was happy about...... which meant he probably HAS seen CP in his lifetime, unlike younger docs who may not have.  the doc said to me, "I assume she has had at least one dose of the cp vaccine."  I told him NO.  then he questioned whether or not she had any vaccines; NO.  then he asked if any of our 6 kids were vaxxed.  NO.  He told me, "well, that's cetainly a choice you're free to make, and the good thing about that is all of your neighbors and her classmates HAVE been vaccinated so you're protected from them." 

[newmum35]

glad things went well, thanks for the update!