KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

Read abt this in Mind Yr body section few months back. Ysty, I finally had the chance to check with my family doc abt it. He told me that the cost of jab as stated in the newspaper (starting fr $240 at private clinics) is too high. He wanted to check with the authorities if the chicken pox jab could be used instead (abt $80) as they are essentially similar medical condition.

Can anyone here advise if your doctor has similar view on this?

Hi,

Anyone has kids who had shingles?

DD just started P6, and after first day of school last Fri, was saying her nose was very painful. Next day (Sat), there was a blister-like patch on her nose and she kept complaining it was very painful.

We brought her to the clinic and she was diagnosed with Shingles, and given a week's MC, plus antibiotics and pain-relief pills, as well as the antibiotic cream.

There's pus from the blister patches (spread to part of her face too) the last 2 days, and she's been quite sad, kept saying it's ugly…

Anyone knows whether there's going to be any scar after she's recovered?

tks...

I had the shingles as an adult. It is very painful, but she will recover and it will soon become a distant memory.

Also, at 11/12 years old, her skin is still young and renewing fast. So I expect there will be no permanent scars.

Right now, the important thing to note is that her immunity is low and she is at risk of other infections. So it is vital to take good care of her and ensure she get lots of rest. Get her to focus on a quick and permanent recovery, not on her temporary appearance.

All the best.

ETA: BTW, I am not questioning the doctors, but was she really prescribed antibiotics? Afaik, antibiotics are prescribed for bacterial infections. Shingles is caused by the varicella virus. I was prescribed antiviral drugs and steroids.

Poor girl! Is she stressed? I see she's just started P6. Shingles usually occurs when immunity is low. I agree with nansk that she should have been given antiviral medication, although perhaps she may be too young? I guess the antibiotics is because of an infection (you mentioned pus). I believe there should be no long-term scarring - my husband had shingles on his thigh before and the skin recovered completely.

Maybe you can bring her to TCM.

I had shingles last year on my thigh area. Went to TCM for few times and had since recovered.

Hope she recovers soon.

Hi atrecord, i had Shingles early this year and recovered after 2 weeks.

Similar to your dd, mine was on the head. Most shingles are on the limbs or around the trunk of the body. Rarer on the head, which is usually confined to to the quadrant of the left or the right, ie. from below nose to temple and up to middle of scalp.

VERY VERY painful and sensitive. I flinched with pain when a stray hair that was blown on to my forehead. Provide all the comfort that your DD might ask and need.

I had angry red pigmentation for 1 month which faded almost totally after 2-3 months. Had some scars from broken/ clustered blisters, they faded in color in 2-3 months but the remaining scars (normal skin color) will stay, similar to chickenpox or acne scars.

Shingles are sometimes triggered with stress, and they can and do recur, so your DD will have to manage her stress level and stay healthy.

On the bright side, she is young so that scars will likely fade faster and recover better than an adult.

Hope your DD will feel better and get well soon.

On the bright side,

Question - should we get vaccination for shingles? Especially if had chicken pox before? For older folks, the pain from shingles can be excruciating. My dad came down with it in 2011 and still suffers from the resulting nerve pain until today...healing process is extended compared to younger people.

bb_ mom wrote:Question - should we get vaccination for shingles? Especially if had chicken pox before? For older folks, the pain from shingles can be excruciating. My dad came down with it in 2011 and still suffers from the resulting nerve pain until today...healing process is extended compared to younger people.

Same as chickenpox vaccination for kids, I'd highly recommend it.

Anything to avoid the excruciating pain plus after effects, and I did have nerve pain for another 4-6 months.

But vaccination only available to aged above 45/50...

Oh. I thought of getting DS vaccinated...so looks like no go.

i had vaccination for chickenpox...so was spared the full effects of it.
mum had shingles and it was very painful.