Chicken pox attack

Yihao is down with chicken pox. He has been unwell with fever, flu, cough and running nose since few days before Chinese New Year. Last Saturday, he woke up with rashes on his arms and legs. My sister suspected chicken pox and quickly took him to see his paediatrician who confirmed the diagnosis. He was given some acyclovir, an anti-viral medication to help him fight the infection. There's really nothing much that sis can do now but to wait out the rashes until all the blisters have crusted over. Yihao is apparenly coping pretty well, apart from being a little clingy, he doesn’t seem to be too troubled by the rashes.

Our worry now is for all the other people in the household, especially Baby Xiaoyu, who's just about eight weeks old. She would have been exposed to the virus as the virus can spread from 2 to 3 days before the rash appears until all the blisters have crusted over. Again, there's nothing much that sis can do now except to wait and hope for the best – that perhaps whatever exposure she's had isn't enough to result in a full-blown disease. Sis quickly took a chickenpox vaccination after the diagnosis was confirmed but dear mum who's staying with her refused to do so. At the moment, Xiaoyu is in "quarantine" in the bedroom with mum to prevent any further exposure to the virus. Sis washes herself thoroughly and changes into fresh clothings whenever she goes into the room to breastfeed Xiaoyu.

And now, I myself am a little worried. I might have been exposed to the virus too as we had dinner together last Tuesday – that's just about the time when the virus can be spread. I think I've had my vaccination some years back but I seriously can't remember! The incubation period is between 14 – 16 days, that is, if I've been infected, I'll start to develop the rashes then. I seriously hope I've been spared, as I'll be in Bangkok for one week starting Thursday, and God forbids should I start scratching in Bangkok!