Is This Chicken Pox or What?

Updated on June 22, 2008
K.R. asks from Greenville, OH
19 answers

We just discovered a small spot on our little girl (6 mos. old preemie) 1/4 in. below her right eye. There is only 1, but it looks like a small pimple. I don't know what it is. Could it be the start of chix pox? (To my knowledge, we have not been exposed) Or is it something else? Baby acne? She is also in the process of teething too. I would just rather be safe than sorry. I could use all of your help because I'm not sure what this is. Thanks so much and God bless!

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A.T.

answers from Cleveland on

not pox.. they're milk bumps. Usually they come in a little late on preemies. DONT try to pop them or scratch them off. They go away on their own.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.H.

answers from Indianapolis on

probably not the chicken pox, they generally start under the arms or on the stomach. It is probably just a small pimple. It is nothing to worry about, my DD used to get them all the time. Don't pick at it and it will go away on its own.

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M.H.

answers from Lafayette on

I'm not sure what the doctor actually called it, but my grandson got those bumps on his face from his formula. If he sprayed a couple drops on his cheek, a pimple looking bump would appear the next day. He had several around his mouth and chin. The doctor told my daughter to wash his face as soon as he got done eating and he was fine.

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M.L.

answers from Cincinnati on

i understand that with children you would rather me safe then sorry, but this scenerio doesn't really work in this case. if it is chicken pox it won't help you to know any sooner as there isn't any treatment that knowing sooner would really help.
my youngest was 3 months when he got the pox and he was fine. if it happens to be box (and i don't think it is), just keep her comfortable, wounds clean, and her hydrated.
mel

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M.S.

answers from Cincinnati on

My son had a similar problem with sores like you describe, and they started when he was around 5 months old. First he got one under his eye. That went away and a few weeks later he got one on his lip. He ended up getting several over the course of a few months, usually one or two at a time. Each one would take take about a week to go away. Since most were around his mouth, I assumed they were from pacifiers, so I kept boiling the pacifiers and telling myself that would take care of the problem. He happened to have one when I took him for an ear infection at 8 months old, and the Dr. decided to get a sample (rubbed a cotton swab over it) and send it to the lab for testing. It turned out to be staph! It wasn't the treatment-resistant type, so the antibiotics he was on for his ear infection took care of it, but if she gets more of them, it's worth it to have the Dr. check it out. It won't be painful, and you'll have the peace of mind of knowing what it is. I probably wouldn't do anything unless it gets larger or she gets more of them.

Good Luck!

A little about me - Married Mom of a 1-year old little boy (SAHM until about 2 weeks ago and now working part time)

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B.R.

answers from Columbus on

K.,

I doubt if it's chicken pox. It could just be a blocked pore causing a "pimple". As long as she seems healthy otherwise, just keep an eye on it and her. (Could she have gotten bitten by a bug?)

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K.B.

answers from Cincinnati on

Chicken pox tend to start in the trunk region, warm areas that are most often covered by clothes. This could be simply baby acne, possibly a bug bite? or something completely different. It doesn't sound like anything too concerning, other than to watch it and I wouldn't touch it or bother with it.

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S.K.

answers from Columbus on

K.,

Babies do get acne so I doubt that this is chicken pox. They usually start in areas where it is warm( back, bottom,etc...). However,I would still see a doctor to rule it out. Have you thought about getting the chiken pox vaccine? If not, then please do so. My daughter came down with them a few months ago and just about died from them. We spent 6 wks at Chidrens 3 of those in the PICU. People don't realize just what can happen. She got strep with hers and then the strep got in her blood stream after the blisters in her throat popped, this caused her to have septic shock. This is rare for us to see but not the doctors who see it quite often. I don't want other parents and their children to go through this. It is a life threating illness, so please think about the vaccine.

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G.H.

answers from Cincinnati on

Check her stomach. She would most likely have it on her stomach first.
It could really just be a pimple... babies do get odd stuff like that. Good luck.

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C.B.

answers from Lafayette on

chicken pox usually always starts on the warmest areas of your body, for babies it's the diaper, under arm, and leg areas. shewould also be running a temp of 102 or higher, vomiting, possible diareahh. you can also call her doc & have him/her take a look at your baby.

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D.I.

answers from South Bend on

It may just be a pimple (baby acne). My kids used to get them a lot when they were babies. Just keep an eye on it and watch for any spreading on other areas of the body. Also, chicken pox look more like pimples with a clear center and clear fluid that leaks out if popped. If it seems to spread any then call her pediatrician and have him or her take a look at your daughter. Most likely it is just baby acne and not chicken pox.
D.

I am 31 and have been married for almost 12 yrs. My husband and I have 3 boys ages 10,7 and 4.

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J.S.

answers from Terre Haute on

Hi K..
I remember when my girls got chicken pox, I was told that they didn't have it, because it only looked like a rash. They didn't get it too bad, due to the fact that they had gotten their chicken pox shots. And I was told that the Pox will start off in a heated area, like the diaper area, pits or even behind the knees or on the back of the head. So if you look there you might see them. It also can be mosquito bites, when my middle child was very small (she's 10yr now), she would get little red zits all over her face or on her arms, found out that they were mosquito bites and she was infected by the bites. Also, heat rashes can look like a little zit. But if you want to be more safe, than I would take your child in to the doctor and have them check! Good Luck!

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H.M.

answers from Cincinnati on

I seriously doubt that this is chicken pox. Most babies get little spots and stuff that are meaningless. Chicken pox doesn't typically start on the face - you would probably notice a rash in her diaper area first or her armpits. I wouldn't worry unless you see a rash - one spot is nothing to worry about - if it gets big or infected looking I would check with a doctor, but chances are it will fade quickly on it's own.

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D.G.

answers from Columbus on

In my experiance chicken pox usually statr on the back or stomach and work their way up and down and around. It is probably baby acne.
Above all things don't PANIC. Kids do get sick now and again, but 99% of it is just part of growing up.

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P.R.

answers from Indianapolis on

Sounds like a little clogged pore to me. I would put a little Deep Magic on it and let it go away naturally.
Chicken Pox and Measles, as well as Roseola are pretty easy to detect and it doesn't sound like any of them.
Good luck.

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A.W.

answers from Cleveland on

You sound just like myself (all worked up over something that is probably nothing). Anyways, I would watch it for a couples days paying attention to the size, shape and appearance, looking for any changes. I can almost safely say the odds are that it is not chicken pox. But just keep an eye on it. I am sure it is nothing to worry about, although I know I would be too and in all honesty I would really watch it over the remainder of the weekend and when in doubt call your pedi.

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C.T.

answers from Fort Wayne on

Just keep an eye on it. I would say it is neither chicken pox or measles as they tend to start on the stomach or arms/legs. Sometimes babies get a clogged pore and it sometimes gets infected, but usually goes away on its own.

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C.R.

answers from Cleveland on

If you'd rather be safe than sorry, I'd go see the doctor, or at the very least call the doctors office and talk to the nurse (that's part of what you pay for at a pediatrician's office). It also sounds like Molluscum Contagiosum (which is harmless, but contagious - 2 of my daughters have/had it).

Good luck!

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L.C.

answers from Cincinnati on

It might be the pox - my son's started around his face as well. There is not much that the doc can do for it other than give you guidance on how to make your daughter's experience a bit better, as well as keep the spots from getting infected.

However, one side note, this may not help her avoid the varicella vaccine - I've been told that my son only gets a 3-month delay in getting the vaccine (so at 15 months instead of 12).

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