Q: My baby was near another child with a severe rash. Could it have been chickenpox?

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Question: My family recently visited friends with our young baby. Their child had a severe, scabby rash covering their body, but their face and head were clear. The parents believed it was an allergic reaction. They mentioned the child was recently diagnosed with multiple food allergies and the rash got much worse after they gave him an antihistamine. The child didn't seem to have a fever or act sick. I'm worried it might have been chickenpox and that my baby was exposed. Could it be chickenpox even without a rash on the face or a fever?

Answer: Face/head clear and no fever makes chickenpox a bit less classic. Could be a bad allergic reaction, especially with the Zyrtec timing and those new allergies, or maybe other viral infection such as Hand, Foot, and Mouth. Here's a good news - if your baby is under 12 months, they might still have some maternal immunity, so exposure doesn't always mean they'll get sick. Definitely keep an eye on your little one. For chickenpox, you'd typically see an itchy rash with small, fluid-filled blisters (often starts on the chest, back, or face, then spreads) and usually a fever. Call your doctor if you see those signs. Unfortunately, if exposure already happened, there's not much doctors can do to prevent it at this point. Hoping your little one stays perfectly fine

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