Chickenpox
Chickenpox (varicella) is a viral infection that
causes an itchy, blister-like rash
Symptoms
Chickenpox
infection usually lasts about five to 10 days. The rash is the tell-tale
indication of chickenpox. Other signs and symptoms, which may appear one to two
days before the rash, include:
·
Fever
·
Loss of appetite
·
Headache
·
Tiredness and a general feeling of being unwell
(malaise)
Once the
chickenpox rash appears, it goes through three phases:
·
Raised pink or red bumps (papules), which break out
over several days
·
Fluid-filled blisters (vesicles), forming from the
raised bumps over about one day before breaking and leaking
·
Crusts and scabs, which cover the broken blisters
and take several more days to heal
New bumps
continue to appear for several days. As a result, you may have all three stages
of the rash — bumps, blisters and scabbed lesions — at the same time on the
second day of the rash. Once infected, you can spread the virus for up to 48
hours before the rash appears, and you remain contagious until all spots crust
over.
The disease
is generally mild in healthy children.
When to see a
doctor
If you
suspect that you or your child has chickenpox, consult your doctor. He or she usually
can diagnose chickenpox by examining the rash and by noting the presence of
accompanying symptoms. Your doctor can also prescribe medications to lessen the
severity of chickenpox and treat complications, if necessary. Be sure to call
ahead for an appointment and mention you think you or your child has
chickenpox, to avoid waiting and possibly infecting others in a waiting room.
Also, be sure
to let your doctor know if any of these complications occur:
·
The rash spreads to one or both eyes.
·
The rash gets very red, warm or tender, indicating
a possible secondary bacterial skin infection.
·
The rash is accompanied by dizziness,
disorientation, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, tremors, loss of muscle
coordination, worsening cough, vomiting, stiff neck or a fever higher than 103
F (39.4 C).
·
Anyone in the household is immune deficient or
younger than 6 months old.
Home Care for Chicken Pox
1.
Don’t scratch- If your child
can't stop scratching:
·
Put gloves on his or her hands, especially at night
·
Trim his or her fingernails
2. Diet -A soft, bland diet -Eat foods that are soft, and if you have
sores inside your mouth, avoid eating foods that are salty, spicy, acidic or
too hot
3. Hydration -Consume
water regularly to prevent dehydration.
4. Dress
appropriately and avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing. Loose, cotton-based clothes that keep you at a comfortable
temperature are best to prevent discomfort.
5. Take a cool bath –Also when you dry your skin or
hairs after a bath use a soft cotton towel and don’t rub on the scab.
Prevention
Chickenpox
vaccine can prevent chickenpox. Most people who get
chickenpox vaccine will not get chickenpox. But if someone who has been
vaccinated does get chickenpox, it is usually very mild. They will have fewer blisters,
are less likely to have a fever, and will recover faster.
Children who have
never had chickenpox should get 2 doses of chickenpox vaccine at these
ages:
1st
Dose: 12–15 months of age
2nd
Dose: 4–6 years of age (may be given
earlier, if at least 3 months after the 1st dose)
People
13 years of age and older (who have never had chickenpox or received chickenpox
vaccine) should get two doses at least 28 days apart.
Catch-up
Anyone
who is not fully vaccinated, and never had chickenpox, should receive one or
two doses of chickenpox vaccine. The timing of these doses depends on the
person’s age. Ask your doctor.
www.drrozinaspaediatricclinic.com
