How to Make Chicken Pox More Comfortable
What to Do when Small Children Get Varicella Zoster
Chicken pox (medically known as Varicella zoster) is one common childhood disease that many children will contract, especially if not properly vaccinated against it. Even with vaccination, one could get the chicken pox, but a much less severe case than without the vaccine. Either way, the disease is itchy, painful, and can make a child's life difficult for a few weeks. Here is a brief overview of the disease and some things you can do to make chicken pox more comfortable for a small child.
Overview of Chicken Pox
Chicken pox is caused by the Varicella-zoster herpes virus and is extremely contagious. This disease will spread very quickly during the first couple of days of incubation. In fact, chicken pox is so contagious that a child can rapidly spread it to other children before knowing that she has the disease herself. Any child in the area of an infected child that coughs, laughs, sneezes, or share toys will more than likely catch the disease.
As mentioned above, there is a vaccination available for chicken pox. This vaccine is live and is recommended for children over the age of 1 and up to 12 years old. However, it is not recommended for all children. Your child's pediatrician will more than likely suggest the vaccine, if he feels your child is a candidate. Adults that have never had chicken pox are strongly recommended to get the vaccine, too.
Symptoms of Chicken Pox
At the onset of chicken pox, a child will often complain of:
- Headache
- Tiredness
- Lack of appetite
- Fever
Within a couple of days, small red bumps begin to appear on the skin. Many of these blisters look like a pimple. The blisters will burst and clear fluids will leak outside. These blisters will take about five days to scab over, but the scabs can last as long as two weeks. You must quarantine those infected with chicken pox until all of the blisters have healed. Severe itching is, of course, the most reported symptom.
Comfortable Measures for Small Children
If you have clearly determined that your child has chicken pox, give her an antihistamine. This will help ease some of the suffering. If there are blisters inside the mouth, Xylocaine Viscous is an anesthetic that can be used as a mouth piece. Calamine lotion and oatmeal baths can be very beneficial to your child as they are very soothing. In the drug store, you can find burrow’s solutions. Fix a tub of this and let your child soak in it. It will help stop the itching and dry up the blisters.
Avoid giving your child any of the fever reducers that might contain aspirin. Any child that has a viral disease and is given aspirin is at risk for developing Reye's Syndrome. Only give your child acetaminophen to reduce the fever and pain.
Your child will need plenty of fluids to help combat the fever. Give her juice at regular intervals. Vitamin A and C will help your child’s immune system. If there appears to be a scab that will not fall off, do not peel it off. This will cause scarring. Let your child soak in a warm bath until the scab falls off.
Possible Home Remedies
There are also several home remedies to help make your child more comfortable, such as:
- Vitamin E
- Honey
- Baking soda
- Oatmeal
- Brown vinegar
They are all said to help dry out the blisters fast. Depending upon your family's traditions, there may be more you can do. Grandparents are a good source of information for this topic.
Chicken pox is not as common much anymore. As long as parents continue to get the vaccine for children, the incidences of this disease should steadily drop. With more and more advances in medical science, who knows what the next vaccine will work to prevent.
Note: This article is not intended to replace medical advice from a doctor. As soon as you think your child has contracted chicken pox, contact her doctor immediately. This article is for information purposes only.
Chicken Pox in Small Children
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