My child has chicken pox

Chicken pox can be a huge inconvenience. It is very annoying but fortunately temporary. Although some may suffer more than others, there is always a solution.

What are chicken pox?

Chicken pox are (small) red itchy spots caused by a virus. They often last for 13-18 days. Then the itchy spots disappear on their own.

Symptoms of chicken pox

Chicken pox often begins with the child being listless. They often don't feel well and may develop a fever. They will also want to eat less. After about 2 days, the red spots will appear. The spots will often appear on the face or trunk first. Blisters will appear on these spots. These blisters can become very itchy. 

What to do with chicken pox

• Do not scratch. No matter how bad it itches try not to scratch it. Scratching it will only make the itching worse and may cause scarring.
• Lubricate the skin well. Lubricate the skin with zinc ointment or menthol gel. This will relieve the itching. Also be sure to keep your child's skin well greased in connection with drying out. This can be done with a cream especially for dry skin. 
• Airy clothes. Make sure the clothes you put on your child are airy and not tight. This can further irritate the skin and will cause even more itching. 

Are chicken pox contagious?

Yes, chickenpox is highly contagious, but you can only get it if you have never had it before. It is contagious even if no symptoms are visible yet. So if your child has never had the chickenpox before, but a classmate gets it, then chances are that your child will also get the chickenpox. So as soon as you realize your child is infected, keep him or her home until it is over to prevent further infections.

Chicken pox in newborn babies

In babies younger than 3 months the disease can have complications. This only happens if you yourself as the mother have never been infected. This is because your baby does not yet have antibodies in his or her blood for the virus. They normally get this through the placenta. 

 When to go to the family doctor?

9 out of 10 times, chicken pox are harmless. Therefore, you don't often need to see a doctor with this type of ailment. Do call the family doctor;

• If your child starts feeling increasingly sick.
• If your child has a high fever.
• If your child is younger than 3 months.
• If your child vomits a lot. 
• If your child becomes drowsy.
• If your child becomes stuffy.