Chickenpox

Chickenpox is an infection caused by the varicella virus. Chickenpox is still a common infection with most cases occurring in children up to age 10.Although Chickenpox may be a mild illness in most children, but some children and adults can have serious complications.

Chickenpox is very contagious. A person can catch Chickenpox by coming in contact with the fluid from the blisters or breathing the air when an infected person coughs or speaks. A person infected with the Chickenpox virus is contagious from the day before the rash begins until all the blisters have scabbed over and dried up. You should always keep a child with Chickenpox home from school or daycare and away from persons who have not had Chickenpox. You should also avoid contact with pregnant women as it can harm the fetus.

Chickenpox infection usually starts as a rash on the chest and rapidly spreads to the rest of the body. The rash tends to begin on covered areas of the body and appears to be little red bumps. The little red bumps then turn into fluid filled blisters. The blisters will crust over and fall off in about one to two weeks. Since some children get as many as 300-500 blisters per infection, the child may have blisters, bumps and scabs at the same time. Since the rash usually itches badly, cool soda baths may help. To make a soda bath, add a half a cup of baking soda to a small of cool water in a bathtub. Do not pick at the scabs because this could increase the chances of scarring. The scabs should fall off by themselves .For severe itching consult your health care provider. Your doctor might be able to recommend other medications. It is also important to keep your child’s fingernails short and hands clean to avoid the rash from becoming infected. Your child may also have a slight fever. You want to give your child plenty of water to drink. Your child may have a headache and not feel like playing or doing his/her normal activities. The average for a Chickenpox outbreak is about 7 days. If your child develops a bad cough, stiff neck, high fever or any of the blisters become infected, you should call your health care provider immediately.