CHICKENPOX

Chickenpox is a very contagious childhood illness. It occurs mostly in children between the ages of 5 and 9 and may be more severe in adolescents and adults.

Early symptoms include skin rash, slight fever, headache, loss of appetite, and not feeling well. About 10 to 21 days after exposure, an itchy, red rash of spots may appear on the face, scalp, chest, back, or limbs. The spots fill with a fluid like a small blister then later open and turn crusty. New spots may appear for about 5 to 7 days. Tiny sores and small scars may develop if the child scratches the blisters and they become infected.

When one child becomes ill with chickenpox, the other children in the family will usually get it, too. A child can infect others 1 to 2 days before the rash starts, and until after the last new blister appears. The illness ranges from a mild rash to hundreds of bumps and a fever as high as 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40.6 degrees Centigrade). If a fever lasts longer than 3 days, seek medical care. Most children can handle chickenpox with simple treatment to reduce itching and fever.

Self-care includes the following:

Acetaminophen may be given to reduce fever and decrease the discomfort (Be sure the appropriate dose is taken for your child's age and weight). It should not be taken for children less than 2 years of age.
Keep the child's fingernails short.
Treat itching (an antihistamine like Benadryl may be used). Daily baths prior to bedtime are helpful. Baking soda or oatmeal may be added to the child's bath water to relieve itching. Do not use lotions containing Benadryl (such as Caladryl).

Most children with chickenpox recover within 7 to 10 days. They are contagious until all sores have crusted over, which is usually 5 days after the rash begins. Keep the child out of school for at least one week. It takes about 2 weeks before all the scabs fall off. An antiviral medication, such as acyclovir, may be used for treatment of chickenpox in teenagers and adults. Once a person has chickenpox, he or she will usually have lifetime immunity.

Children should receive an immunization shot for chickenpox between 12 and 18 months of age. Adults who have not been vaccinated for chickenpox are at risk for getting the virus, if they are exposed to it. Any adult who becomes infected with it should seek medical care, because adults with chickenpox may develop serious complications. Women should not get the vaccine if they are pregnant. Women are advised to avoid pregnancy for one month following each dose of the vaccine.

Medication cautions:

Do not give aspirin or aspirin-containing products to anyone age 18 years or younger because of the risk of a serious illness called Reye's syndrome.
Acetaminophen should not be taken by anyone with known liver or kidney disease. Do not drink alcohol when taking more than 1 dose of acetaminophen.
Take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with food or milk to prevent stomach irritation. Do not give NSAIDs to anyone with asthma or increased risk of bleeding (such as, ulcer disease, following surgery, significant trauma, major dental work, if taking blood thinners [anticoagulants] or have a known bleeding disorder).
Do not give ibuprophen for relief of pain. There may be a possible connection between administration of ibuprophen and NF (necrotizing fasciitis) usually from group A strep. This causes potentially fatal skin lesions. A study found that children taking ibuprophen were 10 times more likely to develop this complication. There are no problems in taking Tylenol.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File CHIL4312.rf2 VRS# 7716 Data Version 7.0