Chickenpox is a viral contagion that causes a efflorescence with itchy , fluid - filled blister to develop on the surface of your skin .
While it mostly affects children , chickenpox , also promise varicella , can develop in anyone exposed to the varicellazostervirus who does n’t already have immunity .
you may become immune to varicella by having the disease , or bygetting immunise against it .
The received treatment for chickenpox in minor is simply watch and wait for the disease to run its course , while taking proper home charge bar to ease theitching and other symptom . But in some cases , more proactive treatment is recommended .
If you or your nestling get chickenpox , it ’s important to view for symptoms that could suggest a more severe case of the disease that requires medical intervention .
It ’s also crucial to let your doctor know about any ongoing wellness condition you or your child has , because taking antiviral medications may be recommended in certain cases .
Antiviral drug are commonly given toadultsand teenagers with chickenpox , because these mathematical group be given to have more austere symptom and are atgreater risk for complications .
Even if medications are n’t recommend for your case of varicella , there are steps you could take to ensure that the disease causes as little discomfort as possible .
These steps are typically aimed at reduce itching and pain in the neck , lower a fever if warranted , and ensuring that sore are n’t irritated so that they can heal as quickly as potential . ( 1,2 )
Home Remedies for Chickenpox
There are many whole tone you’re able to take to still the discomfort associated with chickenpox and to check that healing consider place as in effect as possible .
First and foremost , do n’t scratch chickenpox blisters or scabs . scratch may cause mark and slow the healing process , and it raises the risk of grow a subaltern skin transmission .
If your child is having trouble resisting the temptation to scratch , fatigue mitt may help , particularly at night . It may also be helpful to ensure your child ’s fingernail are trimmed short . ( 1 )
Several home - free-base treatment may reduce the itchiness , pain , and uncomfortableness associated with chickenpox . These include :
Cool CompressesApplying a material pawn in moth-eaten water to particularly painful or itchy area , and leaving it in place for a few minute to an hour , may facilitate discomfort and boil down the temptation to scrub .
Cool BathsTaking a bathtub in nerveless water with append element — such asbaking soda , hustle or ground oat , or a commercial-grade oatmeal bath product — can help ease the itching brought on by chickenpox .
Both wet compresses and cool bath may be most efficient at save itching when they ’re done every three to four hours for the first few days of chickenpox symptoms .
Calamine LotionApplying dabs of hemimorphite program to chickenpox blister may reduce itching . Just be careful not to get it in your eyes .
Cold , Soft , Bland FoodsChickenpox sores in your sassing can be especially uncomfortable and make eating and toast difficult .
you could minimize the discomfort with foods that are n’t too red-hot , are easy to masticate and swallow , and do n’t irritate the sass . That means avoiding spicy , salty , and acidic foods .
AntihistaminesThese drug , which include diphenhydramine ( Benadryl ) , may be helpful when other measuring stick to treat itch are n’t enough . Check with your physician before giving an antihistamine to your shaver , and be sure not to outdo the recommended dose .
Pain RelieverAcetaminophen ( Tylenol ) may be used to treat a mild fever and shrink pain . It ’s the only pain in the neck reliever that ’s generally urge for varicella . ( 1,2,3 )
It ’s very of import not to take aspirin when you have varicella . Doing so can lead to a serious condition calledReye ’s syndrome , which affects your brainiac and liver . Reye ’s syndrome can be mortal in children . ( 4 )
You also should n’t take anynonsteroidal anti - inflammatory drug ( NSAID)when you have chickenpox without first talking to your MD . There ’s some evidence that doing so may promote junior-grade infection or cause tissue damage . ( 1 )
Over - the - counter NSAIDs let in isobutylphenyl propionic acid ( Advil ) and naproxen ( Aleve ) . If you take anyprescription NSAIDs , such as celecoxib ( Celebrex ) , speak about this with your doctor .
Steps to Avoid Infecting Others and Secondary Infections
Aside from any dance step take to facilitate discomfort , certain basic measure should be taken to help ensure your chickenpox firmness of purpose as well as it can .
last out at home . Because varicella is so transmissible , both grownup and kid with the disease should stay home from work or schoolhouse until all blisters have broken and modernize a crust .
Bathe regularly with soap and water . Keeping your skin white reduces your risk of developing a secondary infection .
Be sure to pat , not rub , your skin dry after bathing to keep off irritation .
Wash your helping hand frequently . maintain your hands uninfected reduces the risk that you ’ll cause a secondary transmission by touching or scratching your pelt .
Get some rest . Especially if you have a febricity or feel fatigued , take it easy while you have varicella . This can decoct stress on your body and help encourage healing . ( 1,2,3,4 )
Antiviral Drugs for Chickenpox
The independent radical of medications that may be prescribed for chickenpox is antiviral drug .
These drugs interfere with the activity and development of virus within the body . They do n’t actively kill the mark virus or dissolve an contagion on their own .
Antiviral drugs can cut down the severity and duration of chickenpox symptom , as well as reduce the risk of complications . ( 1 )
You or your tiddler will be prescribed an antiviral drug only if you ’re at high jeopardy for get varicella complications .
You may be considered at high risk of exposure if :
Antiviral drugs are most effective when taken within 24 hours of the onset of chickenpox symptoms , so contact your MD justly away if any of these condition apply to you . ( 2,5 )
The following antiviral drug may be prescribed for chickenpox :
Acyclovir ( Zovirax)This is the independent antiviral drug dictate for chickenpox . It ’s usually taken by mouth , but may be given intravenously ( by IV ) in masses with severe complications .
While acyclovir may perplex some hazard to fraught woman , many experts conceive that the risk of exposure of chickenpox during pregnancy are even nifty — especially during the second and third trimester .
Acyclovir is n’t recommended for children with uncomplicated chickenpox or a blue risk for developing complication . ( 5 )
Valacyclovir ( Valtrex ) and famciclovir ( Famvir)Valacyclovir or famciclovir may be dictate as an alternative to acyclovir , if your doctor deems it appropriate . ( 1 )
Preventive Therapies for Chickenpox
If you ’re at mellow peril for chickenpox knottiness and are disclose to the computer virus , and have n’t been immunise against it , it ’s not too late to take action to prevent an infection .
Immune globulin ( Privigen)is an IV drug that moderate antibody to several kinds of infection . It can help your resistant system fight off a chickenpox transmission or even forbid an contagion from developing .
This drug may be give within 24 hour of the onset of chickenpox symptom . In this slip , the best Bob Hope is that it will reduce the severity of symptom , rather than prevent the infection .
Varicella zoster immune globulin ( Varizig)is an throw in nub deduct from human plasma that may keep contagion with chickenpox . It is approved for employment within 10 days of exposure to chickenpox in hoi polloi who are at gamey risk of exposure of complicatedness but are not nominee for the varicella vaccine .
If you ’re a healthy soul who has n’t been vaccinated against chickenpox and are exposed to the computer virus , you may still benefit from the varicella virus vaccine if it ’s birth within three to five day of your photograph .
While inoculation at this stagecoach may not prevent an infection , it may reduce the badness of your symptom . ( 1,2 )
The Takeaway
Jane Yoon Scott , MD , is an infectious disease physician and an assistant professor of medicine atEmory Universityin Atlanta . Dr. Scott enjoys connecting with her patients , empower them to empathize and take possession of their health , and encourage them to involve head so that they can make informed and paying attention determination .
She graduated with the high honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology , then take in her MD from the Medical College of Georgia . She dispatch her intimate medicine residency training and chief residency at Temple University Hospital , as well as a society in infective disease at Emory University . She is add-in - manifest in both internal medicine and infective diseases .
When she is not seeing patients , Dr. Scott work with neighboring health department to promote public health , especially to communities that have been historically underserved . She also teaches medical trainee and berate medical scholarly person at the Emory University School of Medicine .
In her free prison term , Dr. Scott appreciates a good burnt umber workshop , weekend hikes , playing guitar , saunter through cities , sampling eating place , and traveling to new places .
A mercenary wellness writer and editor in chief based in Wisconsin , Quinn Phillips has a degree in government from Harvard University . He writes on a variety of topics , but is especially interested in the intersection of health and public policy . Phillips has pen for various publication and web site , such asDiabetes Self - Management , Practical Diabetology , andGluten - Free Living , among others .
Additional source
varicella
Chickenpox (Varicella) Vaccine Guide
What Is Chickenpox? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
Impetigo
What Is Impetigo? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
Infectious Diseases
