Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease that affects about three fourths of children before the age of 15. Chickenpox is caused by the varicella zoster virus and occurs most commonly in late winter or early spring. The virus spreads from person-to-person by air. This occurs when an infected person coughs or sneezes which spread these microbes in the surrounding air.
It also spreads by direct contact with the chickenpox or herpes lesions as these contain infectious fluids. The rash and other symptoms appear in 1 to 3 weeks after the person gets the virus. Infected people can give the disease to others for a day or two before the spots appear and 5 to 6 days after.
Most of the time, chicken pox is not a serious issue. But it can lead to eye and lung problems in newborns and other people with a weak immune system, and it tends to be more severe in adults. A vaccine can now help prevent it. You can do many things to help your child feel better. Above all, try to relieve the itching, since scratching can cause infections and scars.
Chicken pox symptoms in babies:
Major Symptoms of Chicken Pox are:
- Chicken pox early symptoms: An itchy rash usually begins on the face and torso. It starts out as small red spots; these turn into fluid filled blisters. In the final stage of the rash, the blisters burst and scab over. The rash most often lasts for 7 to 10 days.
- Painful blisters in the mouth or vagina, or around the eyes.
- A low fever.
Chicken pox prevention:
- Children 1 year and older can get a chicken pox vaccine. Children under 13 need only a single shot. Anyone 13 and older needs two shots, 4 to 8 weeks apart.
Home remedies for chicken pox:
Some of the major Home remedies for chicken pox are:
- If your child wears nappies, leave them off when you can to let the blisters dry.
- Make sure your child gets plenty of rest and lots to drink.
- Natural skin care chickenpox: Apply calamine lotion on the rash and try adding a handful of oatmeal, baking soda or an over the counter anti- itch bath powder.
- Try a child's dose of an over the counter anti histamine.
- For sores inside the mouth, make a mouth wash of one half-teaspoon salt in a glass of warm water.
- Let the child suck on ice chips and juice bars, they ease pain and add fluids.
- Keep your child's skin, clothes and bed linen's clean.
- To keep your child from breaking the blisters, trim the fingernails or cover his/ her hands with socks or mittens.
If natural home remedies can't cure, call a doctor when:
- If your child is drowsy and has an eye pain, speech problems loss of hearing, a stiff neck or back, sensitivity to light.
- If its hard for your child to breathe.
- If areas of your child's rash get red, more swollen or tender, or produce a yellow discharge.
- If your child still has a fever over 102 after 3 to 4 days.
How long is chicken pox contagious? What is chicken pox incubation period?
Chicken pox is highly contagious for first 2 to 5 days. It generally takes between 10-14 days before the blisters starts desappearing and then the person is no longer contagious. Chicken pox incubation period is for nearly 10 and 20 days.
How does chicken pox spread?
Chicken Pox generally spreads when a person have a direct or indirect contact with infected person through following means:
- Person to person contact
- Articles which comes in contact with infected person fresh discharges.
- Spread of discharges from an infected person nose
What do chicken pox look like?
Well, below is some of the chicken pox pictures taken from close:
