Once you have contacted your GP, you may need a test to see if you're already immune from chickenpox. If you have had chickenpox in the past, it is extremely unlikely that you will develop chickenpox for a second time. If you've never had chickenpox, or you're unsure whether you've had it, you may need an immunity test.
This is a blood test that checks whether you are producing the antibodies to the chickenpox virus. If your blood test result shows that you have the antibodies, you'll be naturally protected from the virus.
If you don't have the antibodies, you'll need to be monitored closely to see if you develop chickenpox symptoms.
If you do, further treatment may be needed. Read more about chickenpox treatment. There is no cure for chickenpox, and the virus usually clears up by itself without any treatment. However, there are ways of easing the itch and discomfort, and there are important steps you can take to stop chickenpox spreading. If your child is in pain or has a high temperature fever , you can give them a mild painkiller, such as paracetamol available over the counter in pharmacies.
Always read the manufacturer's dosage instructions. Paracetamol is the preferred painkiller for treating the associated symptoms of chickenpox. This is due to a very small risk of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs , such as ibuprofen , causing adverse skin reactions during chickenpox.
Avoid giving your child ibuprofen if they have asthma or a history of stomach problems. If you're not sure whether ibuprofen is suitable, check with your GP or pharmacist. If your child is younger than 3 months old, you should always speak to your GP before giving your child any kind of pain relief. If you're pregnant and need to take painkillers, then paracetamol is the first choice.
You can use it at any stage of pregnancy. Only take ibuprofen during the second trimester weeks of the pregnancy. If you're pregnant and have chickenpox, you should visit your GP as soon as possible. You may need to have antiviral medicine or immunoglobulin treatment to prevent your symptoms from getting worse.
It is important for children and adults with chickenpox to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Sugar-free ice lollies are a good way of getting fluids into children. They also help to soothe a sore mouth that has chickenpox spots in it.
Avoid anything that may make the mouth sore, such as salty foods. Soup is easy to swallow as long as it is not too hot. Chickenpox can be incredibly itchy, but it's important for children and adults to not scratch the spots, to avoid future scarring. One way of stopping scratching is to keep fingernails clean and short. You can also put socks over your child's hands at night to stop them scratching the rash as they sleep. If your child's skin is very itchy or sore, try using calamine lotion or cooling gels.
These are available in pharmacies and are very safe to use. They have a soothing, cooling effect. A stronger medicine called chlorphenamine can also help to relieve the itching.
It's available from your pharmacist over the counter or it can be prescribed by your GP. Chlorphenamine is taken by mouth and is suitable for children over 1 year old.
If your child has a fever, or if their skin is sore and aggravated, dress them appropriately so that they don't get too hot or too cold. Loose-fitting, smooth, cotton fabrics are best and will help stop the skin from becoming sore and irritated. If your child has chickenpox, avoid sponging them down with cool water. This can make your child too cold and may make them shiver.
Ideally, aciclovir needs to be started within 24 hours of the rash appearing. It does not cure chickenpox, but it makes the symptoms less severe. You normally need to take the medicine as tablets 5 times a day for 7 days. If you are taking aciclovir, make sure you drink plenty of fluids.
Side effects are rare, but can include nausea and diarrhoea. Immunoglobulin is a solution of antibodies that is taken from healthy donors. Varicella-zoster immunoglobulin VZIG contains antibodies to the chickenpox virus. Immunoglobulin treatment is given by injection. It is not used to treat chickenpox, but to protect people who are at high risk of developing a severe chickenpox infection.
This includes:. In the case of pregnant women, immunoglobulin treatment also reduces the risk of the unborn baby becoming infected. In some cases, newborn babies may be given immunoglobulin treatment without having a blood test first. Read more about the complications of chickenpox. Complications of chickenpox are rare in healthy children. The most common complication is where the blisters become infected with bacteria. A sign that the blisters have become infected is when the surrounding skin becomes red and sore.
If you think that your child's blisters have become infected, contact your GP as the child may need a course of antibiotics. Very rarely, chickenpox can lead to more serious complications involving the nervous system brain and spinal cord in children.
These include infections of the brain encephalitis , the protective membranes around the brain meningitis or part of the brain called the cerebellum cerebellitis. Seek medical advice as soon as possible if your child develops any of these symptoms after having chickenpox. Chickenpox can be more serious in adults than in children. Adults with the virus are more likely to be admitted into hospital. If you smoke, your risk of developing lung problems is much higher. Although it is more serious in adults, most people will still make a full recovery from the chickenpox virus.
For example, your risk of developing pneumonia is slightly higher if you're pregnant, especially if you smoke. The further you are into your pregnancy, the more serious the risk of pneumonia tends to be. If you get chickenpox while you're pregnant, there is also a small but significant risk to your unborn baby.
If you are infected with chickenpox during the first 28 weeks of your pregnancy, there is a risk that your unborn baby could develop a condition known as foetal varicella syndrome FVS. This syndrome is rare. If you are infected with chickenpox 7 days before or 7 days after giving birth, your newborn baby may develop a more serious type of chickenpox. In a few severe cases, this type of chickenpox can be fatal.
See your GP urgently if you're pregnant or have given birth in the last 7 days and you think you may have chickenpox, or if you've been exposed to someone who has chickenpox. If your immune system is weak or does not work properly, you are more susceptible to developing infections such as chickenpox. This is because your body produces fewer antibodies to fight off the infection. Immunosuppressive medication such as steroid tablets may be used if, for example, you have an inflammatory condition such as rheumatoid arthritis , lupus or certain blood conditions.
If you have a weakened immune system, you're also more at risk of developing complications from chickenpox. These complications include:. See your GP urgently if you have a weakened immune system and you've been exposed to the chickenpox virus. For more information, read about how to stop the spread of chickenpox.
If your child has chickenpox,it is recommended that you inform their school or nursery, and keep them at home for 5 days. If you have chickenpox, stay off work and at home until you're no longer infectious, which is until the last blister has burst and crusted over.
This usually happens five or six days after the rash begins. Scratching the blisters can tear your skin and leave scars. Scratching also can let germs in, and the blisters could get infected.
If your fever goes higher and an area of your skin gets really red, warm, and painful, tell an adult right away. You'll need to see a doctor because you could have an infection. While you have the chickenpox, a pain reliever like acetaminophen might help you feel better, but let your parents help you with this. Medicines and creams that may stop the itch can also be helpful.
Do not take aspirin because it can cause a rare but serious illness in kids called Reye syndrome. It doesn't usually happen, but let your parents know if you feel especially bad.
Sometimes, chickenpox leads to other, more serious illnesses. Most kids don't have any major problems and get better in a week or two. And when all the blisters have scabs, you're not contagious anymore and you can go back to school!
In a few days, the scabs will fall off. A kid who gets chickenpox is unlikely to ever get it again. Not long ago, millions of people got chickenpox each year in the United States.
But now that kids get the vaccine, fewer and fewer people get chickenpox. But kids can get vaccinated when they're older too. Ask your mom or dad if you've had your shots. You'll be glad that you did if chickenpox starts making its way around your school! Reviewed by: Kate M. Cronan, MD. Chickenpox illness usually lasts about 4 to 7 days. The classic symptom of chickenpox is a rash that turns into itchy, fluid-filled blisters that eventually turn into scabs. The rash may first show up on the chest, back, and face, and then spread over the entire body, including inside the mouth, eyelids, or genital area.
It usually takes about one week for all of the blisters to become scabs. Other typical symptoms that may begin to appear one to two days before rash include:. Some people who have been vaccinated against chickenpox can still get the disease.
However, they usually have milder symptoms with fewer or no blisters or just red spots , a mild or no fever, and are sick for a shorter period of time than people who are not vaccinated.
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