Chicken Pox, a virus known as Varicella, often affects children but if you haven’t been exposed during your childhood, you are still at risk as a teen or even adult. The more advanced your age, generally the rule holds true that the more advanced it coincides with the severity at which you will experience symptoms. Meaning – it is far better to catch the Chicken Pox as a kid.

Recently there has been an increase in the number of cases in the United States. As a parent it is important to know what to look out for and be in touch with what your child will be experiencing should they catch the Chicken Pox.

This disease in the majority of the cases is usually mild and will clear fairly quickly. They are highly contagious and as soon as you realize that is what you or your family member are experiencing, we advise you to stay home and away from others.

The Chicken Pox Experience

The onset may feel like you are coming down with a cold or flu. You feel hot, feverish, your thinking can become muddled, you may have a headache or body ache. It is very likely when you wake up the next morning the tell-tale spots will have stated to populate your skin and can spread and cover nearly every body part.

Spots will be incredibly itchy. It is more than tempting to pick at them but very important not to. Picked Chicken Pox scabs can and will leave indented scars. Allowing them to heal naturally, scab and crust over allows a new healthy skin to reform giving you the best chance at future healthy clear skin.

The itching should subside in 5-6 days when the blisters crust over.

How to deal with Chicken Pox  – At Home Care

• *Do NOT use any anti-inflammatory painkillers with Chicken Pox – they can make you quite ill.
• Calamine lotion, cooling gels, and moisture creams can help with itching
• Do not scratch. Pat skin to help with itching so as not to rip scabs
• Drink lots of fluids
• Rest
• Oatmeal baths may help as well

For the most part, Chicken Pox simply has to play out. They will heal on their own and you will begin to feel better. Seek medical attention if:

• Your child is less than 4 weeks
• You are an adult and develop chicken pox as it could be more serious
• You aren’t getting better after 6 days
• You are pregnant and begin to get symptoms of Chicken Pox
• You experience dehydration, swollen painful skin, or difficulty breathing

In the past, parents would purposefully expose younger children to those with Chicken Pox in order for them to get it over with and build up immunity. Today, vaccinations have taken the place of exposure, but either method will establish the same outcome. One organically and the other artificially.

If you believe you or your child may have Chicken Pox or are interested in learning more please search our IPALC directory for a local physician www.ipalc.org/find.