Page 34 - (DK) Home Doctor: Providing practical advice on home treatments

32 COMMON CONDITIONS: INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Chicken pox

Chicken pox is a highly infectious viral illness, most common in
children, that causes an intensely itchy rash of blisters. Your child
may generally feel unwell, with a headache and mild fever, just
before the rash develops and for the first few days afterward. The
first symptoms appear 10–21 days after contact with the infection,
and most children are completely recovered 7–10 days later. Chicken pox rash on a child

See your doctor first
NATURAL REMEDIES
Arrange to see your doctor to confirm that
your child has chicken pox. Baking soda (see p.179) reduces itching.
Add 2 tablespoons to a bath one-third full.
Oatmeal products (see p.187) moisturize
What you can do yourself the skin; lotions can be used instead of soap.
Use these home treatments to make your child
more comfortable and help prevent scratching,
which can cause scars. DRUG REMEDIES
● If your child has a fever, take steps to reduce
it (see FEVER IN CHILDREN, p.135). Offer your child Antihistamines (see p.178) will help to
relieve the itching during and after a chicken pox
plenty to drink throughout the day.
infection. Apply liberally to the affected areas. You
● Soothe itching by giving your child lukewarm could try using a liquid sedative brand if itching
baths twice a day. Try adding baking soda (sodium makes sleep difficult for your child.
bicarbonate) or an oatmeal lotion to the bath water Calamine lotion (see p.179)
(see NATURAL REMEDIES, right). is cooling and soothing,
and also helps dry up
● An antihistamine will reduce itching and help
blisters, aiding healing.
your child sleep at night. You can also soothe
Use it as needed.
his or her skin with calamine lotion (see DRUG
REMEDIES, right).
● Cut your child’s nails short to reduce damage from
scratching. Give him or her cotton gloves to wear Applying calamine
at night to prevent scratching during sleep. Use cotton balls and
count the spots with
● To soothe spots in your child’s mouth, get him your child as you
or her to rinse with half a teaspoon of salt in a cup dab on the lotion.
of warm water, being careful that he or she does
not swallow the solution. Encourage your child to
keep brushing his or her teeth as normal.
Seek further medical advice
● Your child will be more comfortable in light,
loose, nonitchy clothing. Avoid wool. Arrange to see your doctor again if your
child develops:
● Keep your child away from school, and away
from any woman who may be pregnant, for 5 days ● Pus-filled spots and/or blisters near the eyes
from the time when the blisters first appear. ● Earache or headache, breathing problems,
drowsiness, or convulsions