Chicken pox is a common disease in childhood and also highly contagious. When someone breaks out in due to the chicken pox virus there are small red marks as well as often blisters that itch and contain fluid. Be aware that these blisters may break and then form crusts. The chickenpox can appear on the face, trunk of the body, scalp and around the limbs as well. I still have a little mark on my cheek from when I had the chicken pox as a child. It looks like a tiny acne scar actually. I even remember scratching it!

It is quite itchy and uncomfortable for kids. Other symptoms of chicken pox can include having a fever, stomach pain, lack of hunger and of course the rash itself. The underlying virus is varicella zoster and it can be contagious via the air, as well as contact. If an adult catches chicken pox it often is stronger than for a child. Those with the vaccine may have a very mild case of it.

A child or a person who has been infected by chicken pox virus becomes host to the virus for lifetime. But the number is kept under control by the body’s immune system. Infants, sometimes, get partial immunity from the blood of their mother, if the mother was already infected by chicken pox. The chicken pox booster shot is often schedule for kids beginning when they are four. When you have an older child who hasn’t had the disease nor a booster shot then you should speak to your doctor because he will recommend the booster Varivax. Children who have been administered with chicken pox vaccination get mild chicken pox if they break out. It isn’t 100 percent going to prevent it, but severe eruptions have been minimized and the duration cut substantially from the past where someone would be wiped out for a seven to ten days. Skin condition of children with skin problems like eczema or sunburn can worsen. Children who have taken steroids may also have additional symptoms.

What can you do to help your child deal with the itching, discomfort and self-consciousness? First of all, an antihistamine will usually be recommended by the pediatrician in order to control the itching. If your child has a fever he may also prescribe a second medication or advise you to use tylenol to lower it. Antivirals can be prescribed as well. In the US, the chicken pox vaccine is part of the schedule of immunization along with getting shots for measles, . A calming and soothing bath in warm water with oatmeal with relieve your child’s itching and is a fun way to bond too. Bring in a cd player and spend some time with your child while he or she is in the tub. Minimizing itching is important because scratching can result in scars. I have them myself and regret my impulsive knee-jerk reaction to the itch.

Shingles or herpes zoster (technically known as varciella zoster) is the dormant virus and if someone has shingles, it is important to not be around an infant or child who never had chicken pox. After chicken pox, the virus remains in your body for the rest of your life. This means that in the future you may have a reactivation that results in shingles rash. Sometimes a child will come home from school with a rash and parents will immediately believe it’s scabies, but it’s important to see if chicken pox has been an issue at school and to contact the teacher first before using a treatment based on the wrong diagnosis.