Chicken Pox

What is it and how can I treat it?

Chicken pox is a relatively mild and common illness that most children catch at some    point

Chicken pox causes a red rash with itchy spots that eventually turn into fluid filled    blisters.  They then crust over to form scabs and drop off .

Some children will only have a few spots but others can have the spots all over their    body.  They are most likely to appear on the face, arms, scalp, under arms, chest,    stomach and arms and legs.  Chickenpox in children is considered a mild illness,  but expect your child to feel unwell while they have it.

Chicken pox can be very infectious and to prevent the spread of the infection it’s advised to keep children off nursery or school until all the spots have crusted over. It is also best to avoid being in a public place or around people vulnerable to the infection such as pregnant women, newborn babies, and anyone with a weakened immune system (for example someone receiving treatment for cacner or taking steroid tablets.)

Your child is likely to have a fever at least for the first few days of the illness. The spots can be incredibly itchy. There is not a treatment for chicken pox but remedies such as paracetamol and cooling gels can help to relieve symptoms.

For most children, chickenpox is a mild illness that gets better on its own.

Contact your GP straight away if your child develops any abnormal symptoms, for example:

  • if the blisters on their skin become infected
  • if your child has a pain in their chest or has difficulty breathing

Did you know?  Chickenpox is most common in children under 10. In fact, chickenpox  is so common in childhood that 90% of adults are immune to the condition because they’ve had it before.

For further information visit www.nhs.uk