Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease caused by varicella-zoster virus (VZV). This mainly affects children but can also infects adults. Symptoms usually appear within 10-21 days after contacting the infected person and most people will recover within 2 weeks. Vaccination to prevent the disease is available and is recommended for children to get immunized.

Symptoms

Itchy blister rash appears after 10-21 days after contacting the infected person and usually last for 5-10 days. Symptoms which may appear before rash are fever, headache, general feeling of unwell, aches and pains, and loss of appetite. 

At first the small pink or red spots start to appear anywhere on the body, including inside the mouth and genital and could be painful. The spots were then filled with water turning into blisters and become very itchy and can burst. Finally the spots become scabs which appear flaky or leaking fluid.

Treatment

Usually, the disease will go away on its own and the doctor may only advise your child to use antihistamine for itching and other symptomatic treatments for healthy children. Patients are advised as followed:

• Quarantine themselves from school or work until spots have formed a scab in around 5 days after appearance of spots

• Drink plenty of fluid to avoid dehydration

• Use paracetamol and antihistamine to relieve fever and itch as necessary

• Do not scratch the blisters

• Bathe or shower with cool water then pat skin dry without rubbing

If your child has high risk of complication, a pediatrician may prescribe antiviral medicine to shorten the length of infection and reduce risk of complications if necessary.

When to see a doctor?

If you are concerned about symptoms of your child, contact Pediatric center and inform ahead if chickenpox is suspected and do keep social distancing to prevent spreading the disease further.