What is chicken pox?

Chicken pox or varicella is a viral infection that causes a characteristic itchy rash and fever.

What are the symptoms of chicken pox?

Photo courtesy of Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The rash usually starts on the stomach or back and may spread all over the body including the mouth, scalp, and diaper area.

The rash usually has three stages:

• Raised red spots that look like pimples

• Raised red spots with small water-filled blisters (dew drop on a rose petal)

• Open blisters that become crusted over

Your child may also have a fever, headache, tiredness, loss of appetite, runny nose, cough, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Home care

Chicken pox is contagious until all the blisters have crusted over  (7-10 days). Furthermore, a child can develop chicken pox up to 21 days  after being exposed. A child with chicken pox should stay at home, out  of school, until all of the blisters are crusted over. Unfortunately,  children with chicken pox are contagious for the two days before the  rash occurs, so keep a careful eye on siblings for symptoms of chicken  pox.

Your child may need to be evaluated in our office. Please call our office first for an appointment.

Calamine lotion may make your child more comfortable. Do not use  Caladryl® lotion with Benadryl® syrup as they both contain  diphenhydramine. Using both medications at the same time may cause too  much sleepiness.

Bathing with water and baking soda or Aveeno® soap may help reduce the itching.

Pain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®, Tempra,® or Panadol®) and ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) should be used cautiously for fever and pain as they  may hide the symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis, a bacterial infection  that causes dead skin and underlying soft tissues. Watch out for all of  the warning signs during the infection.

Follow the package instructions to determine the appropriate dose by  your child’s WEIGHT or age for acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Ibuprofen  should be avoided if your child is dehydrated or unable to take anything by mouth.

Do not use aspirin because of the increased risk of Reye’s Syndrome with certain infections.

If your child seems to have a mild illness and is not taking in as  much by mouth, try increasing fluid intake by offering small amounts  more often.

• For children under one year of age, give 1-2 ounces of formula, breast milk, or rehydration therapy (e.g. Pedialyte®, Rehydrate®, Infalyte®) every 30 minutes to an hour.

• Do not give children under 2 large amounts of water.

• Older children who are more severely dehydrated (see warning signs) should be given only rehydration therapy.

The varicella vaccine is a safe and effective way to prevent the chicken pox. Please refer to the varicella vaccine page.

Adults who have not had chicken pox should contact their doctor to  discuss vaccination, especially if exposed to a child with chicken pox.

Warning signs – Call our office for advice if:

You think your child may have chicken pox, but you are not sure, Call Our Office Now.

Your child is less than 6 months old and has the chicken pox, Call Our Office Now.

Your child has any changes in behavior such as unsteady walking, vomiting, severe headache, or stiff neck, Call Our Office Now.

Your child refuses to drink, Call Our Office Now.

Your child has a red or purple rash that does not turn pale briefly after pressing on it, Call Our Office Now.

Your child’s skin is painful or swollen 3 to 4 days after the start of the rash, Call Our Office Now.

Your child has a fever for more than 3 days after the start of the rash, Call Our Office Now.

You still need to use pain medications for pain or fever 3 to 4 days after the start of the rash, Call Our Office Now.

Your child has breathing difficulty, Call Our Office Now.

Your child has any signs of dehydration such as no tears while crying, dry lips and mouth, fewer wet diapers (around 6 per day is normal), or sunken eyes, Call Our Office Now.

Your child is on steroids for any reason (asthma flare, any autoimmune conditions), Call Our Office Now.

Your child’s pox get infected (swollen, hard, hot, or have yellow pus), Call Our Office Now.

Your child’s itching is not improved by the treatment suggestions, Call Our Office Now.

You have any questions or concerns, or if you have any doubts about the severity of your child’s symptoms, Call Our Office Now.