Alternative Therapies

Chicken pox is a common disease seen mostly in children less than 12 years of age. It is highly contagious. Chicken pox is rarely fatal, even though it causes severe discomfort.

Chicken pox usually affects a person once in his lifetime. The body develops resistance to chicken pox after the first incidence. But sometimes, chicken pox flares up late in adulthood in the form of shingles.

Cause of chicken pox

Chicken pox is caused by varicella zoster virus (VZV).  This virus spreads by direct contact with an infected person or by breathing air contaminated with the virus.

The symptoms of chicken pox start showing up 10 to 21 days after the virus is contacted. The infected person can spread the virus to others from about 1-2 days prior to appearance of symptoms. The infected person remains a potential virus spreader until all the symptoms disappear.

After the symptoms disappear, the virus remains in the body in an inactive state. In about 20% of cases, it becomes active again in adulthood causing shingles.

Symptoms of chicken pox

Chicken pox is characterized by the appearance of blisters. These blisters start out as small, red bumps. These get filled with a clear white liquid, which after a period of time becomes cloudy. Finally, the blister bursts turning into open sores. The sores finally dry out leaving behind brown scabs. All this happens over a period of 5 days.

Other probable symptoms include flu-like discomfort, fever, weakness, head ache, abdominal pain, and sore throat.

Dealing with chicken pox

Chicken pox cures by itself after about a week. So no treatment is needed. But some measures need to be taken to decrease discomfort and to avoid complications.

• Discourage the child from scratching the sores.
• Give baths with cold or lukewarm water every 3-4 hours.
• Pat dry with a towel. Do not rub dry.
• Put calamine lotion on itchy areas. Do not apply on face.
• Give foods that are cold, soft and bland. Avoid acidic foods.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist about pain-relieving creams to apply to sores in the genital area.
• Give acetaminophen regularly to help relieve pain if your child has mouth blisters.
• Do not use aspirin.
• Do not let the child mingle with other children, as this may result in spreading of the disease.

If your child is experiencing any kind of extreme discomfort, contact the doctor immediately.