What is varicella?
Varicella (chicken pox) is a viral illness that is very contagious. It usually appears 11 to 20 days after exposure, but can be as short as 8 days or as long as 28 days. A person with chicken pox is contagious to others for 2 days before the rash appears and until all the blisters have scabbed over and dried, usually 5 to 9 days.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of varicella include:
• Complaints of feeling poorly.
• Multiple small, red bumps that begin looking like insect bites. These change to small, thin walled water blisters, then open sores, then scabs. The rash can be in all different stages at the same time. The bumps are very itchy.
• Fever.
What is the treatment?
The treatment for varicella includes the following:
• Avoid scratching, keep fingernails short and clean.
• Use acetaminophen (Tylenol®) for fever and discomfort. DO NOT GIVE ASPIRIN. · Calamine lotion on the skin and Benadryl syrup by mouth can help alleviate the itching.
• Some children get relief from baths with added baking soda or oatmeal.
• Keep lesions clean.
Call your physician if the following symptoms are present:
• Spreading redness around the lesions
• Fever persistent for more than 72 hours.
• Signs of dehydration (child not urinating in the last 18 hours)
• Persistent vomiting (more than 3 times)