Chickenpox Treatment

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Treatment for Chickenpox

• DOC-AID Urgent Care

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• Chicken pox is a common childhood illness,
  although adults are known to contract it, as
  well. It is caused by a virus known as varicella,
  and common symptoms are itchy blisters, fever,
  headache, or a dry cough. Chicken pox can only be
  contracted once, and the earlier it is
  contracted, the less dangerous it usually is.

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How is Chickenpox caused?

• Chickenpox, or varicella, is caused by the
  varicella-zoster virus, which is related to the
  herpes simplex virus. The infection has three
  stages. It starts out with little, itchy bumps.
  Those bumps turn into blisters filled with fluid.
  The final stage is the scabbing over of the
  bumps.
• Since new bumps can appear over several days,
  its possible to exhibit all three stages of the
  rash simultaneously.
• In addition to the rash and outbreak of blisters,
  chickenpox can cause fever, headache, dry cough
  or loss of appetite.
• The illness typically lasts around 5 to 10 days.
  People with chickenpox are contagious starting
  approximately a day or two before their symptoms
  appear, and up until all of their blisters have
  turned to scabs.

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How long does it take for you to recover from
chicken pox?

• Some children who have had the vaccine will still
  develop a light case of chickenpox. In most
  cases, they recover far more quickly and have
  only a couple of poxes (fewer than 30). These
  cases are often harder to diagnose. However,
  these children are still infectious and can
  spread chickenpox to others.
• In most cases, a person recovers without
  complications. Once you have had chickenpox, the
  virus often remains dormant or asleep in your
  body for your lifetime. About 10 of adults will
  experience shingles when the virus re-emerges
  during a period of high stress.

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What is so bad about chickenpox?

• Complications from chickenpox can occur, although
  they are uncommon in healthy people who get the
  disease. People who may be at high risk for
  complications and may get a serious case of
  chickenpox and include
• Infants
• Adolescents
• Adults
• Pregnant women
• People with weakened immune systems because of
  underlying conditions or medications
• Patients who have had transplants
• People on chemotherapy, immunosuppressive
  medications, or long-term use of steroids

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• Serious complications from chickenpox include
• Bacterial infections of the skin and soft
  tissues in children
• Infection of the lungs (pneumonia)
• Infection or inflammation of the brain
  (cerebellar ataxia, encephalitis)
• Bleeding problems (hemorrhagic complications)
• Bloodstream infections (sepsis)
• Dehydration

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What measures do I need to take if I have
chickenpox?

• Primary care physicians generally manage most
  cases of chickenpox. This includes internal
  medicine doctors, pediatricians, nurse
  practitioners, family medicine doctors, and
  sometimes emergency medicine doctors. In
  complicated cases or cases at high risk for
  severe disease, such as pregnancy, adults,
  eczema, or immune deficiency, dermatologists or
  infectious disease specialists may become
  involved as consultants.
• Such as severe itching, most of the treatments
  for chickenpox are aimed at decreasing the
  symptoms. A non-aspirin pain-killer like
  acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be used to decrease
  the fevers and aches. Children should NEVER be
  given aspirin or cold medications containing
  aspirin because of the risks for developing
  Reyes syndrome (a severe brain disease
  associated with liver and brain dysfunction and
  death). An oatmeal bath can decrease the itching
  associated with chickenpox, as well as soothing
  lotions and moisturizers such as calamine lotion.
  Antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
  can also be helpful in controlling the itching.
  As always, discuss these treatment options with
  your health care practitioner to see if they are
  right for you.