Infectious illnesses in children- Chickenpox

Incubation period:

 Between 1 and 3 weeks

Infectious period:

 The most infectious time is 1-2 days before the rash appears, but it continues to be infectious until all the blisters have crusted over.

Symptoms:

• It starts with feeling unwell, a rash and a slight temperature.
• Spots develop, which are red and become fluid-filled blisters within a day or two. They eventually dry into scabs, which drop off. The spots appear first on the chest, back, head or neck, then spread. They don’t leave scars unless they're badly infected.

What to do:

• You don’t need to go to your GP or Accident and Emergency (A&E) department unless you’re not sure that its chickenpox or your child is very unwell or distressed.
• Give your child plenty to drink.
• Use paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve the fever and discomfort.
• Baths, loose comfortable clothes and calamine lotion can all ease the itchiness.
• Try to stop your child scratching or picking at their spots as this will increase the risk of scarring. It’s hard for children to do this, so give them plenty of praise and encouragement. Distractions, such as TV, are good for taking their mind off the itching. Let the school or nursery know that your child is ill in case other children are at risk.

Keep your child away from anyone who is pregnant or trying to get pregnant. If your child had contact with a pregnant woman just before they became unwell, let the woman know about the chickenpox (and suggest that she sees her GP or midwife). In women who've never had chickenpox, catching the illness in pregnancy can cause miscarriage or the baby may be born with chickenpox.

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