Chicken pox. Two words to make your skin crawl.
Late winter and the period from March to May are peak months for the pox.
There was an outbreak at my son’s school recently and pretty much 80% of his class were covered in blisters.
My boys caught the chicken pox infection the year before and both emerged unscathed this time. But I was troubled when one of Jed’s little buddies caught the pox again.
Apparently it’s rare but you can get the virus more than once, and sometimes the symptoms are worse second time around. Also anyone who has had chicken pox is now more prone to catching shingles – a more virulent strain.
We were invited to a Piriton blogger event to discuss chicken pox with Dr Sarah Brewer, an expert in child health. Apart from having to endure a couple of blood-curdling slides, I found the event enlightening.
Based on our talk, I’ve put together a few simple Dos and Don’ts about Chicken Pox that might be useful for parents, even if your little ones have already had the infection.
DOS AND DON’TS OF CHICKEN POX
Do keep your child away from school/playgroup/planes and other public areas at the first sign of a rash until the blisters have crusted over as chicken pox is highly contagious.
Don’t send your kid to a ‘chicken pox party’ so they can catch it early. Dr Brewer said she’s seen enough cases of severe reaction to chicken pox (including pneumonia and the brain condition, encephalitis) to warn parents not to play with their kids’ lives this way.
Do keep a watchful eye as early symptoms can be as little as grouchiness or aching, and the incubation period (from exposure to full onset) varies from 14 to 24 days.
Don’t and I mean DO NOT order a batch of ‘Chicken Pox-infected lollipops’ (see Dr Brewer’s advice above). I was deeply disturbed to learn about the ‘pox pops’ being parcelled out to families in various parts of the US last year until a widespread ban – apart from being a gross idea, who knows what else you’re passing around?!
Do consider offering your babes Piriton syrup if they’re older than 1, as it’s said to help relieve itching from chicken pox as well as allergies and has a drowsy effect, so kids can sleep better too.
Don’t slather your child in calamine lotion as this dries on the skin to become even itchier. Instead, ask your GP or chemist for calamine gel that cools and provides longer-lasting relief.
Do try natural remedies like bicarbonate of soda in the bath. One suggestion was to fill a sock with oatmeal and tie it around the tap before running a bath, as it has skin-soothing properties.
Don’t hesitate to call your GP if your child develops unusual symptoms such as infected blisters or breathing/chest pain.
Do keep your little ones’s finger nails short and encourage them not to scratch to minimise scarring. Try putting socks on their hands at night.
Don’t freak out. Chicken pox is typically mild in under 5s especially, once the itching subsides they’re usually fine and the majority don’t suffer longterm complications.
Do avoid known outbreaks or carriers if you’re pregnant and have never had the virus, as newborn babies are vulnerable to catching it in late pregnancy. If you’re pregnant and have chicken pox your doctor might recommend antiviral or immunoglobin treatment. Exclusive breastfeeding offers good protection for newborns against most infections.
Read about our own experience of chicken pox
Check the NHS Chicken Pox fact sheet
Visit www.piriallergy.com for where to buy Piri products
Top image via www.thepeoplegroup.com
Thank you for these invaluable tips. Oliver caught Chicken Pox under one and I was shocked by how many parents wanted to send their kids over. Disturbing. I think every mother needs to read this. Thank you x
A decent size cup of malt brown vinegar added to bath water really did the trick for both of my children. Just the ordinary stuff you put on your chips!! It doesn’t smell at all and we definitely noticed it offered sweet relief and dried out the spots nicely. If the child is really suffering with itching then I would recommend a bath as often as is necessary.
Great tips Joanna, I’d read about that and might even have it as a remedy in my earlier pox post. Really glad it worked for you, hopefully someone else will find relief from it too!
Hi HM, it’s amazing what some people imagine is a good idea, I can’t think of any reason to be sending my kids into harm’s way like that. Especially knowing more about the potential complications!