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Chicken Pox:

One of the most common illnesses that many children develop is Chicken Pox. While there are now vaccines available to prevent this illness, there are many children who have not had this immunization, and may still contract the virus. There are a few things to know about Chicken Pox, just in case your child does get it:

What Is Chicken Pox?
Chicken pox is a rash illness that is caused by a virus. This is one of those illnesses where, after a child is exposed to the virus, it takes between two and three weeks for the rash to appear. It is a very common illness, especially in children under 12 years of age. Of the approximate 3 million cases per year in the United States, more than 90 % are in children of this age.

Is Chicken Pox Contagious?
Yes, chicken pox is very contagious, but once a person has had a severe case of it once in their lifetime, they are immune to it in the future. A person who has chicken pox is contagious from 2 days before the rash appears until all the lesions have healed up.

How is Chicken Pox Transmitted from Person to Person?
Chicken pox is an airborne virus, meaning that your child doesn't have to drink after another child with the illness in order to catch it. Instead, an ill person who has chicken pox transmits the virus to others by simply sneezing or coughing. This is why, if your child has chicken pox, you will want to keep them out of school or daycare, and you shouldn't take them in public unless absolutely necessary until the virus has run its course and they are no longer contagious.

What are the Symptoms of Chicken Pox?
The symptoms vary slightly from one person to another, but the general symptoms are as follows:

• Mild fever
• Headache
• Backache
• Sore throat
• Itchy red spots (the telltale rash)
• Blisters
• Swollen glands
• Flu-like symptoms

Is Chicken Pox Preventable?
It is recommended that children receive the recently available Chicken Pox vaccine, but this is only effective 70-90 % of the time.

If Your Child Gets Chicken Pox:

If your child gets chicken pox, there are a few ways to help them feel better until they are well again. You will need to give them a pain reliever/fever reducer. This can help with the fever, and any headaches or body aches. You will also need to have lozenges, spray, or suckers to help relieve any throat pain your child might be experiencing. For the rash, you will want to give them an allergy medication, such as Benadryl. This can help ease the itching, but you will also want to use a topical itch cream as well. To keep your child from scratching, you can put gloves (or oven mitts) on your child's hands. This may not eliminate their scratching, but it might lessen it. Another way to help relieve the itch is to blow on the spots for them (this can be a great relief for itchiness).



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