#Chicken pox treatment skin#

A sedating antihistamineĪ tablet or liquid medicine may help with sleep if itch is a problem. Calamine lotion is the one most used, although it is not known how effective it is. Treatment is mainly aimed at easing symptoms and trying to make your child as comfortable as possible whilst the immune system deals with the virus. However, you cannot catch shingles from a person with chickenpox, or catch shingles from a person with shingles.īook a private appointment with a local pharmacist today to discover treatment options Book now What is the treatment for chickenpox in children? Note: you can catch chickenpox from being exposed to a person with shingles if you have not had chickenpox yourself. See the separate leaflet called Shingles (Herpes Zoster) for details.

#Chicken pox treatment skin#

The reactivated virus travels along the nerve to the skin to cause shingles. They do no harm there and cause no symptoms.įor reasons that are not clear, the virus may begin to multiply again (reactivate). Some virus particles remain inactive in the nerve roots next to your spinal cord. The reason why shingles may occur is because the virus does not completely go after you have chickenpox. It can occur at any age, but it is most common in people over the age of 50.

About 1 in 5 people have shingles at some time in their lives. It causes a rash and pain in a local band-like area along the affected nerve. Shingles is an infection of a nerve and the area of skin supplied by the nerve.

Anyone who has had chickenpox in the past may develop shingles. Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox and is a very delayed complication of chickenpox.

Becoming generally more and more unwell.

A severe rash, or a rash which bruises or bleeds into the skin (haemorrhagic rash).

Being unable to take fluids, due to a severe rash in the mouth.

Pains or headaches which become worse despite paracetamol.

Weakness such as a child becoming wobbly on his/her feet.

See a doctor if your child develops any worrying symptoms that you are unsure about such as: Therefore, although serious complications are rare, it is best to be watchful.

Inflammation of various parts of the eye.

Inflammation of the joints (arthritis).

Henoch-Schönlein purpura (a condition that can affect the kidneys).

Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).

Ataxia (problems co-ordinating movements).

Kidney inflammation (glomerulonephritis).

Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis).

(a very rare condition with brain and liver problems).

Vary rarely, other serious complications develop.

Inflammation of the lung (pneumonia) and inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) are rare complications.

Antibiotics in the form of creams or medicine may then be needed. If this occurs, the surrounding skin becomes red and sore. This is the most common complication in children.

Some spots become infected with germs (bacteria) in some cases.

The spots do not usually scar unless they are badly scratched.

Uncommonly, one or more of the following complications can occur. Most of the time, children with chickenpox recover fully and have no complications. They gradually fade but may take up to two weeks to go completely. Some children feel quite unwell for a few days. Øyvind Holmstad, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons