Varicella, also known as chickenpox, can trouble the lives of children and adults. It is caused by a virus, the varicella-zoster. Chickenpox is a close relative of herpes and may present with water-filled blisters that spread throughout the body. The main symptoms of chickenpox are fever and persistent itching, but how can these symptoms be relieved? How can you be sure that those little spots that appear during childhood are really chickenpox?

Chickenpox is extremely contagious and its symptoms are very uncomfortable. Children of all ages can catch chickenpox and can transmit it to others who have not had it yet. The most contagious period for children is the school phase, where they have the most contact with children from all places.

Contagion and Symptoms

People who have already had contact with the disease in childhood or adulthood are fully immune, but those who have never had it are still at risk even if vaccinated against the disease. The symptoms of chickenpox are:

  • High fever for several days
  • Reddish water-filled blisters
  • Lack of appetite
  • Body aches

High fever is one of the major symptoms of chickenpox, because after it reaches its peak, the blisters start to appear. The blisters are formed by thin skin and contain viral fluid inside. The chickenpox spots may appear all over the body, but especially on the face, torso, scalp, and armpits. This fluid is extremely contagious as are the bodily secretions of someone experiencing the chickenpox outbreak.

How to Ease Chickenpox Symptoms

In the vast majority of cases, varicella is simple to resolve. It’s a matter of time for the virus to run its course, and it will go away on its own. The real problem is the symptoms of chickenpox; dealing with this discomfort is key. Chickenpox causes painful and very intense itching attacks. Scratching is really not a good idea; scratching can cause the blisters to spread even more.

Unfortunately, scratching the chickenpox rashes can make the situation even worse, because it also causes scars and bacterial infections. Although it is a viral disease, the lesions can become contaminated if left exposed (raw skin). They should be allowed to dry on their own to avoid contamination.

How to Relieve Itching

But how can you help small children who don’t understand this yet? There are medications and herbal remedies to help relieve itching and pain from chickenpox rashes. One of them, which is widely used and recommended by doctors, is potassium permanganate. Known as violet water, it greatly relieves the itching and burning. It also helps the blisters to dry up, reducing the symptoms of chickenpox, fever, and rashes.

There are herbal alternatives to improve chickenpox symptoms: holly and elderberry make good teas and baths. Just boil the herbs in water for 10 minutes and bathe the chickenpox wounds. Drinking the tea is also recommended, about 200 ml per day. In addition, there are hemostatic powders that help reduce itching and promote healing. Cornstarch is a great substitute for these powders but they are also easily found at pharmacies.

Contagion Period

The contagious period of the disease is during the first 10 days after chickenpox symptoms appear, when the blisters are drying out, and it’s highly contagious. The main problem occurs when the child has a weakened immune system, as the disease is fought off by antibodies and white blood cells that multiply to combat the virus. But if the child or adult has a weakened immune system, the clinical condition can worsen.

Chickenpox Vaccine and Where to Get It

To help reduce the risk of catching the disease, there is a vaccine against chickenpox. Like any other form of immunization, it helps the body produce antibodies to the disease, so if the virus enters the body, it is immediately fought by the immune system.

The SUS offers the chickenpox vaccine free of charge. Once a triple vaccine, it is now a quadruple vaccine, having added chickenpox to provide protection for babies from the second month of life. The vaccine can be given to people of any age but is available privately for around R$150.

See also: Red Spots on Baby’s Skin – What Could It Be?

Photos: Rob, SuperFantastic

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Key Info Box:

  1. Varicella, also known as chickenpox, can trouble the lives of children and adults. It is caused by a virus called varicella-zoster.
  2. Chickenpox is extremely contagious and its symptoms are very uncomfortable. Children of all ages can catch chickenpox and can transmit it to others who have not had it yet.
  3. High fever is one of the major symptoms of chickenpox, because after it reaches its peak, the blisters start to appear. The blisters are formed by thin skin and contain viral fluid inside them.
  4. Chickenpox causes painful and very intense itching attacks.
  5. There are medications and herbal remedies to help relieve itching and pain from chickenpox rashes.