My 5-year-old son has developed red spots on his body and won’t stop scratching them. How can I tell if he has chickenpox, and what is the best course of action?
Calling your child’s pediatrician to discuss his symptoms is a good first step. By discussing your child’s symptoms over the phone, you can find out whether it is likely that your child has chickenpox and, if so, keep him from spreading the virus to others by having him stay at home. However, if the pediatrician is unable to confirm your child’s condition over the phone, a trip to the office may be necessary.
Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus and is quite common among young children. It is characterized by an itchy rash, red spots and blisters all over the body.
Once an individual acquires the virus, it takes approximately two weeks for the initial symptoms to appear (this is referred to as the incubation period). The first symptoms of chickenpox usually last for about two days and include headache, fever, a runny nose and a sore throat, although some individuals do not exhibit any of these symptoms. A rash consisting of red spots and blisters usually appears one or two days after the initial symptoms, and it takes about 10 to 14 days for the blisters to develop scabs.
Chickenpox can spread very easily. It is airborne and spreads via cough or sneeze, but it can also be acquired from sharing food or drink with an infected person, or by touching the fluid of a chickenpox blister.
The majority of children with chickenpox only need home treatment, which involves plenty of rest, drinking lots of fluid, and medication to alleviate fever and itching, if necessary. A natural way to deal with the itching associated with chickenpox is to soak in a bathtub full of cool water and filled with one to three cups of colloidal oatmeal (available at a drug store) for a period of 15 minutes, twice a day.
If you or other members of your immediate family have never had chickenpox — which can be quite serious for adults — it would be a good idea to get the chickenpox (varicella) vaccine. Two doses of the vaccine are recommended for both adults and for healthy children who are at least 1-year-old.
