Chickenpox: What’s that spot you’ve got?
Chickenpox is very infectious and occurs most commonly in children under 12, but anyone can get it. If you’re little one hasn’t been vaccinated, watch out for these signs and symptoms if he has been in contact with another child who has chickenpox.
Chickenpox, otherwise known as varicella, is very common among children and causes an itchy rash and red spots or blisters all over the body. Children can be protected from chickenpox by getting the vaccine which significantly reduces their chances of getting it. You can still get chickenpox if you have been vaccinated, but vaccinated kids tend to get milder cases and have quicker recoveries compared to children who didn’t get the vaccine and contract the illness.
4 Signs of chickenpox
Chickenpox has an incubation period of two to three weeks, after which the following four symptoms may appear:
- A mild fever or headache and a sore throat that develops a few hours before the rash.
- The chickenpox rash usually appears about one or two days after the first symptoms start. Usually, the spotty rash first appears on the abdomen, back and face, and turns into itchy blisters later. After a few days, the blisters dry up and form scabs. Chickenpoxappears in batches so your little one will usually have spots at different stages of the infection’s development.
- Spots in your child’s mouth can develop into ulcers and eating can become uncomfortable.
- Some children could develop chest infections.
Call your doctor if you notice any of the above symptoms.
Who is most at risk?
- You’re at risk if you’ve never had chickenpox, or if you haven’t had the chickenpox vaccine.
- Chickenpox can spread very easily. You can get it from an infected person who sneezes, coughs, or shares food or drinks.
- You can also get it if you touch the fluid from a chickenpox blister.
What treatment options are available?
“The treatment for chickenpox is symptomatic. The fever, pain, and itchiness will be treated with the relevant medication,” says specialist paediatrician Dr Nancy Obor. “If the infection is severe, your child may have to be admitted to the hospital.”
When can your child go back to daycare or school?
Your little one can go back to daycare or school after the blisters have crusted over, usually about 10 days after the first symptoms start.
