Coping with chickenpox

What is chickenpox?

If your baby or toddler hasn’t had chickenpox yet, odds are they will one day soon. Some 90% of children catch chickenpox and it is most common in children under the age of five.

Chickenpox is a mild but highly infectious disease caused by a virus called varicella-zoster. It is transferred from one person to another through direct contact with the broken chickenpox blisters, and can also spread when someone with the infection coughs or sneezes.

In days gone by, calamine lotion was a standard way of easing the itch, but new Care Virasoothe Chickenpox Relief Cooling Gel is now on the market to help babies and children aged 6 months and over.

Spot the symptoms

Before developing a rash, your child might have some flu-like symptoms, including:

• Raised temperature or fever
• Feeling sick
• Loss of appetite
• Generally feeling unwell

A couple of days later, a red rash appears, which starts as small, itchy red spots. These spots then become fluid-filled blisters which eventually scab over.

It can take 10-21 days for your child to develop the symptoms after they have come into contact with the virus. This is called the 'incubation period'.

When the telltale chickenpox rash appears, it may be found anywhere on the body and face including behind the ears, on the scalp and even on the soles of the feet.

If you are unsure whether your child has chickenpox or not, call your GP or the NHS Direct helpline 0845 464.

How to treat chickenpox

Your child is contagious with chickenpox during the incubation period and until the last blister has burst and crusted over.

You should therefore keep your child at home during this time – normally a week or so from the day the first spot appears.

Let your child's school or nursery know that he or she has come down with chickenpox.

It is also advisable to avoid contact with pregnant women, newborn babies, and anyone who has a weak immune system (such as people having chemotherapy or those with HIV or AIDS).

Consult your doctor if your child gets chickenpox while you are pregnant.

How to relieve the symptoms

Chickenpox is a virus, so there is no cure for it. But you can help relieve your child’s symptoms:

• Apply Care Virasoothe Chickenpox Relief Cooling Gel, which is clinically proven to relieve the irritating symptoms of chickenpox
• Ask your pharmacist for advice about giving children’s paracetamol if your child has a fever
  
• Keep your child as cool as possible; cool sponging or bathing may help
  
• Dress your child in light, loose clothing and keep bedding to a minimum
  
• Keep your child’s fingernails clean and short to help prevent deep scratching
  
• Make sure they drink plenty of water

 

 

How does Care Virasoothe work?

Care Virasoothe Chickenpox Relief Cooling Gel helps break the ITCH, SCRATCH, INFECTION cycle.

The red spots and blisters of chickenpox are often extremely itchy and scratching these spots can spread infection and lead to scarring.

Care Virasoothe is specifically formulated and clinically proven to relieve the irritating symptoms of chickenpox.

It is suitable for children over six months of age and can be applied to both body and face.

Care Virasoothe uses Osmo4, a patented technology to:

• Cool and soothe the affected areas, helping relieve itching
• Reduce the urge to scratch
• Support the skin's natural healing process
• Help reduce the risk of scarring
  

Care Virasoothe Chickenpox Relief Cooling Gel is available from your local pharmacy and major retailers nationwide.

For more information visit: www.itchi.co.uk

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