Chickenpox - How Can You Ease the Itch for Your Little Ones?

Mar 20, 2023 Baby and Toddler

 

It’s that time again, Chickenpox season! Chickenpox is a highly contagious viral infection which is common in children. It causes an itchy rash, blisters, and in some cases fever. While chickenpox is usually mild, it's important to understand the symptoms, how it spreads, and your treatment options.

 

What are the Symptoms of Chickenpox?

The most common symptoms of chickenpox include a blister-like rash and itching. The rash appears first as red bumps, usually on the face, chest, back, and stomach, that turn into fluid-filled blisters. The blisters eventually crust over into scabs. In some children, the symptoms can include fatigue, loss of appetite, and headaches. As with most things, each child is different and how mild or severe their chickenpox symptoms might be will vary.

 

Can You Get Chickenpox Twice?

While it is very rare to catch chickenpox twice it isn’t impossible, especially if the first time a child caught it, it was a fairly slight case the first time around. Very unfair, we know!

 

How Does Chickenpox Spread?

Chickenpox is very contagious and spreads through direct contact with an infected person's respiratory droplets (spit!) or blister fluid. It's easily transmitted in schools or nursery settings. The virus can live for hours in the air or on surfaces, and an infected person is contagious 1-2 days before the rash appears until all blisters have crusted over.

 

Products for Managing Chicken Pox Symptoms

Sadly there is no cure for chickenpox so it’s just a case of waiting it out and managing the symptoms as best you can. Here at Simply Meds Online we stock a number of products that can help your child feel better.

Poxclin cool mousse has been specially formulated for helping young children through chickenpox. Easy to apply, it cools instantly, helping with itching and soreness while reducing the chance of infection by utilising a natural bacterial blocker which comes from the Aloe Barbedensis plant.

Virasoothe Gel can be a really useful product to help young ones with the itching and irritation that goes hand in hand with a case of chickenpox. This cooling gel can be used all over the face and body and is very handy to have around when bothersome itching starts. Often it’s the itching that can be most upsetting and it’s important to limit scratching as it can cause scarring.

Dalivit drops are a liquid multivitamin aimed at making it easier to ensure little ones have all the vitamins they need to grow and develop. This is important for overall wellness as well as for the immune system. Dalivit isn’t a product solely for chickenpox outbreaks but can certainly help during these periods, especially if your child is feeling unwell and isn’t eating properly/healthily.

AVEENO Baby is a delicate yet effective moisturising cream that helps to soothe dry and sensitive skin. A good all-year-round product it can be particularly helpful during chickenpox, especially after scabbing has occurred. Many parents find warm baths helpful to soothe the itch and frequent bathing (more than usual) can dry skin out. AVEENO to the rescue once again.

While some little ones manage just fine with chickenpox, apart from the itching, others can suffer from a mild fever and headaches. Little ones can still take paracetamol to help, provided they take an age appropriate dose (Ibuprofen should not be taken when treating Chickenpox). 

Liquid paracetamol can be found in our Baby and Toddler pharmacy shop section, with generic label paracetamol and branded options available, such as Calpol.

Chickenpox is mild and usually clears up on its own in 1-2 weeks. Those couple of weeks can feel very long for your children if they are itchy, sore and feeling unwell which is why products like these can be very welcome.

 

Do You Need to See a Doctor With Chickenpox?

You don’t usually need to see your GP with chickenpox. It’s a fairly recognisable rash and the chances are plenty of your child’s peers will have already come down with it so you might be expecting it. You would usually only see your doctor if you aren’t sure that the rash is chickenpox and/or if your child is more unwell than you would expect. Please make sure that you tell the staff at the doctor’s surgery if you suspect chickenpox as they may ask you to wait in an isolated room so as not to risk passing something infectious on to other patients.

Out of hours or if you can’t speak to your GP calling 111 can be a useful way to get advice and support for chickenpox when your child has a severe case or is ill with it.

 

Conclusion

Chickenpox is a common childhood virus with uncomfortable symptoms but that usually resolves itself without serious complications. Understanding the signs, how it spreads, and treatment options can help parents know what to expect if their child develops this contagious infection. We stock a range of products for chickenpox symptoms, both specially formulated for the virus and good all-around products that can be used to help make the time your child has chickenpox easier.