Mother and Child - Good Health Lesson 25 Chickenpox

MOTHER AND CHILD
GOOD HEALTH LESSON 25
CHICKENPOX

Many years ago a gentleman who worked in Charity came to see me in some agitation. The group of about twenty street children he used to bring coffee in flasks and sandwiches too were in need of assistance. When I was brought to where the street children were lying in various stages of fever and pain, it took only one look for me to realise that most of them were suffering from chickenpox. It is essential for the Charity Worker/ Minister to have a health care qualification. It means that in situations such as these you have the necessary tools to access the proper care and attention the children need. It also means you won't get the awful fright the poor gentleman got; he thought it was bubonic plague . . .

What is Chickenpox?
Chickenpox is an infectious disease often found in children. Chickenpox can start with a fever, headache, sore throat or stomachache. Chickenpox causes a rash of red, itchy spots that turn into fluid-filled blisters. The spots can spread over the whole body. These then crust over to form scabs, which eventually drop off. If the blisters are scratched, they may leave a pit or scar after the scab drops off. So encourage the child with chickenpox not to scratch at the spots. Chickenpox - also known as varicella - is caused by the virus called the varicella-zoster virus. This illness spreads quickly, and is spread easily through coughs and sneezes of someone who is infected. Read more about how Chickenpox is spread at [1]

What to do
Keep the children away from nursery or school until the chickenpox has healed. This prevents further spread of the illness. If your child has chickenpox, keep him or her away from at risk people such as newborn babies, infants, small children, pregnant women or anyone with a weakened immune system (such as people on steroid medication or undergoing cancer treatment). To stop the child from scratching, keep the child's fingernails short. Gently bathe your child. Soothing ointment to the spots helps. Calamine lotion is excellent on spots  - CALAMINE LOTION IS ONLY PUT ON SPOTS ON SKIN.  CALAMINE LOTION IS FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY.

When to go to visit the Doctor
Always ask the advice of your Doctor when your child gets Chickenpox.

[1] Chickenpox
https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/chickenpox/fact_sheet.htm
HSE
http://www.hse.ie/portal/eng/health/az/C/Chickenpox/
Nationwide Children's Hospital
https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/gd/applications/heh/pdf/HH-I-101.pdf
Chickenpox
http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/skin/chicken_pox.html

With thanks to Health.ny.gov, HSE, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Kidshealth.org

*Disclaimer; Please note that the information on this Health Post is not meant to replace your Doctor or Health Professional Care