Chickenpox

Chickenpox is a common infection that spreads easily, especially among children. Most people get better on their own within 1 to 2 weeks without needing to see their GP, but it can be serious for some people.

What Does Chickenpox Look Like?

The main sign of chickenpox is an itchy, spotty rash that can appear anywhere on your body - even inside your mouth and around private areas.

Before or with the rash, you might also have:

• A high temperature
• Aches and pains
• Feeling generally unwell
• Loss of appetite

The chickenpox rash goes through 3 stages:

Stage 1 - Small spots appear

• Red, pink or darker spots (or the same colour as your skin)
• Can be anywhere on your body
• May be harder to see on brown or black skin
• Can spread or stay in small areas

Stage 2 - Spots become blisters

• The spots fill with fluid and become very itchy blisters
• These blisters may burst

Stage 3 - Blisters become scabs

• The spots form scabs
• Some scabs are flaky, others may leak fluid

New spots can appear while others are becoming blisters or forming scabs.

How to Care for Chickenpox at Home

If you or your child has chickenpox, you'll need to stay off school, nursery or work until all spots have formed scabs - usually 5 days after spots first appeared.

What you can do:

• Drink plenty of fluids (ice lollies work well if children won't drink)
• Take paracetamol to help with pain and discomfort
• Cut your child's fingernails and put socks on their hands at night to stop scratching
• Use cooling creams or gels from a pharmacy
• Ask a pharmacist about antihistamine medicine for itching
• Bathe in cool water and pat skin dry (don't rub)
• Dress in loose clothes

What NOT to do:

• Don't use ibuprofen unless a doctor tells you to - it may cause serious skin infections
• Don't give aspirin to children under 16 years
• Don't scratch the spots - this can cause scarring

When to Get Help

Speak to your GP if:

• You're not sure it's chickenpox
• You're worried about yourself or your child

Tell the receptionist you think it might be chickenpox before going to the surgery.

Get urgent help from NHS 111 if:

• Chickenpox symptoms suddenly get much worse
• Your child shows signs of not having enough fluids (like fewer wet nappies)
• Skin around blisters becomes hot, painful and red
• You're pregnant and haven't had chickenpox before and have been near someone with it
• You're breastfeeding and have chickenpox symptoms
• You have a weak immune system and have been near someone with chickenpox
• You think your newborn baby has chickenpox

Stopping the Spread

You can spread chickenpox from 2 days before spots appear until all spots have formed scabs.

Stay away from newborn babies, pregnant women, or anyone with a weak immune system - chickenpox can be dangerous for them.

Prevention

Children are now offered the MMRV vaccine at 12 months and 18 months old, which protects against chickenpox along with measles, mumps and rubella.

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Based on NHS.uk guidance. Written by Dr Krishnan Pasupathi, NHS GP.