Who can help?
This is a list of ailments and conditions that may affect you or your family at certain stages of life. Here you will find information such as the symptoms, and the best way to relieve the situation until a medical professional has been called.
Cause
Spread
in airborne droplets from speaking, coughing, sneezing
Incubation period*
Infectious
1 day before appearance of rash and for 6 days after it appears
rarely affects babies under one year old
Symptoms
child has a slight fever and appears unwell
clusters of itchy red spots start on body and spread to face over 3–5 days. These develop into blisters, which dry and form crusts
Complications
usually a mild illness for children
very rarely may lead to encephalitis (inflammation of brain)
scratching may infect blisters and leave scars
serious for pregnant woman and her unborn baby if not treated promptly
dangerous for someone having steroid treatment in tablet or injection form – do not stop the treatment, but see your doctor as soon as you can
Treatment
contact your doctor
to soothe itching, give lukewarm baths containing bicarbonate of soda
apply calamine lotion
discourage your child from scratching, which may infect blisters and leave scars
give plenty of drinks
keep child cool
give liquid paracetamol for fever or headache ! Do not give aspirin to anyone under 16.
Prevention
in an epidemic, try to avoid contact with school children.
mothers at high risk of developing chicken pox may receive drug treatment and a protective injection
*time between infection and appearance of symptoms
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