Chicken Pox

Chicken Pox Treatment

Chicken pox is a mild disease and no medicines are required most of the time. Also one thing should be kept in mind that there is no specific treatment available for the disease till date.

As the infection is caused by a virus so anti viral medicines are tried so that the disease does not become severe. Also some symptomatic treatments are given to counteract the discomforts associated with chicken pox.

The first step towards the chicken pox treatment should be adoption of some preventive measures like isolation of the patient and disinfecting the used articles as the discharges from the body can spread the infection further.

Chicken pox is a viral disease so antibiotic drugs are not required. But doctors prescribe antibiotics when there is a chance of some secondary infection like sores in skin, ear infection, and pneumonia. Children are more prone to secondary bacterial infections on skin as they often scratch the rash and pick the blisters causing sores. In these cases, children can be given an antiseptic lotion or cream containing chlorhexidine along with some oral anti histaminic medicines that will prevent itchiness associated with chicken pox. If the infection progresses further; antibiotics like flucloxacillin, can be prescribed.

Antiviral medicines like Acyclovir are available for use in chicken pox treatment. This medicine was approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration in 1992, for the treatment of chicken pox. But as the disease is a mild one in the healthy children, the doctors prefer not to use this medicine on a regular basis. Also considering the possible side effects, the doctors reserve this medicine for its use in the patients who have less immunity or who have the risk of severe complications. However, the drug can be used within 24 hrs of the eruption of rash but with prior consultation with the doctor.

Apart from these you can use some of the following chicken pox treatments to give relief from the discomforts that are related to the virus.

They are as follows:

• Give the patient cool, wet compresses over the rashes or simply allow bathing in cool or lukewarm water. This will help in relieving itchiness. Also an oatmeal bath is good for the purpose.
• After bathing, pat the area to dry. Do not rub the areas harshly as this will rupture the blisters.
• You can put calamine lotion over the rash. This will soothe the itchy areas and cool down the burning sensation due to itching. Avoid putting the lotion near the eye areas.
• Give your child fresh and nutritious foods. The food should be cold, bland and soft because your child may find it difficult to eat or drink due to chicken pox in mouth.
• With prior consultation of the doctors you can give some pain relieving creams especially on the sores of genitals.
• Acetaminophen can be given to reduce fever and pain due to blisters in the mouth. Medicines like aspirin should not be used in children as it can lead to Reye’s syndrome, a life threatening condition involving liver failure and even death. Also call on the doctors when your child has any of the complications like high fever, breathing trouble, unusual drowsiness or stiff neck.