- Chicken pox is caused by a virus (varicella); therefore, your doctor might prescribe an antiviral medicine, which is an effective treatment only if you start taking it within 24 hours of when the first sores appear. According to Adult Health Advisor, recent studies show that while antivirals might decrease the amount of sores you have and shorten the amount of time you're sick, they don't improve other problems associated with chicken pox, such as fatigue, fever, aching and other pain.
- Calamine lotion is a tried-and-true remedy for relief from chicken pox itching. Adult Health Advisor also recommends leaving an ice pack or cold, wet cloth on the sores to reduce itching. A bath with added baking soda, oatmeal or corn starch also might help. For itching that can't be controlled with these remedies, try taking an over-the-counter antihistamine, such as Benadryl.
- Particularly if the itching is severe, keep your fingernails short and frequently wash your hands to decrease the chances that the sores will get infected if you scratch them.
- Chicken pox during pregnancy can be fatal to babies--while in the womb or at birth. If you think you've been exposed to chicken pox while pregnant, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible. You can be tested for immunity, and if you aren't immune, you may be given a shot of varicella-zoster immune globulin (VZIG). This, when administered no more than 72 hours after exposure to the virus, makes chicken pox less severe or prevents it altogether, according to Adult Health Advisor. The VZIG shot will not harm the mother or her child.
- Adult chicken pox usually lasts between three and seven days. Adults with chicken pox are more likely than children to have resulting complications, including pneumonia and problems with the kidneys, heart or joints. Rarely, adult chicken pox can lead to problems with the nervous system, which in turn can cause the brain to swell or be irritated.
