How to Minimize Chickenpox Misery

Your six year old comes home from first grade in the middle of March with complaints of not feeling well...at 7:30 he falls fast asleep on the couch from obvious exhaustion and when you tuck him into bed he feels slightly warm to the touch; you also notice that he has a small red bump on his right ribcage...maybe a bug bite?? You close the door and absently think that you might keep him home from school tomorrow if his symptoms haven't improved much. The next morning he crawls into your bed with complaints of 'itching all over'...you raise his T-Shirt to rub his back and are surprised to see more than fifty little red water-filled bumps all over his back, tummy, and chest. Say good-morning to the chickenpox! Knowing you are in for a week's worth of agony (for both YOURSELF as well as for your little one) you call the school to excuse your child for the week and put on a pot of coffee; trying to remember what exactly to DO for the chickenpox. Isn't this just a childhood thing that has to 'run its course', like a cold? In a way, Yes. But there are a few things that you as a parent can do for your child to help minimize the misery of the chickenpox virus. Read on to find out how!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• children's acetaminophen
• baking soda or colloidal oatmeal
• neosporin or polysporin
• benadryl
• calamine lotion with phenol
• a dark, cool room

1. 
    
   Keep the house or room cool and quiet.

   To keep your child comfortable with the chickenpox, first and foremost, dress them in loose fitting clothes that are soft and made of natural fibers, like cotton. Or let them lie nude if they are small and not 'shy'. The more the skin and pox can 'breathe' the better. Try to avoid heavily dyed clothing as sometimes the dye can irritate the pox more. If your child is feverish, try to convince them to only use a cotton sheet to cover themselves with as you don't want to insulate the body heat and trap excessive heat under the covers. Keep your air conditioner set a degree or two cooler than you usually would to ensure that your child does not get too over-heated or sweat excessively.

2. 
    
   Ask your pediatrician about Children's Tylenol for discomfort.

   If the fever and itching is making your child totally miserable; you can check with your pediatrician to make sure it is ok to give him or her the recommended dosage of children's acetaminophen (Children's Tylenol). **It is recommended to NEVER give a small child aspirin with the chickenpox or a fever as it has been linked to the development of Reye's Syndrome, a potentially life threatening complication. If you child is younger than 2, always seek medical advice before giving any over the counter medication.

3. 
    
   A bath can help alleviate itching and cool the skin.

   Let your little one sit in a tub of cool water for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. If you have some on hand; you can stir in about a half of a cup of baking soda or colloidal oatmeal into the bath to help soothe the itch further. Aveeno has colloidal oatmeal available on the retail market with directions for use on the box; you can get baking soda in the baking aisle of your local supermarket or grocery store.

4. 
    
   Mittens, gloves and short clipped fingernails will help prevent scarring from chickenpox.

   Clip nails short! EVERY DAY check for nail growth or rough edges. File freshly cut nails so there are no rough edges or sharp corners that could scratch sores open easily. If your child scratches in his or her sleep; you can get some soft gloves or mittens to help protect sensitive skin from unconscious scratching.

5. 
    
   Keep chickenpox sores as clean as possible to prevent infection.

   Keep your child clean--this includes clothing and bedding too! Every other day strip sheets and wash in hot water, dry on high heat but nix the fabric softeners and perfumed dryer sheets. You can dust your child's sheets with a tad of plain kitchen cornstarch to help prevent sores from 'sticking' to sheet material. Your little one should take a cool bath or shower each day to keep pox sores clean and prevent infection and Pajamas or clothing needs to be changed daily, even if your little one has only been in bed all day--if your child wears a diaper or pull-up to bed at night it should be taken off as soon as possible each morning.

6. 
    
   Try an antihistamine like Children's Benadryl to help with itching.

   If it is ok with your pediatrician, you can try some oral Children's benadryl or antihistamine to help control some of your child's itching discomfort. (Sprays or creams are usually not suggested as they can 'burn' the tender pox sores and make your child itch MORE)...if nothing else, Benadryl usually makes children feel 'groggy'; so he or she may not notice being so uncomfortable. Check package directions before administering oral Benadryl and check with your child's pediatrician to verify that it is ok to give an antihistamine to your little one.

7. 
    
   Avoid scented, dyed, or perfumed lotions or creams.

   You want to keep your child's chickenpox sores semi soft so that they don't scab up and create more itching--the scabbing is a part of the natural healing process of chickenpox--but the pox sores drying up also causes MORE itching. Try to avoid lotions or creams with lanolin as this can cause the sores to feel like they are 'burning' or becoming irritated to some children. Use a little dab of neosporin on dry or 'oozing' pox with a Q-Tip (as finger application can transfer germs into the open sores) as the neosporin will both moisturize the pox; but also help to control or prevent infection.

8. 
    
   Sun exposure can double the severity of your child's chickenpox outbreak.

   Stay in the dark. A child with chickenpox is more sensitive to the sun and sun exposure can actually make their 'bout' with the chickenpox virus WORSE. If you suspect your child has been exposed to chickenpox, shows symptoms of coming down with chickenpox, in the middle of a chickenpox break-out or is recovering from having chickenpox they should stay indoors, in a cool room with little sunlight. If you MUST go out for more than a few minutes at a time and your child either has been exposed, HAS contracted, or is recovering from the chickenpox; then apply a good sunscreen with an SPF of 20 or higher to lessen the probability of making their break out worse or hindering their recovery time.

9. 
    
   Calamine lotion used topically can help with itching as well.

   To further alleviate itching, you can sparingly apply calamine lotion with phenol; this type of calamine lotion works as a topical anesthetic and will also help with itching. Dab it sparingly onto severely 'itchy' pox areas with a q-tip or cotton ball; don't cover the entire skin surface with it as it can be absorbed into the skin. Read package directions carefully and ask your pediatrician before application.

10. 
     
    Read to your little one or watch a favorite movie together.

    Keep your little one's mind occupied with calm, quiet activities. Watching a movie together in his or her bed, coloring in coloring books, writing letters to far away friends or grandmas, reading stories, playing I spy from the couch, and letting them be 'Simon' for "Simon Says" are all fun ways to keep their focus on OTHER things besides the misery of their chickenpox.

11. 
     
    written by mumstheword

    If you think the hints provided in this article may help you to take some of the misery out of your child having the chickenpox (or if you have any additional tips to offer) then please don't forget to post your comments before you leave this page! Thanks so much for reading and rating my work here on ehow!

Tips & Warnings

• parents who have a child or children experiencing an outbreak of the chickenpox should educate themselves about the chickenpox (or varicella zoster virus) virus as well as the risk of chickenpox causing encephalitis and Reye's syndrome
• always check with your pediatrician or family physician before applying any topical treatments or giving any oral medications
• if your child has a fever AFTER his or her chickenpox sores have begun to scab over and 'heal' then notify your pediatrician immediately
• if your child has a fever accompanied by a headache, vomiting, disorientation, 'feeling funny' or dizzy, or has convulsions; notify your child's pediatrician immediately
• if your child experiences pain when he or she stretches his or her neck or pain in the neck when he or she turns his or her head; notify your pediatrician immediately
• if your child's chickenpox seems very severe (covers more than 25% of skin surface, has pox in the mouth, eyelids, genitals, or nose) contact your child's pediatrician immediately
• if your child's chickenpox sores seem excessively 'oozy', constantly weep pus or blood, seem 'fevered' or hot to the touch, are inflamed or red around the pox site this could be a sign of infection and they should be checked out by your child's pediatrician to see if an antibiotic may need to be prescribed
• chickenpox is transmitted through saliva or mucous via coughing or sneezing, or via direct contact from one infected individual to another