Should i burst chicken pox blisters

Where can you learn more? Top of the page. Overview Chickenpox is a common disease caused by the varicella virus. How can you care for yourself at home? Get plenty of rest. Take warm or cool baths with oatmeal bath products, such as Aveeno. This will reduce itching.

You can also add a handful of oatmeal ground to a powder to your bath. After your bath, pat, rather than rub, your skin dry. Take an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen Tylenol , ibuprofen Advil or Motrin , or naproxen Aleve to reduce fever and discomfort. Read and follow all instructions on the label. No one younger than 20 should take aspirin. It has been linked to Reye syndrome, a serious illness. Take your medicines exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor or nurse call line if you think you are having a problem with your medicine.

Try not to scratch the chickenpox rash. Wet a soft cloth with cool water alone or cool water mixed with baking soda. Put the cool compress directly on the skin to cool your skin and relieve itching.

Use soothing lotions that can help dry chickenpox blisters, such as those that contain: Phenol, menthol, and camphor, such as calamine lotion. If you are thinking of becoming pregnant or are early in your pregnancy, your healthcare professional can check your chickenpox immunity with a blood test. If you are not immune and not pregnant, you may decide to be immunised before you become pregnant. You will need two doses of chickenpox vaccine, and must wait at least 28 days after the second chickenpox vaccine dose before becoming pregnant.

If you are not immune and are pregnant, avoid contact with people who have chickenpox and contact your doctor, midwife or hospital as soon as possible if you are exposed to anyone with chickenpox. You will be advised to have an injection of varicella-zoster immunoglobulin VZIG. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. Children may feel stomach pain for a range of reasons and may need treatment.

Adoption can give a secure family life to children who can? Allergy occurs when the body overreacts to a 'trigger' that is harmless to most people. Children should always be closely supervised near animals and taught how to behave safely around pets.

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Home Infections. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Symptoms of chickenpox Complications of chickenpox How chickenpox is spread Diagnosis of chickenpox Treatment for chickenpox Chickenpox and shingles Immunisation against chickenpox Where to get help.

Symptoms of chickenpox The symptoms of chickenpox include: low-grade fever general discomfort, illness or lack of wellbeing malaise intensely itchy skin rash — appears as small blisters surrounded by irregularly-shaped patches of inflamed skin. The blisters first form on the body and later on the head and limbs.

They usually burst and develop crusts after about five days ulcers may develop in certain areas, including the mouth and vagina.

Complications of chickenpox The possible complications of chickenpox include: scarring — chickenpox can leave pockmark scars on the skin cellulitis — a type of bacterial infection of the skin pneumonia — infection and inflammation of the lung can occur in adults and can be fatal encephalitis — inflammation of the brain, usually mild, but sometimes severe bleeding disorders — these are rare, but can be fatal death — in rare cases.

Complications of chickenpox during pregnancy Nine out of ten pregnant women have immunity against chickenpox. The complications for the unborn and newborn baby include: scarring of the skin, eye defects, small limbs and neurological abnormalities if the mother is infected in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy shingles in the first few years of life if the mother is infected between weeks 20 and 36 of pregnancy chickenpox in the newborn if the mother is infected up to four weeks before the birth more severe effects for the newborn if the mother is infected within seven days of the birth.

How chickenpox is spread Chickenpox is spread by: breathing in airborne droplets from the upper respiratory tract of an infected person these droplets are made airborne when the infected person coughs or sneezes touching the fluid from the blisters on the skin of a person with chickenpox this is a less common way to contract chickenpox.

High-risk groups for chickenpox People at increased risk of catching or having complications from chickenpox include: newborn babies — there is an increased risk of severe illness in the first 28 days of life pregnant women who have not had chickenpox or been immunised for chickenpox people who have a weakened immune system — such as people with leukaemia or Hodgkin lymphoma, or those taking immunosuppressive medications, are at risk of longer and more serious illness.

Diagnosis of chickenpox Chickenpox is usually diagnosed by physical examination. Treatment for chickenpox In cases of severe illness, treatment with an antiviral medication may be needed. Treatment aims to relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of complications. Options may include: bed rest drinking extra fluids to avoid dehydration paracetamol to bring down the fever — aspirin should be avoided because of a possible increased risk of complications lukewarm baths with baking soda or oatmeal added to the water — a cup of oatmeal can be put into an old, clean pair of panty hose, then tied and left in the bath while the water runs creams or lotions, such as calamine lotion, to reduce the itching — if you have a skin problem such as eczema, you may need to ask a health professional about other creams you can use avoidance of salty or citrus foods wearing mittens to prevent scratching — these can be worn by babies and young children.

Chickenpox and shingles As well as causing chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus can cause shingles in some people who have had chickenpox. Chickenpox in otherwise healthy children does not normally require medical treatment - the infection is usually allowed to run its course. High-risk individuals, including people with weakened immune systems and pregnant women who are not already immune to the varicella virus, may be given antiviral drugs such as acyclovir or varicella-zoster immunoglobulin ZIG , which is a human blood product, to reduce the severity of chickenpox and risk of complications.

However, to be beneficial, antiviral drugs and ZIG must be given very soon after exposure to the varicella virus. People with chickenpox should remain at home until they are no longer infectious. Supportive treatment includes:. Medical Library Topics. Home Medical library Chickenpox Southern Cross Medical Library The purpose of the Southern Cross Medical Library is to provide information of a general nature to help you better understand certain medical conditions.

Symptoms include fatigue, mild fever and loss of appetite, followed by a red rash and itchy blisters. Treatment will focus on reducing fever and itching. Chickenpox vaccination is fully funded for New Zealand children and is reducing the proportion of New Zealanders who contract the disease. Chickenpox varicella is usually a mild, self-limiting disease in healthy children. However, it can be severe if contracted by babies, or children and adults with immune systems that aren't functioning properly.

Chickenpox is caused by infection with the varicella zoster virus, a member of the herpes family of viruses. The virus is spread in droplets of saliva through the air or by direct contact with the fluid from the blisters of the infected person.

Coughing and sneezing is the usual way the disease is transmitted. The disease most commonly affects the five to nine-year-old age group but with increased use of early childhood centres, a greater proportion of infections may now be occurring in pre-school-aged children. One bout of chickenpox gives lifelong immunity from contracting the disease again.

However, the virus remains in the body for life and can be reactivated years later as shingles herpes zoster. Shingles can occur at any age but is most common in adults over 60 years of age.

Initial symptoms of chickenpox include fatigue, a mild fever, lack of appetite, and a feeling of being generally unwell.