Chicken Pox Self Care:

• Usual length of illness: 7 Days
• Off Nursery or School? YES ( Stay off school / Nursery until all the spots have crusted over (5-7 days)

Chicken pox starts as a flu like illness for a few days before the rash appears. The rash begins with small itchy red spots, which become very itchy blisters after about 12 hours. After another 1-2 days the blisters go cloudy and start to dry and crust over. New spots can keep appearing for 3-5 days after the rash begins. After 1-2 weeks the crusting skin will fall off naturally.

To help symptoms:

• For itchy skin: Apply calamine lotion, cooling gels (available in pharmacies and supermarkets). You can also use a handful of bicarbonate of soda in a lukewarm bath. Keep your child’s nails short. An antihistamine medicine from the pharmacy can also lessen the itching.
• For fever: If your child is unhappy with fever then use paracetamol at the recommended dose. Avoid ibuprofen as this can sometimes cause skin reactions in children with chicken pox. Never use aspirin.

Chicken pox is highly infectious, (from 3 days before the rash begins until all spots have crusted over), so avoid contact with anyone with no known history of chicken pox themselves, new-born babies and anyone with a weak immune system, such as people who are having chemotherapy (a treatment for cancer) or taking daily steroid tablets.

There is usually no need to see a doctor. Very occasionally chicken pox can cause more serious symptoms. If you are worried that your child is quite unwell (see traffic light chart on page 11), please contact your GP or 111.

It is not advised to given ibuprofen for pain or fever if a child has chickenpox. Paracetamol is the preferred treatment option when pain / fever is causing distress.

Top Tip

For itchy skin apply calamine lotion, cooling gels. You can also us a handful of bicarbonate of soda in a lukewarm bath.