Dot, dot, dot... 🔴
There they are! Chicken-pox. Something that does not make both child and parent happy. We are currently in the middle of chicken pox season as these are most common in March, April and May.
What is Chickenpox?
Do you see red spots or blisters on your baby or child's skin? Then it's probably chickenpox. With chickenpox you get itchy spots, blisters and scabs all over the body.
Chickenpox is annoying, but fortunately usually harmless. Chickenpox or chickenpox is an infectious childhood disease caused by the varicella zoster virus. This virus spreads to others through airborne droplets, for example through coughing, sneezing or talking. Touching the blisters on the skin can also cause infection.
Almost everyone gets chickenpox at some point as a child.
It is a typical childhood disease. Children usually heal after a few days without any after-effects. 95 percent of all children get chickenpox before the age of 6. The virus is circulating in schools and childcare centers in particular in the winter and early spring. It is one of the classic childhood diseases. Other names are chicken pox and wine pox. Adults can also get chickenpox if they have not had the infection as a child.
After healing you are protected against chickenpox for life
Characteristics in chickenpox
- Red spots can be seen on the skin, which turn into blisters. These blisters are very itchy and are easily scratched open.
- Usually the child has a fever.
- Loss of appetite
- Cold
- Flu/hanging feeling
Tips, care & approach
- Keep your child's nails short . And try to keep your child from scratching. It is important to avoid scratching, as this can cause scarring or infection
- Maintain good general hygiene
- Pregnant women who are not immune to chickenpox should contact their treating physician if they come into contact with a person with chickenpox
- Let the child drink enough to compensate for the fluid loss through heavy sweating.
- In many cases , medication is not necessary . Fever that is well tolerated does not necessarily require treatment. For chickenpox, choose paracetamol as an antipyretic. Other drugs (for example ibuprofen or high-dose aspirin) can increase the risk of serious skin complications.
Does your little one suffer from chickenpox?
There is no cure for chickenpox. In addition, there are no means that can make the chickenpox pass faster. You can, however, put something on the spots to mitigate / soften the complaints and itching. Most children with chickenpox are better within 10 days.
Our scar cream and Derma Systems range help relieve redness, scars and itching! And they are also completely kidproof 👶🏼🫶🏼
Call your doctor immediately in one or more of these situations:
- Your child is younger than 3 months. It can then become seriously ill.
- Large red or purple spots appear around the blisters or scabs.
- You notice that your child is getting sicker, for example from these things:
- drink little or no water
- keep throwing up
- become drowsy
- become short of breath or breathe very quickly
- keep crying
- to groan
- less color in the face
- fever again after a few days without fever
More information about the care for chickenpox?
Feel free to contact our skin experts. They provide you with tips and advice.
Send an email to gaelle@zeitschild.be or contact us via our contact form.
We take care of your skin!
Love, Gaelle
