Chickenpox is a highly infectious viral illness, most common in children, that causes an intensely itchy rash of blisters. Your child may generally feel unwell, with a headache and mild fever, just before the rash develops and for the first few days afterwards. The first symptoms appear 10-21 days after contact with the infection, and most children are completely recovered 7-10 days later.
See your doctor first
Arrange to see your doctor to confirm that your child has chickenpox.
NATURAL REMEDIES
Sodium bicarbonate (see p 188) reduces itching. Add 2 tablespoons to a bath one-third full.
Oatmeal products (see p 186) moisturized the skin; lotions can be used instead of soap.
DRUG REMEDIES
Antihistamines (see p 178) will help to relieve itching. Try a liquid sedative brand if itching makes sleep difficult for your child.
Crotamiton preparations (se p 180) are creams or lotions applied 2-3 times a day. Keep them away from eyes or broken skin. Don’t use them on children under 3 without consulting your doctor.
Calamine lotion (see p 179) is cooling and helps to dry up blister. Use it as needed.
Applying calamine Use cotton wool and count the spots with your child as you dab on the lotion.
Seek further medical advice
Arrange to see your doctor again if your child develops:
* Pus-filled spots and/or blisters near the eyes
* Earache or headache, breathing problems, drowsiness, or convulsions
What you can do yourself
Use these home treatments to make your child more comfortable and help prevent scratching, which can cause scars.
* If your child has a fever, take steps to reduce it (see FEVER IN CHILDREN, P. 135). Offer your child plenty to drink throughout the day.
* Soothe itching by giving your child likewarm baths twice a day. Try adding sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) or an oatmeal lotion to the bath water (see NATURAL REMEDIES, right).
* An antihistamine will reduce itching and help your child to sleep at night. You can also soothe the skin with a crotamiton cream or lotion, or calamine lotion (see DRUG REMEDIES, right).
* Cut your child’s nails short to reduce damage from scratching. Give him or her cotton gloves to wear at night to prevent scratching during sleep.
* To soothe spots in your child’s mouth, get him or her to rinse with half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, taking care that he or she does not swallow the solution. Encourage your child to keep brushing his or her teeth as normal.
* Your child will be more comfortable in light, loose, non-itchy clothing. Avoid wool.
* Keep your child away from school, and away from any woman who may be pregnant, for 5 days from the time when the blisters first appear.
A boil begins as a small, red, painful lump under the skin, which swells as pus builds up inside. The area is usually warm to the touch and throbs. The cause is most commonly an infection in a hair follicle or oil gland in the skin; the buttocks, thighs, armpits, face, and neck are particularly susceptible. Most boils come to a head and burst, releasing pus, after which the skin heals. Some boils, however, gradually subside without bursting. Sometimes, a cluster of connected boils forms; this is known as a carbuncle.
See your doctor first
Make an appointment to see your doctor if :
* You think you have a carbuncle
* You have diabetes
DRUG REMEDIES
Painkillers, such as paracetamol (see p 187), can relieve the pain of an inflamed or irritating boil.
PRACTICAL TECHNIQUE
Applying a warm compress
Use this treatment up to 4 times a day to help bring the boil to a head and encourage it to burst.
* Soak a clean cloth in a bowl of warm water, then wring it out and place it over the boil. Soaking the compress repeatedly to rewarm it, continue to reapply it for about 30 minutes.
* Cover the boil with a gauze dressing.
* Keep using the compress for a few days after the boil has burst, to encourage it to drain.
* Heat a cloth in warm water and hold it over the boil until it cools.
Seek further medical advice
Arrange to see your doctor if:
* The boil has not begun to disappear after a week of using self-help measures
* It becomes very painful and/or enlarges
* You are getting recurrent boils
* You develop a fever and feel generally unwell
What you can do yourself
There are several simple measures that you can take to reduce discomfort and speed up healing.
* Take a painkiller such as paracetamol if the boil is painful (see DRUG REMEDIES, right).
* Wash the area thoroughly every day. Dry it well.
* Help to bring the boil to a head by applying a warm compress several times a day (see PRACTICAL TECHNIQUE, right).
* Don’t squeeze the boil or try to burst it with a needle because this may spread the infection; leave it to burst or subside by itself.
* If the boil has burst, cover the area with a gauze dressing. Wash the area thoroughly and change the dressing regularly until the skin has healed.
* Keep your own towels and face cloths separate to avoid spreading the infection to other people.
* If bedding or clothing comes into contact with the boil, wash it in very hot, preferably boiling, water.
* Wash your hands thoroughly and dry them on a clean towel before handling food. You should also make sure the boil is covered with a plaster or other dressing. The bacteria that cause boils can also cause food poisoning.
* Avoid contact sports until the boil has gone.
