Statement Describing the Challenge
Chicken Pox has been around for a long time while the vaccine is still pretty recent. The common vaccine to the Chicken Pox was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration back in 1995. Now children born after 2005 have received a combination vaccine (the MMRV) which protects not just from Chicken Pox but measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella. Although these vaccines are not perfect, 9 out of 10 kids that get both doses will not get this itchy viral infection. If a child is healthy but does get this virus it is most often that after they get better they will never again get it or need the vaccine as it causes a lifelong vaccine just in having the body take care of it. Chicken Pox are caused by the varicella-zoster virus or VZV for short. The virus is extremely contagious and can spread by others being exposed to the one with the disease. It is important to know that a person is most contagious right before the red and white blisters appear. Although mostly common in children this disease can bring more troubles to adults and pregnant women. For children though it is not as serious and will usually come and go within a short period of time. The best thing that you can do is to wash the body in cool or luke warm temperature water, oatmeal can be added, and keep the person from itching. The red pimple looking dots will appear just after a person is most contagious. These dots will then have a clear fluid fill into the blister which will turn a milky white and then pop leaving a brownish dry scab. Things to look for are temperatures between 100 and 102 degrees Fahrenheit, headaches, abdominal pain, or a sore throat as these are common symptoms that will come about two days before the scabs. Once the scabs have turned a brownish and scabbed over the child should no longer be contagious but as a precaution the child should take extra care to wash thoroughly each and every day.
Non-Drug Treatments
An Oatmeal bath in cool water is always a good way to help prevent itching as well as using calamine lotion. One concoction that can help is 1 oz rosemary, 1 oz calendula, 1 quart water and a clean washcloth to pat the mixture over the body. This will help preven further itching and help soothe the skin.
Alternative Medicine Treatments
The main thing that you want to do is stop the person from itching the sores so mittens or socks on your hands can help immensely. Oatmeal baths and other lotions can also help a great deal.
Drug Therapy
Acetaminophen is a good medicine to use to help with painful blisters inside the mouth. The main preventative leader for chicken pox is the MMRV which is a vaccine that if both doses are given will have a 90% preventative rate for the chicken pox.