Chickenpox in kids – help is at hand

Chickenpox in kids – help is at hand

Chickenpox is a virus largely seen in children, although adults can get it too. It is a fairly mild virus, and most people recover from it after a couple of weeks, if not sooner. But there’s no doubt it can be unpleasant, says Dr Kenny Livingstone of ZoomDoc.

‘Chickenpox can make kids feel pretty unwell and uncomfortable – on rare occasions it can lead to complications.’

For parents, it can also be hugely disruptive as kids need time off nursery or school until spots crust over and they’re no longer contagious to others. Not to mention if chickenpox appears before or during a family holiday and you can’t travel, or worse – get stuck abroad.

From key symptoms to look out for, to knowing what to do when kids do get it, here’s what you need to know about chickenpox in children …

Chickenpox Signs and Symptoms

Chickenpox has very distinct symptoms that parents should look for. These tend to come in stages:

 

1. Small spots appear on the skin. 

 

Considerations with small spots:

 

• These spots can appear anywhere, although most commonly appear in clusters:

 

• On the face
• Behind the ears
• On the scalp
• On arms and legs
• On the chest and belly

 

• Please be aware that chickenpox can also appear in the following areas, and may cause particular discomfort:
  • Around the genitals
  • On the soles of the feet
  • Inside the ears and mouth
  • On the palms of hands

 

• Depending on your skin tone, spots may look red, pink, darker, or the same colour as the surrounding skin. When looking out for chickenpox, this information may help you find any spots easier.
• Spots may stay in a small area, or spread out. Please review your child’s spots frequently to keep an eye on if any have spread to other parts of the body that may cause discomfort.
• Spots may be harder to spot on black and brown skin

 

1. Blistering

 

Stage 2 is a particularly uncomfortable stage for many children, with spots filling with liquid and becoming blisters. These blisters can become very itchy and may burst. 

 

If possible, find ways to distract your child from their discomfort.

1. Scabbing

 

During this stage, the blisters begin to scab. At this point, the chickenpox is starting to be cleared from your child’s system, and once all blisters and spots have fully scabbed over, they may return to school.

 

Please be aware that some scabs may leak fluid, while others may be flaky.

 

What other chickenpox symptoms are there?

Parents and guardians should be aware that other symptoms may appear before or after the chickenpox rash. These include:

 

• A loss of appetite
• A high temperature
• General feeling of unwellness
• Aches and pains on the body
• Headaches
• Feeling sick

 

Other chickenpox considerations:

• It is possible to get chickenpox more than once.
• Adults and children can both get chickenpox, and spots look identical. Please be aware that if an adult with chickenpox has a high temperature, it will usually last longer than a child’s would.
• Chickenpox does not always present in a large number of spots. Nonetheless, it can cause extreme discomfort and will likely upset your child, so practising patience with chickenpox is key.

 

What exactly is chickenpox?

The NHS describes it as a ‘common’ virus that ‘mostly affects children, but you can get it at any age.’ It’s best known for its rash that starts as red spots that develop into itchy blisters before crusting over to form scabs.

It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), and is incredibly contagious, spreading through close contact with someone else who has it. Chickenpox generally lasts for anywhere between 4 and 7 weeks, and kids may miss up to 5 to 6 days of school due to it.

 

How to treat chickenpox in kids

There’s no need to treat chickenpox unless your child feels unwell or needs relief from the itchiness. 

‘Keeping them hydrated and using age-appropriate paracetamol can help with discomfort. Never use ibuprofen for chickenpox as it can make symptoms worse or cause infections,’ says Dr Kenny Livingstone.

Over-the-counter soothing products can be helpful for taking away the itch, although many experts no longer recommend calamine lotion, which can dry out the skin and make things worse.

After a week or two, chickenpox scabs will naturally fall away.

 

Tips for helping with chickenpox

Chickenpox can be difficult to deal with, especially where it causes particular discomfort. Follow these tips to help you both get through this uncomfortable virus:

 

• Do have your child wear loose clothing, to prevent rubbing and irritation of the spots, blisters, or scabs.
• Do bathe your child in cold water to reduce their temperature and soothe itching. When drying, dab dry the skin, do not rub dry.
• Do speak to a pharmacist about cooling creams or gels that may be effective.
• Do speak to a pharmacist about using antihistamines to help with itching.
• Do cut your child’s fingers to minimise damage to healing spots, which can help to prevent scarring.
• Do cover your child’s hands with socks during the night to reduce damage to spots in their sleep.
• Do give your child the recommended dosage of paracetamol to reduce discomfort.
• Do ensure your child is well hydrated. If your child is not drinking, give them ice lollies to ensure they get liquids.

 

• Do Not allow your child to scratch their spots if possible. Spots that are scratched may scar.
• Do Not allow your child or the infected person to go near newborn babies, or any person with a weakened immune system. Chickenpox can be very dangerous to these individuals.
• Do Not allow your child to go near a pregnant person. If that person has not caught chickenpox before, their baby may be very seriously ill when born.
• Do Not give your child aspirin for chickenpox if they are under 16.
• Do Not give your child ibuprofen unless advised by a doctor. Ibuprofen may cause serious skin infections in children that may cause much-longer term discomfort than the initial chickenpox.

 

 

How long does chickenpox take to get better?

Most kids are better within a week or two. It is good to remember, though, that even if they feel fine, children with chickenpox are still contagious while fresh spots are appearing.

NHS advice says to keep kids off school or nursery ‘until all the spots have formed a scab, which is usually 5 days after the spots appeared.’

Remember that chickenpox is highly infectious and is likely to infect others in your household – particularly siblings who’ve not yet had it. Spots can break out up to three weeks after being in contact with someone with chickenpox.

 

How easy is it to catch chickenpox?

Chickenpox is an incredibly contagious virus, and often kids can catch it simply by being in the same room together. If a child touches an object with liquid from chickenpox blisters, they may also catch chickenpox even if the affected person is not nearby.

 

How soon after catching chickenpox will I see symptoms?

 

Most children see chickenpox spots appear around 1–3 weeks after catching it. Parents should also be aware of symptoms that may come before chickenpox, such as a temperature, aches and pains, general feelings of unwellness, and a loss of appetite.

 

When can chickenpox spread?

Chickenpox is highly contagious from up to 2 days before spots appear, all the way until they have fully scabbed over. In general, it takes around 5 days for spots to fully scab over, although you should always be sure before allowing your child to be around others.

 

Is there a vaccine to stop kids getting chickenpox?

Other countries such as the US do vaccinate children in order to prevent them from getting chickenpox in the first place. In the UK, this vaccine is available both on the NHS (under certain stipulations), or privately, which costs around £75 for each of the two doses required.

To get the vaccine on the NHS, you must show that if your child spreads and catches the virus, there’s a risk of harming someone with a weakened immune system (such as a family member going through chemotherapy, or is pregnant).

 

When to speak to a GP or receive advice from 111 about chickenpox

If you or your child displays any of the following symptoms, get in touch with your GP or 111 as soon as possible:

• If your child is dehydrated alongside their chickenpox.
• If you’ve not had chickenpox before, and are pregnant and have been exposed to chickenpox.
• If your immune system is weakened, for instance through chemotherapy, and you have been exposed to someone with chickenpox.
• If you think your newborn baby has chickenpox, or has been exposed to someone with chickenpox.
• If chickenpox symptoms are getting worse.
• If the skin around the chickenpox blisters gets hot, red, and painful. Please be aware that for black and brown skin, it may be harder to see the redness.

If you have concerns and wish to speak to a GP quickly, please download the ZoomDoc app and arrange a rapid consultation. You should also consider calling 111 if you are in the UK.

 

Flying with chickenpox – what are the rules for chickenpox and holidays?

If your child comes down with chickenpox just before you’re about to jet off on holiday, what should you do? 

Although different airlines have slightly different rules about it, the consensus is you won’t be able to fly until the spots have crusted over, and you’ll also need an official ‘fit to fly’ letter from a doctor. The same rules apply if chickenpox breaks out during your holiday, meaning you could end up stuck abroad. 

In the event that you end up getting stuck, first and foremost check with your airline and travel insurance, as you’ll need to move or cancel your flight. Then, once your child’s spots have crusted over, it couldn’t be easier to organise a Chickenpox recovery fit to fly certificate, via ZoomDoc’s speedy online service.

 

How to arrange your Chickenpox Fit to Fly Certificate

1. Order your Certificate. You can access it from home or abroad, and it takes minutes to do. When you order, please make sure you also have this information available:

• A photo/image of your passport.
• When the chickenpox started and confirmation that you are now well.
• Your airline and flight details.

1. Once you’ve ordered the letter, you’ll need to upload a 30-second video of your child’s face, neck and arms, showing the spots that have fully scabbed over. These will be verified by a team of ZoomDoc doctors. Use the video below as a guide.

 

If they’re confident the child is no longer contagious with chickenpox they’ll issue a formal letter saying so. 

The letter costs just £40 and saves you making further calls or waiting for an appointment to see a doctor, either near you or in another country. 

Please make sure you also have this information available:

• A photo/image of your passport.
• When the chickenpox started and confirmation that you are now well.
• Your airline and flight details.

 

 

What if the chickenpox aren’t fully scabbed over yet?

If you use the ‘chickenpox recovery letter’ service on ZoomDoc but doctors discover the spots aren’t scabbed over properly yet, don’t worry. 

They’ll issue a letter confirming it’s chickenpox but that the patient is not ‘fit to fly’ yet. Although that may not be what you hoped for, it’ll be helpful for your travel insurance or for help with rebooking your flight.

Find more ‘fit to fly’ letters, certificates and other options, here.

 

Chickenpox Frequently Asked Questions

 

Why does the UK not vaccinate against chickenpox?

 

While the chickenpox vaccine is effective, it is not currently cost-effective to implement. There is also a theory that if all children were vaccinated against chickenpox, adults would not gain that immunity boost through exposure, potentially resulting in more adults getting shingles.

 

This information is constantly under review, and there may come a time with the chickenpox vaccine is fully rolled out.

 

Should grandparents stay away from chickenpox in the UK?

 

Grandparents should stay away from grandkids with chickenpox if they have not received the shingle vaccine, or are unsure of their immunity to chickenpox.

 

Can you be immune to chicken pox if you never had it?

No. If you have never been vaccinated against chickenpox, or never caught it before, you cannot be immune to it.

 

Is it good to never have chickenpox?

Adults who have never caught chickenpox are more likely to suffer complications if they catch it as an adult. This is why adults who have never had chickenpox are advised to get vaccinated against it. It is also why parents often allow their children to catch chickenpox, as it is a lot milder an illness in children.