help for chicken pox

You can prevent the disease by getting the chickenpox vaccine, which is recommended for most children between 12 and 18 months old. The vaccine also may be given to an older child or adult who has not had chickenpox. Many states now require that children entering day care and school have proof that they are either immune to chickenpox or have had the vaccine. A blood test can determine whether you have immunity against the varicella virus. It is safe to get the chickenpox vaccine even if you are already immune to it, but it is not necessary.

Parents should not intentionally expose children to chickenpox. Some parents hold "chickenpox parties" to expose their children to children who have the illness, believing it is safer for them to have the infection when they are younger than when they are older. This is not a good idea because even young children can have serious (though rare) complications from the infection, including pneumonia or meningitis. Also, it is not possible to know which children will develop complications.

Occasionally chickenpox develops even in people who receive the vaccine. This is called a breakthrough infection. However, if this happens, you will likely develop a mild form of the disease, with few blisters and symptoms.

Although the chickenpox vaccine is a live form of the virus, most children do not have a reaction after receiving it. About 20% have redness or soreness at the injection site, and 3% to 5% develop a chickenpoxlike rash. If a rash develops, usually it is very mild, with between 2 and 5 sores appearing 5 to 26 days after you receive the vaccine.2 However, if your child has a serious or chronic illness, discuss the appropriateness of the chickenpox vaccine with your health professional; these children may have a more severe reaction to the vaccine.

You also may prevent the infection by getting a shot of chickenpox antibodies or the vaccine soon after exposure to the virus.

for itching use calamine lotion, and oatmeal baths