| HEALTH ADVICE |
Dr Priya Walabh is a Paediatrician / Paediatric Gastroenterologist: MBChB (UCT) DCH (SA) FCPAED (SA) CERTGIT (SA)
Chickenpox in children
What to do if your
child gets chickenpox?
By Paediatrician Dr Priya Walabh
W
hile chickenpox is a highly infectious disease, it’s usually mild. Most children will catch it before they’re 10 years old, but the virus that causes it, Varicella zoster (VZV), remains dormant in the body and can cause shingles in later life. The virus is spread by droplets from coughing or sneezing, or from direct contact with the rash.
Symptoms The red, itchy rash that usually starts on the tummy or back and face is the classic tell-tale sign of chickenpox. This rash goes on to spread to most of the body, including the scalp and extremities. At first it looks like insect bites, but highly contagious blisters filled with fluid soon develop on the redness. After about 12 hours, the blisters break down and crust over within one to four days. It takes the crust a week or two to fall off, and new blisters keep appearing for several days. Before the rash appears, the child suffers mild, flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore muscles, headache, sore throat and loss of appetite. | 18 | MELOMAG