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Chickenpox
© Janet Zand L.Ac., O.M.D.
(Excerpted from Smart Medicine for a Healthier
Child)
Chickenpox
is a highly contagious childhood disease that is caused by the
varicella-zoster virus, a member of the herpes family. Very few children
escape chickenpox infection. It spreads quickly. Coughing and sneezing-even
laughing and talking-spread the illness.
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Symptoms
of Chickenpox
The first signs that a
child is coming down with chickenpox usually include some combination of
the following:
· Moderate fever.
· Headache.
· Fatigue.
· Achiness.
· Sore throat.
A day or two after
these first symptoms appear, a child with chickenpox will develop the
tell-tale rash, usually characterized by the following:
· It starts out flat and reddish, centered on the trunk of the
body.
· A day or so after it first appears, it spreads to the
extremities, neck, and face, and turns from red splotches into masses of
tiny pimples.
· It is intensely itchy.
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A child with developing
chickenpox will be contagious for one or two days before any symptoms show. A
child who plays with an infected child during this period will almost
certainly catch the disease. An infected child is contagious from a few days
before symptoms develop until all of the blisters are dry and have formed
scabs.
The more intimate and
more frequent the exposure to chickenpox, the more severe the case will be.
This fact has very important implications, especially if you have more than
one child. Children in different stages of the disease should be separated to
minimize their exposure to each other. With minimal exposure, the second
child to become ill is likely to have a less severe case of chickenpox, with
less discomfort.
Chickenpox typically
begins with a headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, and fever, much like any
other viral illness. A day or two after these early symptoms, a rash of flat,
red, splotchy dots erupts, usually beginning on the chest, stomach, it and
back, and spreading a day or so later to the face and scalp.
The red dots of the rash
soon come together to form clusters of tiny pimples, which then progress to
small, delicate, clear blisters. Some children develop 3 lesions; some
develop 300. Once the rash erupts, expect new crops of blisters over the next
three to five days. Scabs, which are the last phase of the pox, form five to
six days after the blisters develop. These scabs last for one to two weeks
before falling off, exposing tender, freshly healed skin.
Over the course of the
disease, the rash shows signs of all the different phases of chickenpox, with
some areas that are splotchy and red, some areas of new blisters, areas where
sores are crusting over and scabbing, and areas of healing. es From eruption
through healing, each and every pock is very, very itchy. It is the extreme
itchiness of chickenpox that causes the greatest torment.
Chickenpox can be
contracted at any age. Because infected adults tend to feel much sicker and
more miserable with this disease than youngsters do, it's probably best to
have it as a child. Once you have had chickenpox, it is highly unlikely that
you will ever suffer through it again.
Conventional Treatment
 Acetaminophen
(in Tylenol, Tempra, and other medications) is helpful in relieving pain and
bringing down fever.
Note: In excessive amounts, this drug can cause liver damage.
Read package directions carefully so as not to exceed the proper dosage for
your child's age and size.
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When to
Call the Doctor about Chickenpox
· If your child
develops vaginal or rectal lesions, or bad sores in his mouth, call your
physician.
· If your child
develops a fever consistently over 102°F, an earache, a very painful sore
throat, a persistent cough, and/or increased difficulty breathing, seek
your doctor's advice. It is possible for a child with chickenpox to develop
such complications as an ear infection, strep throat, or pneumonia. If your
child seems to be developing any of these conditions, seek medical
attention.
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Do
not give your child any product that contains aspirin. A child or teenager
who has the symptoms of any viral disease, including chickenpox, should never
be given aspirin, because the combination of aspirin and viral disease has
been linked to the development of Reye's syndrome, a dangerous complication.
The
antihistamine diphenhydramine (found in Benadryl) or chlorpheniramine
(Chlor-Trimeton) can help relieve the awful itching a child with chickenpox
experiences. Benadryl is available in pill form as well as in a spray. The
pill form is generally more effective at relieving the itching of chickenpox.
An antihistamine can also help an uncomfortable child to fall asleep.
Viscous
Xylocaine is a local anesthetic that can be used as a mouth rinse to decrease
pain and itching in the mouth. This rinse numbs mucous membranes, making it
more comfortable for a child with mouth sores to eat, drink, or brush his
teeth. This is a prescription drug, and it must be used in small quantities
because of its potential toxicity.
Burow's
solution is a powder available over the counter at most drug stores. Mixed
with water and applied as a soak, it is very effective at drying up weeping
sores.
Calamine
lotion can help to relieve itching and dry weeping sores.
Acyclovir
(Zovirax) is a drug that has some effectiveness against the chickenpox virus.
However, it is very expensive and shortens the course of the illness by only
a few days. It is therefore used primarily in severe cases that occur in
children with disorders that impair immune system function, such as leukemia.
Dietary Guidelines
Offer
plenty of fluids so that your child stays well hydrated.
Prepare
a simple, clean, whole-foods diet. Include easily digested foods high in
vitamins and minerals, such as soups, well-cooked whole grains, and
vegetables.
If
your child has lost his appetite and is not eating well, try tempting him
with diluted fruit juices, herbal teas, and soups. Frozen fruit-juice
popsicles are usually well received.
Nutritional Supplements
For age-appropriate dosages of nutritional supplements, see Dosage Guidelines for Herbs and
Nutritional Supplements.
Vitamin
A aids in healing skin tissue. Give your child one dose of vitamin A or its
precursor, beta-carotene, once a day, for ten days.
Vitamin
C and bioflavonoids help to stimulate the immune system and resolve a fever
in the initial stages of the illness. The first week, give your child one
dose of vitamin C in mineral ascorbate form, and an equal amount of
bioflavonoids, three to four times a day. The following week, give him the
same dosage, but two to three times a day. During the third week, give the
same dosage, twice a day. Then continue to give one dose, once a week, for
three weeks.
Try
giving your child one dose of zinc, twice a day, in tablet or lozenge form,
for two weeks. Zinc promotes healing and stimulates the immune system.
Note: Excessive amounts of zinc can result in nausea and
vomiting. Be careful not to exceed the recommended dosage.
If
your child is restless and having difficulty sleeping, try giving him one
dose of a calcium and magnesium supplement, twice during the day and once again
at bedtime, for one week. Choose a formula that contains 250 milligrams of
calcium to 125 milligrams of magnesium.
Note: In excessive amounts, magnesium acts as a laxative. If
your child develops diarrhea, decrease the dosage.
Herbal Treatment
For age-appropriate dosages of nutritional supplements, see Dosage Guidelines for Herbs and
Nutritional Supplements.
Burdock
root is high in many valuable trace minerals, and helps to detoxify the body
and heal skin lesions. Give your child one dose, twice daily, until he
recovers.
Echinacea
and goldenseal help to clear infection, support the immune system, and soothe
the skin and mucous membranes. Echinacea is a powerful antiviral. Give your
child one dose of an echinacea and goldenseal combination formula, three
times a day, for up to ten days or until he recovers.
Note: Echinacea should not be given on a daily basis for more
than ten days at a time, or it may lose its effectiveness.
If
your child is feeling very restless, give him a cup of chamomile tea, twice a
day, as needed.
Red
clover, like burdock root, contains many trace minerals. It helps to detoxify
the body and aids in healing skin lesions. Give your child one dose, twice
daily, until he feels better.
Homeopathy
Homeopathic
Calendula, in tincture, oil, or gel form, helps to relieve itching and
promote healing. Apply the preparation topically in the morning, in the
afternoon, and at bedtime.
Grindelia
tincture, applied topically to the pocks, helps to relieve itching. Apply the
undiluted mother tincture in the morning, in the afternoon, and again before
bedtime.
To
fight the intense itching of chickenpox, give your child one dose of Rhus
toxicodendron 30x or 9c, three times daily, for forty-eight hours or until
symptoms improve. If there is no improvement in forty-eight hours, try a
different remedy.
Sulphur
30x or 9c is often useful for very red and very itchy pocks. Give your child
one dose, three times a day, for up to three days.
Acupressure
For the locations of acupressure points on a child's body, see Administering an Acupressure Treatment
Four
Gates helps to relax a restless, uncomfortable child.
Large
Intestine 11 helps relieve itching of the skin.
Spleen
10 is a specific for taking "heat" out of the blood.
Stomach
36 is useful for improving appetite.
General Recommendations
Give
your child homeopathic Rhus toxicodendron daily until symptoms lessen.
To
support your child's immune system and soothe mucous membranes, give him an
echinacea and goldenseal combination formula.
Apply
homeopathic Grindelia or Calendula tincture or gel to your child's lesions to
relieve itching.
Children
over the age of three can usually understand why scratching should be
avoided. Explain to your child that scratching or picking at scabs can cause
an infection, and that rubbing open a blister or pulling off a scab before
the new skin has formed underneath will leave a scar, a pockmark. Keep your
child's fingernails short to prevent breaking of the skin if he does begin to
scratch.
If
your child is under three, it may be difficult to convince him to leave the
pocks alone. Take any and all measures to relieve the itching. The more your
child scratches, the greater the danger of infection and scarring. Be
diligent and creative.
Keep
your child clean, quiet, and cool. A soak in bath water treated with
chamomile, calendula, or grindelia will soothe and relax your child. These
herbs help relieve itching, too.
Oatmeal
baths are very soothing to dry and itching skin. Tie a handful of raw oatmeal
in a washcloth and swish it around in your child's bath water. You may gently
rub the washcloth full of oatmeal over the itchy places as well, but be very
careful not to break the blisters.
Use
Burow's solution soaks to dry open or draining sores.
Occasionally,
a few extra-thick scabs refuse to drop off, and skin begins to form around
them. Don't try to lift these stubborn scabs off, or your child will be left
with pockmarks. If you notice some tenacious scabs that seem to be clinging
on too long, encourage them to separate from the skin with a soak in one of
the hot treated baths suggested above.
If
your child is left with a tiny scar after his chickenpox is fully healed,
apply vitamin E oil to the scar. Break open a vitamin-E capsule and rub the
oil into the pockmark in the morning and at night until it clears. Rubbing
castor oil into the scar will also help.
Once
the chickenpox has cleared, protect your child's skin from the sun. The areas
where pocks have healed are now tender, new skin that will burn and scar
easily. Apply a good sun block or high-SPF sunscreen when your child goes
outside.
Prevention
Keep
children who have chickenpox separated from each other. This can mean a
milder case for the second child who comes down with the disease.
It
is not now possible to immunize your child against chickenpox. A vaccine is
currently under research, and may become available in the future.
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