Chickenpox is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Most children have chickenpox at some stage. Most commonly, children get chickenpox before the age of 10 years.
What are the symptoms of chickenpox
A doctor can look at a child's skin and know if he or she has chickenpox. Signs of chickenpox usually happen in the following order:
● Fever, feeling tired, headache
● A stomachache that lasts for one or two days
● A skin rash that is very itchy and looks like many small blisters
● Bumps filled with a liquid that looks like milky water
● Scabs after the blisters break
● Skin that looks blotchy
● Spots that fade away
What complications are possible with chickenpox?
● Bacterial infections of the skin, blood, and soft tissues
● Encephalitis
● Becoming dehydrated
● Blood clotting or healing issues
● Liver problems
Who is more likely to have complications from chickenpox?
Healthy people who get chickenpox do not usually have complications. However, having a severe case of chickenpox could be more dangerous for very young babies, teenagers, pregnant women and people with immunity issues, such as transplant patients.
Prevention
A person with chickenpox is infectious from two days before the spots first appear until they have all crusted over (commonly about five days after onset of the rash). A child with chickenpox should stay off school or nursery for five days from the onset of the rash and until all the lesions have crusted.
A vaccine for chickenpox is available and recommended. Ask your healthcare provider about the vaccine
When to see the doctor?
For most children, chickenpox is a mild illness that gets better on its own. But some children can become more seriously ill with chickenpox. They need to see a doctor. Contact your doctor straight away if your child develops any abnormal symptoms, for example: if the blisters on their skin become infected.
https://patient.info/skin-conditions/viral-rashes/chickenpox-in-children#nav-5
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4017-chickenpox
https://patient.info/skin-conditions/viral-rashes/chickenpox-in-children