Chickenpox has become far less frequent thanks to effective vaccination efforts. However, outbreaks still occur, especially among unvaccinated children. Understanding chickenpox in the context of pediatric care is crucial for recognizing symptoms, managing treatment, and taking preventive steps to protect your child and others.
Key Takeaways
- Chickenpox is a highly contagious illness caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV).
- Symptoms include fever, fatigue, and a red, itchy rash that develops into fluid-filled blisters and eventually scabs within several days.
- Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent chickenpox, with the CDC recommending two doses for children at different intervals.
Table of Contents
What is Chickenpox?
How Does Chickenpox Spread?
Symptoms of Chickenpox in Children
Treatment Options
Chickenpox Prevention: The Power of Vaccination
When to Call a Pediatrician
Stay Ahead of Preventable Illnesses with Trusted Pediatric Care
What Is Chickenpox?
Chickenpox is a highly contagious viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). It primarily affects children under the ages of 12 but can occur at any age. Though usually mild in healthy children, chickenpox can lead to complications, especially in infants, teens, pregnant women, or those with weakened immune systems.
How Does Chickenpox Spread?
Chickenpox is contagious and can be transmitted 1 to 2 days before the rash appears and until all the blisters have crusted over.
It spreads from person to person through direct contact with the fluid from blisters or through the air by respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or even talks.
Close contact in households, schools, or daycare settings makes chickenpox particularly easy to transmit among children.
Symptoms of Chickenpox in Children
Chickenpox typically begins with mild flu-like symptoms, followed by the appearance of its most recognizable sign: an itchy, blister-like rash.
Symptoms generally appear 10 to 21 days after exposure and include:
- Fever
- Fatigue or general discomfort
- Stomach ache and loss of appetite
- Headache
- A red, itchy rash that that appears progressively throughout the body within 24 hours
Children with chickenpox may have hundreds of spots that often start on the chest, back, or face before spreading to the rest of the body.
Treatment Options
There’s no cure for chickenpox. Pediatric care specialists focus on relieving symptoms and preventing complications. For most healthy children, treatment can be done at home and includes:
- Fever control with acetaminophen (avoid aspirin, as it can harm a child with a fever and is also linked to Reye’s syndrome)
- Oatmeal baths and antihistamine lotion to ease itching
- Keeping fingernails trimmed to prevent skin infections from scratching
- Giving them plenty of fluids to keep them hydrated
- Encouraging rest
In more severe cases, or for children with higher risk factors, a pediatrician may prescribe additional antiviral medication for better management.
Chickenpox Prevention: The Power of Vaccination
The varicella vaccine is the best way to prevent the illness. In the United States, pediatric guidelines recommend at least two doses of the vaccine:
- First dose at 12–15 months old
- Second dose at 4–6 years old
The vaccine is about 90% effective at preventing chickenpox. Even if a vaccinated child does get the virus, the symptoms are usually much milder and shorter in duration.
When to Call a Pediatrician
Parents should contact a pediatrician if the child exhibits the following life-threatening symptoms:
- The child has a high fever or seems very ill
- The rash spreads to the eyes or becomes warm, red, or pus-filled (signs of infection)
- The child has trouble breathing or appears very lethargic
- The child has trouble waking up
- Chickenpox occurs in a baby under 6 months, a teen, or a child with a chronic health condition.
Stay Ahead of Preventable Illnesses with Trusted Pediatric Care
From Hepatitis A , polio to chickenpox, Idaho Falls Pediatrics is your partner in protecting your child’s health through expert care and up-to-date vaccinations. Our experienced pediatric team provides education, prevention, and treatment to keep your family safe and thriving.
Visit our pediatric health resources page to learn more or contact us if you have any further questions or concerns.