Frequently Asked Questions
If I think my child has chickenpox, do I need to take him/her
to my doctor?
Chickenpox in children is usually a mild disease that gets
better in a few days without the need to see a GP. Treatment will
be to reduce symptoms. The most difficult aspect is likely to be
stopping children from scratching in order to avoid scarring.
Complications are rare, but you should contact your GP immediately
if your child with chickenpox:
- Is under 4 weeks old
- Has breathing difficulties
- Has chest pains
- Has skin blisters which become infected and look yellow
and pus-filled
Can my child get chickenpox more than once?
It is very rare to get chickenpox more than once. After you have
had it, your body develops immunity to the varicella-zoster virus,
which prevents you from getting chickenpox again. However, some
people have been known to get it a second or even third time. This
can be due to weakened immune systems.
Should I keep my child home from school/nursery/playgroup?
Chickenpox is very contagious and is infectious until the last
blister has burst and scabbed over. You should keep your child at
home until all of the blisters have fully crusted over.
How does the virus spread? Can I stop it?
The chickenpox virus is contained in tiny droplets in the coughs
and sneezes of an infected person, which is why it spreads so fast.
It can also be spread through contact with ordinary items that have
the virus on them, such as children's toys, bedding, or clothing.
The virus will eventually dry out but how long it can survive
outside the body depends on things like humidity, temperature and
the type of surface it is on. In order to help stop it spreading,
you should wipe objects or surfaces with a sterilising solution
(disinfectants like Zoflora will kill the virus) and
make sure that any infected clothes or bedding are clean and
regularly washed. When applying any treatments to your child’s
skin, hands should be washed before and after to avoid spreading
the virus.
Can a child be infected with chickenpox but show no
symptoms?
Yes. Chickenpox can occur and show little or no symptoms,
especially in very young children. People with the infection can
still shed the virus and pass it on to someone else, even if they
do not have symptoms themselves.
Can my child travel on a plane if they have chickenpox?
If your child has chickenpox, they may not be allowed to fly
until six days after the last spot has appeared. Your child should
be safe to fly once they are past the infectious stage and the
blisters have crusted over, but it is best to check your airline
policy first. You should inform the airline as soon as you have
sought medical advice and had the illness diagnosed. It is also
important to let your insurer know, to make sure that you will be
covered if you have to delay or cancel your holiday, or if you need
to extend your stay until your child is well enough to fly
home.
Is chickenpox serious?
Chickenpox in children is usually a mild but highly infectious
disease that gets better on its own and so is not normally serious.
However, children with weakened immune systems are particularly
vulnerable to complications, as are newborn babies and pregnant
women. If in any doubt contact your GP or NHS direct on 0845
4647.
What complications can occur when having chickenpox?
It is unusual for children with chickenpox to get any
complications and most cases are quite mild. The most common
complication in children is when the blisters become infected. This
can happen as a result of scratching, which can lead to long-term
scarring. If blisters do become infected you should visit your GP
as an antibacterial cream or antibiotics may be needed.
How can I tell the chickenpox rash apart from the meningitis
rash?
Symptoms of meningitis which are not common in chickenpox
include:
- red spots which develop into large purple
marks
- vomiting
- over-sensitivity to light (less common in younger
children)
- stiff neck/body (less common in younger
children)
- extreme shivering
- tense or bulging soft spot
- high-pitched crying
- drowsiness
- cold limbs, shaking and jerky movement
- bruises under the skin
- seizures
- glass tumbler test – marks do not fade when pressed with
a glass tumbler
If your child has any of these symptoms you should take them to
A&E immediately.
If my child has chickenpox, when are they most infectious?
Chickenpox is highly contagious. Children are infectious for
about 2 days before the spots begin to appear until all the
blisters have burst and scabbed over.
If my child has chickenpox, can I catch shingles from
him/her?
Shingles can not be caught by coming into contact with someone
who has chickenpox.
After having chickenpox, the Varicella Zoster virus lies dormant
in the nerve roots next to the spinal cord. For reasons that are
unknown, the virus can begin to multiply and reactivate in later
life. It travels down the affected nerve to the skin and causes an
area of blisters (characteristic of the chickenpox rash) known as
an attack of shingles.
As shingles is the reactivation of the virus, it can not be caught
by coming into contact with someone with chickenpox and can only
occur in someone who has previously had chickenpox.
People who are not immune (i.e. have not previously had
chickenpox) can catch chickenpox from someone who has shingles as
the shingles blisters contain the chickenpox virus.
Should I deliberately let my child catch chickenpox?
Some parents encourage their children to mix with others who
have chickenpox in order to catch it. This is not advised as other
more serious illnesses could be picked up.
How long does chickenpox last?
Each case of chickenpox is different and the severity and number
of spots varies from child to child. Normally, a child with
chickenpox is infectious from about 1-5 days before the rash
appears until all the blisters have scabbed over. Your child should
stay at home until the last blister has burst and crusted over and
they are no longer infectious.
Is there a vaccine against chickenpox?
There is a chickenpox vaccine that can be given to children over
13 years of age who are not immune. In the UK chickenpox vaccines
are not routinely given to children, as some experts think
vaccination will overload the immune system of small children.
Doctors also have concerns that vaccinating children could lead to
an increase in cases of shingles in adults – which is much more
serious.
My child has eczema/dermatitis, if they catch chickenpox, can
they use Care ViraSoothe? Should they be seen by the GP?
If your child is using creams or lotions for their
eczema/dermatitis, you should seek the advice of your GP before
using Care ViraSoothe. If the eczema/dermatitis is mild then Care
ViraSoothe can be used. A patch test would be advisable before more
extensive use. If in any doubt, seek medical advice.
Is it normal for a child to have a temperature when they get
chickenpox?
Chickenpox normally begins with fever (temperature), aches and
headaches a few days before the rash appears.
How do I help reduce the chance of my child getting scars?
You can reduce the chance of scarring by preventing your child
from scratching and breaking the blisters. Apply Care ViraSoothe
Chickenpox Relief Cooling Gel to the affected areas 2 or 3 times a
day or whenever relief is required. This cools and soothes the
skin, helping to break the ITCH, SCRATCH, INFECTION cycle. Care
ViraSoothe also supports the skin’s own natural healing process, to
help reduce scarring.
Should I use calamine lotion?
Calamine lotion has been traditionally used to treat chickenpox
but there is no evidence that it actually works and it has many
disadvantages:
- Can be difficult to apply to small children
- Strong odour
- Stains the skin
- Dries out the skin/dries chalky – making the spots
itchier
- Can spread infection when applying with cotton
wool
- Cotton wool gets stuck to the blisters and can make them
more painful and sore
If my child has only got a few spots, is this chickenpox?
The number of spots can vary from one child to another. Some
children may have very few spots while others can be completely
covered. Chickenpox is characterised by a rash which starts as
small red spots which develop into fluid filled blisters –
regardless of how many spots there actually are.