1. Help Your Child Deal With Discomfort
Healthy children don't require any kind of medical treatment for chicken pox. It will eventually clear on its own. However, you can help your child deal with the discomfort with home remedies. Chicken pox presents with flu-like symptoms and rapidly spreading spots. Chicken pox blisters are extremely itchy, and your child will probably be tempted to scratch. But scratching can cause scarring and invite infection. Apply calamine lotion to your child's body to sooth the itching, but don't use it on your child's face. Cool baths may also bring your child some relief. For added comfort, put baking soda or uncooked oatmeal into the bath. This will alleviate some of the itching.
Your child may enjoy having warm compresses applied to his skin for a few minutes at a time, every 2 hours. If you your child is still itchy and can't stop scratching, have him wear gloves, especially at night. Cut your child's nails short to limit the damage the scratching may inflict. Your doctor may suggest an over-the-counter antihistamine to remedy extreme itchiness. You can also get a pain-relieving cream for sores in the genital area.
2. Treat Your Child's Fever
Treat fever, a common symptom of chicken pox, and any pain with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Don't use aspirin for chicken pox, as it can cause Reye's syndrome, a serious condition.
3. Bland Foods for Sore Mouths
Chicken pox sores in your mouth can make it uncomfortable for your child to eat or drink. Minimize your child's discomfort by only preparing soft, bland foods. Spicy, acidic, salty and crunchy foods can irritate the sores. Examples of foods you want to avoid include pretzels, orange juice and potato chips.
