If you're young enough to remember having the chickenpox yourself, those tell-tale itchy little bumps on your toddler may be instantly recognizable. For many parents, who were vaccinated against chickenpox themselves as infants, recognizing the virus is more difficult. Even a 2-year-old who received his vaccinations could develop chickenpox, a common and normally harmless virus that occasionally has serious side effects.
Immunization
For immunization against varicella, the medical term for chickenpox, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends one dose of the vaccine at 12 to 15 months and another dose between 4 to 6 years of age. Vaccination doesn't offer complete immunity, however; a 2-year-old has a 90 percent chance of complete protection against the virus from the vaccine. That means he has a 10 percent chance of still catching chickenpox, the CDC warns, although he may have a less severe case. Almost no one who has received the vaccine has a severe case.
Symptoms
The main symptom of chickenpox is itching of the between 250 and 500 blisters usually seen in chickenpox, according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. Unfortunately, 2-year-olds often have difficulty understanding cause and effect and may not heed -- or even understand -- your pleas to stop scratching the itchy bumps. Excessive scratching can lead to scarring and secondary infections, according to PubMed. Young children often have less severe cases of the virus than teens and adults.
Risks
The most serious risk of chickenpox is the development of encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain that can cause confusion, headache, lethargy, speech difficulty, memory loss, poor coordination and feeling generally ill. A 2-year-old may not be able to alert you to these symptoms as early as an older child might. Watch for personality or behavioral changes or a rise in fever. Do not give a 2-year-old aspirin, including baby aspirin, to treat the fever of chickenpox, since aspirin can cause Reye's syndrome, a potentially life-threatening complication of viral illnesses. Treat fever only if it rises over 101 F as long as your child feels reasonably well, pediatrician William Sears, M.D., recommends on his website.
Treatment
Oatmeal baths and ointment to can help to reduce the itching and discomfort of chickenpox. Antiviral treatment with acyclovir can help reduce the symptoms and duration if started in the first 24 hours after the rash appears, but isn't recommended for otherwise healthy children under age 12, Dr. Sears states. Giving the vaccine within 72 hours of exposure can prevent or minimize the effects of the virus as well. Symptoms usually appear about two weeks after exposure. If a sibling or another person with whom your toddler has close contact with develops chicken pox symptoms, take your 2-year-old to the pediatrician to determine whether he should be vaccinated, if he hasn't been already.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 2011 Recommended Immunizations for Children from Birth Through 6 Years Old
- Ask Dr. Sears; Chicken Pox; William Sears, M.D.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine Q&A; June 2009
- National Foundation for Infectious Diseases: Facts About Chickenpox and Shingles for Adults
- KidsHealth; Encephalitis; Kate M. Cronan, M.D; January 2010
- PubMedHealth; Chickenpox; September 2009
