1. Use Medication to Deal With Discomfort
The weepy blisters that accompany chicken pox can be painful, especially if they're located on the delicate mucous membranes in your child's mouth, nose or genital areas. If your child has a compromised immune system from another disorder, it's advisable to call your doctor as soon as the blisters appear. He may choose to reduce the possibility of complications from the virus by prescribing the antiviral drug acyclovir. The medication can lessen the severity of the symptoms if it is given within 24 hours of the rash's appearance.
Since acyclovir's side effects can be severe, you should treat otherwise healthy children only with over the counter pain relievers. Use the acetaminophen and ibuprofen doses appropriate for your child's age to deal with the low-grade fever, sore throat and general achy discomfort of the chicken pox. Remember, though, that children should never take aspirin, as it's associated with a dangerous complication known as Reye's Syndrome.
2. Prepare an Oatmeal Bath
Lukewarm water not only reduces a chicken pox-related fever, but also helps to relieve some of the itch. Prepare an oatmeal bath for your child, either by purchasing an over the counter oatmeal-bath product or by using oats. To use oats, cook two cups of oatmeal in two quarts of water for approximately 15 minutes. Put the oatmeal in an old cotton t-shirt and tie it closed like a sack. Place the bag in the tub with your child and allow him to swirl it around in the water. As long as the bag stays tightly shut, the water will absorb the properties of the oatmeal. You should be able to tell it's working when the tub water gets cloudy and your child starts paying more attention to playing with the oatmeal than to his discomfort.
3. Use Skin Soothing Solutions
There are many skin soothing solutions you can try to make your child more comfortable. Among the most popular are baking soda pastes and vitamin E oil. To make the paste, add enough baking soda to a glass of lukewarm water to make it cloudy. Gently sponge the solution over your child's skin, avoiding the delicate areas around the eyes and genitals and allow the water to evaporate. This will leave a coating of baking soda on his skin, which will reduce itchiness. Vitamin E oil should be applied after the blisters have scabbed over and are beginning to fade. The oil has healing properties that can help soften the skin and reduce scarring.
