What do chicken pox spots look like

Chickenpox enathem can be extremely painful when they erupt, making eating difficult. They can be treated with a topical oral analgesic as well as a bland, soft diet with cooling foods such as ice pops, milkshakes, and smoothies.

Spicy or acidic foods like tomatoes or citrus should be avoided. The speed by which chickenpox blisters develop can be truly astonishing. The rash will start as tiny red dots on the face, scalp, torso, and upper arms and legs. Thereafter, the blisters will rapidly spread, covering most of the body within 10 to 12 hours.

Many of the vesicles will begin to quickly consolidate and form into larger, cloudy blisters. The itching by this stage will often be intense. In some cases, an oral antihistamine may be prescribed to relieve itching and aid with sleep.

Chickenpox can spread to parts of the body that are not usually affected by infections, including the palms, soles, scalp, eyelids, anus, and genitals.

Treatment options are limited and are not considered necessary in most cases. Some healthcare provider may prescribe an oral antiviral drug called Zovirax acyclovir to people with compromised immune systems to reduce the risk of complications and pregnant mothers to avoid fetal harm. As the infection progresses, the immune battle can lead to the formation of pus in the blisters.

Pus essentially consists of dead white blood cells and bacteria combined with tissue debris and body fluids. While many of the blisters will erupt on their own, due to friction and abrasion with clothing, every effort should be made to avoid scratching. This not only reduces scarring, but it prevents the spread of infection even after an erupted lesion has crusted over. Strategies to reduce itching include:. Only use mild soap when bathing and blot, rather there rub, the skin dry with a towel.

After four to five days , as the erupted vesicles start to crust over, those that haven't done so will harden and form little indentations, called umbilication. This is the stage during which the contagiousness of the disease will gradually wane and healing will begin.

It is also the time to remain vigilant as the open, ulcerated sores are vulnerable to infection. This most commonly involves staphylococcal or streptococcal bacteria.

While uncommon, a secondary infection can sometimes spread into the bloodstream, causing a potentially life-threatening condition known as sepsis. A secondary skin infection may be treated with a topical, oral, or injected antibiotic, depending on its severity.

Cellulitis may require hospitalization and the administration of intravenous antibiotics and fluids. You can reduce the risk of a secondary infection by washing your hands regularly with soap, trimming your nails, and avoid touching any open or crusted lesions. Most chickenpox infection will fully resolve within two weeks. While most chickenpox infections are uncomplicated and readily managed at home, call your healthcare provider if your child experiences any of the following:.

Chickenpox can be easily prevented with the Varivax vaccine. The two-shot series is recommended as part of a child's routine vaccination series and can provide complete protection in 98 percent of cases. If your child hasn't been vaccinated, speak with your healthcare provider to start the series as soon as possible.

It's rare to get chickenpox when you're pregnant, and the chance of it causing complications is low. If you do get chickenpox when you're pregnant, there's a small risk of your baby being very ill when it's born. Speak to a GP if you have not had chickenpox and have been near someone with it. You can get the chickenpox vaccine on the NHS if there's a risk of harming someone with a weakened immune system if you spread the virus to them. For example, a child can be vaccinated if 1 of their parents is having chemotherapy.

You can also pay for the vaccine at some private clinics or travel clinics. You can catch chickenpox from someone with shingles if you have not had chickenpox before. When you get chickenpox, the virus stays in your body. The virus can be triggered again if your immune system is weak.

Breakthrough varicella on the back of a vaccinated child. Electron micrograph of a varicella chickenpox virus. Varicella-zoster chickenpox virus grown in a tissue culture; magnified X. Top of Page. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Chickenpox Varicella. Section Navigation. For more information, see complications.

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