Dr. Komarovsky: what is chickenpox and how to treat it

A common childhood illness that many parents deal with is chickenpox. It is extremely contagious and frequently spreads swiftly through families and schools. Despite its frightening appearance of red, itchy spots, chickenpox rarely poses a threat to healthy children.

Renowned pediatrician Dr. Komarovsky frequently offers helpful tips on managing chickenpox. He emphasizes that careful management is all that is needed to make the symptoms of chickenpox more tolerable for the majority of children, rather than special treatment.

This post will explain what chickenpox is, how it spreads, and offer treatment suggestions from Dr. Komarovsky to help your child feel better while they’re sick.

Who gets chickenpox more often

A well-known physician attests that children under the age of twelve are the ones who contract chickenpox most frequently. Furthermore, the majority of children under the age of 12 experience a mild course of the illness; however, adults and older children both suffer more from chickenpox.

Chickenpox is a severe and uncommon illness in infants younger than six months of age. When a newborn contracts chickenpox from a mother who contracted the virus during the final five days of pregnancy or in the early postpartum period, the illness can be especially difficult to treat. If their mother had chickenpox as a child, then antibodies from her have shielded the infant from the pathogen during the first six months of life.

How does chickenpox manifest itself in children

The primary sign of chickenpox, according to Komarovsky, is the recognizable rash that helps identify the illness from others. It appears as red spots at first, but after a few hours, it changes into bubbles with clear contents inside of them. The liquid within the bubbles gets hazy and wrinkles on the surface the following day, at which point crusts form on top of them. The dried crusts peel off after seven to eight days and usually leave no trace.

As Komarovsky points out, the child’s overall health deteriorates and non-specific signs of intoxication emerge concurrently with the rash’s onset. The infant complains of headaches, feels weak, and won’t eat. Moreover, his body temperature increases. There is no runny nose or cough associated with chickenpox.

According to Dr. Komarovsky, chickenpox is a common viral infection that mainly affects children and results in a mild fever and itchy rash. Although the condition usually goes away on its own, antihistamines and fever reducers are used in treatment to reduce fever and itching. In order to prevent infection, Dr. Komarovsky emphasizes the significance of not scratching blisters and suggests seeing a physician for severe cases or complications. Another efficient method of preventing or lessening the severity of chickenpox is vaccination.

Treatment

How to treat chickenpox

Komarovsky points out that children are rarely treated with medications that directly impact the chickenpox pathogen. Medication that targets the herpes virus directly is only recommended for severe cases of chickenpox, such as those in teenagers, young children (such as those under a year old, at 4 months old, or in a newborn), or expectant mothers. All chickenpox treatment in mild cases is symptomatic, meaning it focuses on getting rid of the symptoms that make the child’s illness worse.

Komarovsky suggests administering the recommended dosage of ibuprofen or paracetamol to a child with chickenpox if they have a fever. Parents are informed by a well-known pediatrician that aspirin should not be given to children who have chickenpox because it may cause complications, including liver damage.

In order to alleviate skin irritation and avoid picking at blisters, which can lead to rash infection and permanently discolored scars, Komarovsky suggests:

• Use the skin treatment products prescribed by the doctor.
• If necessary, give the baby antihistamines orally.
• Distract the child.
• Carefully cut the baby"s nails, and if we are talking about a baby, then a well-known doctor calls mittens an excellent solution.
• Change linen daily.
• Bathe the baby in a cool bath, blotting the body after bathing. Bathing can be repeated every 3-4 hours, and you can add a little soda to the water.
• Avoid overheating the baby, as this increases itching (the room should not be too hot).

Komarovsky recommends monitoring the drinking regimen closely in order to prevent complications, as dehydration from chickenpox exacerbates damage to the baby’s kidneys, liver, and other internal organs.

Use of brilliant green

A well-known physician mentions that this medication has been used for treating chickenpox for a long time. Furthermore, the majority of parents associate chickenpox with an image of a little child with a green dot. Komarovsky, however, claims that brilliant green does not treat this type of infection in any way and that crusts will form over all of the blisters even in the absence of this dye.

Still, there’s a certain logic to the brilliant green. The mother will be able to tell when the rash’s new elements stop appearing if she covers up any blisters that form each day. Additionally, the child will no longer be contagious to others five days after this incident. Komarovsky also says that each mother’s choice to use brilliant green is personal and that green dye is not necessary for the chickenpox to pass.

Can you go for a walk

Komarovsky suggests taking your child for a walk outside five days after the onset of new rashes has stopped, or at the point when the infant has already ceased to expel the chickenpox virus into the surrounding air. However, the well-known physician advises against rushing a child to kindergarten because chickenpox severely compromises immunity. Komarovsky suggests delaying starting kindergarten by two to three weeks after recuperation.

Children frequently get chickenpox, which is an uncomfortable but generally harmless illness. Dr. Komarovsky stresses that the key to assisting kids in getting through it well is to provide them with the right care, such as controlling fever and itching.

It’s crucial to refrain from scratching the areas in order to stop infection or scarring. It’s critical to use prescribed treatments and ensure the child’s comfort during this period.

Additionally, Dr. Komarovsky emphasizes that it’s crucial to see a doctor if necessary because chickenpox can be dangerous for some people, particularly adults and those with compromised immune systems.

Video on the topic

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