My son looks like he's just showing signs of chicken pox as we've got the first sight of some red spots today. His cousin, got it, and they spent time together 12 days ago (just before she came out in spots). Is he contagious now? Should we avoid contact with others? We're on holiday so I'm wondering whether we should avoid the pool or anyone..! And - if we need to avoid people - for how long?
2006-12-12 19:52:06 · 11 answers · asked by Chris S 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
There is no need to avoid contact with others, chickenpox is a normal thing with regard to humans as we all go through a life and sometime in life we get it. your child should go to a doctor and get the right medication. calamine helps to stop the itch and dries it out. first make sure it is chickenpox, first sign are bihind the hears, neck and fingers. it's better your child haave it now in the younger years than when he is older becuase it becomes increasingly dangerous as one gets older.
How chickenpox starts ....
may start out seeming like a cold: You might have a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, and a cough. But 1 to 2 days later, the rash begins, often in bunches of spots on the chest and face. From there it can spread out quickly over the entire body - sometimes the rash is even in a person's ears and mouth. The number of pox is different for everyone. Some people get just a few bumps; others are covered from head to toe.
At first, the rash looks like pinkish dots that quickly develop a small blister on top (a blister is a bump on your skin that fills up with fluid). After about 24 to 48 hours, the fluid in the blisters gets cloudy and the blisters begin to crust over.
Chickenpox blisters show up in waves, so after some begin to crust over, a new group of spots may appear. New chickenpox usually stop appearing by the seventh day, though they may stop as early as the third day. After about a week, all the blisters should get scabs on them and start to heal. Besides the rash, someone with chickenpox might also have a stomachache, a fever, and may just not feel well.
These tips can help you feel less itchy:
Keep cool because heat and sweat will make you itch more. You might want to put a cool, wet washcloth on the really bad areas.
Trim your fingernails, so if you do scratch, they won't tear your skin.
Soak in a lukewarm bath. Adding some oatmeal (yes, oatmeal!) to your bath water can help relieve the itching.
Have your mom or dad help you apply calamine lotion, which soothes itching.
A pain reliever like acetaminophen (say: uh-see-tuh-mih-nuh-fun) might help you feel better, but let your parents help you with this.
2006-12-12 20:16:36 · answer #1 · answered by Minxx 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-05-13 21:45:44 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chickenpox is a highly contagious virus, with an incubation period of 15-20 days. Chickenpox is most contagious the day before the rash appears and until the blisters are all dry and crusted over (usually about 5 days). If you have chickenpox you should avoid contact with pregnant women who have not had chickenpox, newborn babies and people with a low immune system (e.g. those with cancer or advanced H.I.V.), as these people can't fight infection as well as those with a healthy immune system.
2006-12-12 20:00:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes you do need to avoid people, especially pregnant women (VERY IMPORTANT!!) and people who have not had it before (it's also adviseable not to go swimming!). Your son will be contagious until the spots scab over (about 2 weeks). He will feel grotty for a couple of days - give him calpol to relieve the pain, make sure he drinks lots of water, let him rest as much as he needs and calomine lotion for the itch. He'll be right as rain in about a fortnight. Good luck.
If you're really worried, call your GP for a home visit.
2006-12-12 20:02:35 · answer #4 · answered by Roxy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it can be spread through droplets and is contagious before the actual spots appear and is most cummunicable when the spots crust over but are still fresh inside.its a virus so it cant be really treated, supportive treatment is necessary. increase fluids, bed rest, good diet.dont ever ever scratch itll scar.dont eat eggs or fishy food as they will increase the number of spots, this one is unproven.
2006-12-12 19:58:13 · answer #5 · answered by globiaeon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The infectious period lasts from about three days before the rash appears until all the blisters have formed scabs.
The incubation period between being infected with chickenpox until the disease breaks out and symptoms appear is 10 to 20 days.
As for being around other people you will have to be very careful as older people are at risk from getting shingles!
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2006-12-12 19:58:59 · answer #6 · answered by sugarplum9903 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe chicken pox are contagious until they scab over, and very contagious until then, so avoid people who haven't had it.
2006-12-12 19:56:15 · answer #7 · answered by KyLeth 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your son will be contagious till all the scabs have dropped from the spots.this can take up to two weeks.
2006-12-12 20:01:56 · answer #8 · answered by aunty m 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2017-02-10 17:32:47 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
until the spots scab over
2006-12-12 20:02:03 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋