Guest guest Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 Hi Flo.. Here is some info that should help you. The contagious period for chickenpox begins about 2 days before the rash appears and lasts until all the blisters are crusted over. A child with chickenpox should be kept out of school until all of the blisters have dried, which is usually about 1 week, but you don't have to wait until all the scabs fall off to let your child get back to a normal schedule. It lasts about a week to two weeks.. DO NOT GIVE ASPIRIN to reduce pain or fever in children with chickenpox or certain other viral illnesses Some measures you can take to help your child get through this itchy, uncomfortable time: Use wet compresses or give baths in cool or lukewarm water every 3 to 4 hours for the first few days. Oatmeal baths, available at the supermarket or pharmacy, can help to relieve itching. (Baths do not spread chickenpox.) Pat (don't rub) the body dry. You can put calamine lotion on itchy areas (but don't use it on the face, especially near the eyes). Give your child foods that are cold, soft, and bland because chickenpox in the mouth may make drinking or eating difficult. Try to avoid feeding your child anything that's highly acidic or especially salty, like orange juice or pretzels. Herbal teas such as catnip and peppermint, pleurisy root and catnip, red raspberry leaf, and yarrow or pennyroyal, elder flowers and peppermint with vinegar and water will relieve the itching. Also, bathe or sponge skin with tea made of burdock root, golden seal and yellow dock root in case of severe itching. Yarrow: If you give the tea to children during the early stages of eruptive diseases, such as measles, chicken pox, smallpox, etc., the tea will help the disease to break out more quickly and thus shorten the time. Dr. recommended a mixture of Yarrow, pleurisy root and lady's slipper (or skullcap) for the measles. Anytime there is a fever, no matter what the disease, Yarrow can help break it and bring the disease to a speedier ending. Vinegar: A child suffering from the itch of chicken pox or measles can be sponged with a solution of 1/2 apple cider vinegar and 1/2 distilled water. Flo <fgarig@...> wrote: Hi all, I just found out that a child my son may have played with at the Park on Wednesday came down with chicken pox symptoms (rash and fever) on Thursday. My understanding is that chickenpox is contagious for 36 hours prior to the symptoms showing, so all of the children playing together that day are at risk. Is this correct? Now, what REALLY works for the itching? I know about the vitamin C, potassium, zinc and herbs and such--but being a girl who never had it, what works from those of you have had experience. I think I may have immunity as my mother nursed me and she came down with it, I nursed until she itched too much (it was the 60's!) and then I refused, so they figured her milk tasted bad. LOL Anyway, they also guessed that I probably got immunity from her. Any opinions on that? Photos – Showcase holiday pictures in hardcover Photo Books. You design it and we’ll bind it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 I was going to say just what Suzi said, oatmeal baths and calamine. Above all, do not let him itch or he'll develop scars and be very unhappy about that later in life.<G> I still have one right in the middle of my forehead, some 40+ years after chicken pox. Be glad if he gets them now. We used to have chicken pox parties to make sure they all got exposed when one had it. Much better to have it young and get it over with than worry about it later. Good luck! Sharyn From: health [mailto:health ] On Behalf Of Flo Now, what REALLY works for the itching? -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.17/228 - Release Date: 1/12/2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 14, 2006 Report Share Posted January 14, 2006 I put both my kids (thank you, yes they had chicken pox together!) in a bathtub of warm water with oatmeal. They thought it was great fun and even though it was a pain to clean up, it helped immensely with their itching. Shari Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 14, 2006 Report Share Posted January 14, 2006 Thank you. Just in case anyone is interested, some other folks told me a bath with baking soda in the water helped too, so there are two options now. LOL ----- Original Message ----- From: SV I put both my kids (thank you, yes they had chicken pox together!) in a bathtub of warm water with oatmeal. They thought it was great fun and even though it was a pain to clean up, it helped immensely with their itching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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