Chickenpox

The attached pic is the total of 3 y.o. C.’s spots. Yes, you can count all (not itchy!) 5 of them. Sin é. He’s flying around the house with a small cough. 6 y.o. T. had a sore throat and small temp, no spots so far. That’s it. I’d probably even have been slow to figure it out had C. not excitedly told me 2 weeks ago that his friends all had it (He didn’t exactly know what it was but he thought it had something to do with his “chicken friends” next to his school (yes, actual chickens).

And this is a very small household study of why docs like me #vaccinate. T. has had both doses of the chicken pox vaccine (no spots). C. has only had one dose (5 spots). (yes, the science-nerd in me is fascinated.) While vaccination can’t entirely prevent infection in countries like Ireland with high numbers, it can greatly reduce how sick children get with breakthrough infection (like my boys) and greatly reduce chance of serious complications such as cellulitis or pneumonia. (Those complications are why around 100 children per year are hospitalised with chickenpox in Ireland each year; 17 so far this year.)

My management of chickenpox has just been the odd dose of calpol for temps and sore throat. Children with more severe chickenpox may need Calpol (never give aspirin to children with chickenpox and ask your GP before using ibuprofen). Oatmeal baths can soothe skin, and your pharmacist can recommend some creams to help with itching (my top pick is calamine). If your child has sore mouth/throat, cold or soft foods might help. Many children with chickenpox have reduced appetites, so encourage them to drink fluids to avoid dehydration. Homemade ice lollies work well here. Tip on doing colloidal oatmeal baths: If you can’t find a commercial product (Aveeno is the most common), you can grind up the breakfast porridge oatmeal using a blender/food processor until it is a very, very fine powder. You want to add a cupful to a warm – not too hot- bath. Add the itchy child for 15 – 20 minutes. Bath toys are a key ingredient here. Pat skin dry gently and immediately cover spots in whatever cream you are using. You can repeat as often as child patience and home oatmeal/hot water supply allows. If you are worried about your child, ring your GP. Let them know it is about chickenpox before you enter the surgery (some people are vulnerable – and care should be taken to avoid those who are immunosuppressed, newborn infants, and pregnant women, for example).

More #chickenpox facts?

Chickenpox is highly contagious. After exposure, symptoms develop in about 10-14 days but can take as long as 21 days. The exposed person is MOST infectious in the 2 days BEFORE symptoms start (like most successful viruses, it’s evolved to do that to reach as many new hosts as possible). Some children have a mild “prodromal” symptoms (runny nose, cough) in the 2 days before spots break out. The child (or unlucky adult) remain contagious until the last blister has scabbed over. In short, children can be contagious to others before they become ill.

No one likes to see their child ill. No one likes to take 5 days (usually more, especially if you have multiple children all getting the virus one after another) off of school or work. In some countries, the chickenpox vaccine has been used for decades and is now part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule. Chickenpox is a vaccine-preventable disease. The vaccine is safe, effective, and should not be available in Ireland only to families who are able to afford it.