How to relieve itching when you have chickenpox

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Doan Ngoc Quynh - Pediatrician - Pediatric Center - Vinmec Times City International Hospital.

Chickenpox is caused by the Varicella Zoster virus. With symptoms such as fatigue, fever, headache, loss of appetite... and especially red rash that causes itching. Here are some tips to help relieve the itching of chickenpox.

At first, the patient has a slight fever, the whole body feels very uncomfortable, eating and sleeping are not good with symptoms of cough or loose stools and fever. Some people with muscle pain, and especially children, may have no warning symptoms.
In about 1-2 days after, the patient's skin will appear some red spots. These small round nodules will progress to blisters, blisters and gradually spread all over the body or scattered on the body, the average number of small nodules is about 100 - 500 nodules.
Chickenpox will last for about 7-10 days if there are no complications, these blisters will dry, scab and darken the skin where the blisters appear, but if there is no infection, the blisters will not leave scar again.

Keep nails short and clean.
Should keep nails short and keep your hands clean in case you can't stand it and scratch the itch. Because scratching can cause skin infections in open blisters caused by bacteria under the nail and on the skin.
Skin care
Use an effective anti-itch cream to help soothe the skin, apply lotion to the itchy skin, avoid applying cream around the eye area.
Shower with warm water and oatmeal
The itching and discomfort caused by chickenpox may improve with a warm bath. You can add oatmeal to your bath water to clear away dirt, moisturize, and fight inflammation. In addition, using oats also reduces itching and restores damaged cells.
Bath with baking soda
You just need to add a cup of baking soda to a tub of warm water, soak for 15-20 minutes and then shower. This method can be applied several times a day if you find it effective.

Using an itch reliever
Besides care measures, you can use an itch reliever to improve this symptom.
Calamine lotion: This skin cream contains zinc oxide – an antiseptic that works to reduce irritation and itchiness. You can use it 1-2 times a day to relieve itching and prevent skin infections. Antihistamines (Diphenhydramine, Loratadine, Cetirizine,...): Histamine is an intermediate component in the body's inflammatory response. By inhibiting this component's synthesis, antihistamines can improve symptoms of pain, itching, swelling, inflammation... caused by varicella zoster virus. Topical corticosteroids are effective in reducing itching. However, this drug can affect the healing process of the blisters, so it is not recommended for patients with chickenpox.

When you have chickenpox, it is best to isolate the sick person at home for 7 days. As for those who have contact with people with chickenpox, they should be isolated for 11-21 days from the date of contact. At the same time, disinfect and clean objects contaminated with secretions from the patient.
However, the most effective way to prevent chickenpox is still the chickenpox vaccine. Because this method is highly effective and long-lasting, it helps the body create antibodies against the virus that causes chickenpox. Chickenpox vaccine is applied to the following subjects:
All children 12-18 months of age receive 1 dose of chickenpox vaccine. Children aged 19 months - 13 years old who have never had chickenpox receive 1 shot every time. Children over 13 years old and adults who have never had chickenpox should get 2 injections, repeated every 4-8 weeks. Chickenpox usually has an incubation period of 7 to 14 days after exposure to an infected person. Therefore, people exposed to the source of the disease who have not been vaccinated with chickenpox can be vaccinated within 3 days to help prevent the disease. With chickenpox, the vaccine has a long-lasting effect. If vaccinated, about 90% of the disease is completely preventable. However, the remaining few can get chickenpox after vaccination, but these cases are usually mild, have few chickenpox blisters and usually do not have dangerous complications.
Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital provides the varicella vaccine Varivax 0.5ml of MSD (USA). Advantages of vaccinating children at Vinmec:
Vinmec uses high-quality vaccines of clear origin, suitable for the age to be vaccinated, ensuring safety from registration, storage to use. use. Before vaccination, all customers are screened before vaccination with specialist doctors to ensure the best health when vaccinated. 100% of vaccinated customers are monitored and re-evaluated before leaving. In particular, the post-vaccination monitoring room is fully equipped with emergency facilities; the team of doctors - nurses are trained in anaphylaxis emergency management to ensure timely and correct treatment when an incident occurs. Any questions that need to be answered by a specialist doctor as well as customers wishing to be examined and treated at Vinmec International General Hospital, please register for an online examination on the Website for the best service.