Info: Chickenpox

Just to share some info, last sunday i spotted some spots on Rayyan Adnan face...hmmm not feeling good, lepas a few hours ada lagi few spots on his body...by evening adalah kot 10-12 spots over his body, ada yang ada air, air yang kecik , ada yang just red spot...here we come another life story for Rayyan Adnan...

Tetapi memandangkan he had got that extra immunization so his chickenpox is not so bad, it's a mild one...fiuhh...so far no itchiness, cuma nampak dia tak selesa and sesema and also a slight fever...hopefully tak teruk lah

Tadi singgah school Rayyan, ckp dgn Ustazah yang Rayyan absent dulu sbb kena chickenpox...hmm guess what, ada 1 parent yang being so selfish yang still hantar anak ke sekolah walaupun dah tau budak tu ada chickenpox...how stupid can they be? After Ustazah spotted and called her to come and pick, baru dia termalu2 datang ambik...i know the feeling of susah nak ambik cuti(seriously sgt faham), but please be  more responsible when it come to sharing space with others...How would you feel if other people being irresponsible as well...time tu sure ko pun ngamuk kan...so kena la give and take...

now Rayyan kat rumah dgn Daddy...tq Daddy :)

What is chickenpox?

Chickenpox is a very infectious disease caused by one of a group of herpes viruses. It causes a distinctive rash and mild flu-like symptoms.

Most children will get chickenpox when they are young and it is usually a mild illness. Once your baby has caught the disease, it can take between 10 and 21 days for symptoms to show. Your baby will then be infectious from about two days before the rash appears until all the spots have dried up, which usually takes about five days. If your baby goes to nursery or childcare, keep him at home for five days from when the rash first appears.

How did my baby catch chickenpox?

An infected person sneezing or being in close contact with your baby could have given him chickenpox. Your baby could also have got chickenpox just by being in the same room as someone with the disease. It’s also possible to catch chickenpox from someone who has shingles. Shingles is caused by the same virus as chickenpox.

What are the symptoms of chickenpox?

Chickenpox usually starts with mild flu-like symptoms:

fever    headache    nausea    aches and pains    loss of appetite

A couple of days later, the chickenpox rash appears. It starts as little red spots which develop tiny blisters on the top within a few hours. You’ll notice them first on your baby’s face. The spots will spread to his chest and tummy, and then to other parts of his body, appearing in crops. There may be so many spots that they will appear to run into one another, or there may just be a few spots. The spots are likely to be most sore on his scalp, in his mouth and throat, and around his genitals.

Should I take my baby to the doctor?

Take your baby to the doctor if you think he has chickenpox. Your doctor will be able to diagnose chickenpox by checking your baby’s spots.

If your baby is less than four weeks old, take him to the doctor if he’s been in contact with anyone with chickenpox, or if he’s showing symptoms. Chickenpox can be more dangerous and can cause complications in very young babies.

Is there any treatment?

Chickenpox is a virus, so won’t respond to antibiotics. It will go away on its own, but you can help to relieve your baby’s symptoms with some treatments at home:

• If your baby is three months or older, you can give him infant paracetamol or ibuprofen to bring down his fever and to relieve any aches and pains. Check the dosage information on the packet, or ask your doctor or pharmacist if you’re unsure about how much to give your baby.

• Give your baby plenty of fluids to prevent him getting dehydrated. Offer him extra breast or bottle feeds, and if he is formula-fed or on solids he can have water too.

• To soothe your baby’s itchy spots, you can use calamine lotion. You can also try putting bicarbonate of soda in your baby’s bath to relieve itchiness.

• If your baby is over a year old and the itching is particularly troublesome at night, your doctor may prescribe an antihistamine. Some antihistamines have a sedating effect which may help him to sleep more easily but others do not.

• Keep your baby’s nails short if he keeps scratching himself. This will help to prevent scarring and the spots from becoming infected.

• Dress your baby in loose cotton clothing to keep his skin cool and reduce itching.

Can I catch chickenpox from my baby?

If you have never had chickenpox before, you could catch it from your baby. It can be more serious in adults and teenagers, so see your doctor if you think you have it.

Once you’ve had chickenpox, you won’t get it again. But as adults, we can carry the herpes virus that causes chickenpox in our bodies. Sometimes, if we become a bit run-down, the virus will be triggered, and we’ll have symptoms. These will appear as a different form of the virus, known as shingles.

Is chickenpox dangerous for pregnant women?

If your baby has chickenpox, keep him away from pregnant women who have not had chickenpox before as it can cause problems for an unborn baby. Read our article on chickenpox in pregnancy for more information.

http://www.babycenter.com.my/baby/health/chickenpox/