Children certainly feel uncomfortable when they have chickenpox. While this usually goes away on its own without any treatment, there are several ways you can try to make your child feel more comfortable while his body is struggling with the viral infection. Specifically, in this article, there are some basic guidelines to make your child feel more comfortable, as well as natural remedies that you can use to relieve itching, as well as heal and remove chickenpox scars. See step 1 below for more information.
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Method 1 of 4: Basic Care
Step 1. Take your child off school activities
When your child has chickenpox, he or she can easily pass it on to other children who have never been infected or have not had the chickenpox vaccine. Therefore, your child should rest at home. Your child should also get plenty of rest so they can recover faster. Prepare his favorite movie and ask him to lie down on the sofa or bed instead.
- Let your child rest at home for at least 5 days after the first smallpox rash appears.
- You should also watch for the chickenpox rash-- once it dries, your child can return to school. The time it takes for the chickenpox rashes to dry may be more than 5 days.
Step 2. Sufficient fluid needs
Make sure your child drinks plenty of water, especially if he has a fever or isn't feeling well. Drinking lots of water can help cleanse the body and stimulate the growth of new cells. Drinking plenty of fluids can also help keep his skin moisturised, thereby reducing the itching he feels, as well as helping his chickenpox sores heal.
- Ask your child to drink 8 to 10 glasses of water every day.
- If he doesn't want to drink plain water, give him fruit juice and other cold drinks.
Step 3. Give soft foods that are easy to digest
Unfortunately, chickenpox nodules can even appear in the throat. If this happens, your child will have difficulty swallowing food. As a result, you have to give foods that are soft so that they are easy to swallow and digest. You should also provide easy-to-digest foods because a heavy digestion process will deplete the body of the energy it needs to recover. Soft foods that you can give include:
- Soup: Chicken soup can help soothe the throat, while carrot and coriander soup are known to fight infection.
- Ice cream, popsicles and frozen yogurt.
- Yogurt, pudding and cottage cheese.
- Soft bread.
- Avoid spicy food, because it can make the throat feel sore.
Step 4. Give him vitamin C to strengthen his immune system
Since chickenpox is caused by a viral infection, a stronger immune system can help fight the infection and speed up the body's recovery from illness. Vitamin C will help your child's body fight the virus and kill it. Be sure to provide enough vitamin C by providing foods such as:
- Assorted citrus fruits.
- Other fruits such as kiwi, strawberries, and papaya.
- Vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, and kale.
Step 5. Give herbal tea
Herbal teas can help soothe sores in the throat caused by chickenpox. This tea can also make it easier for your child to sleep, even if they feel uncomfortable, while providing adequate fluid needs. Be sure to give your child some cooled tea so he doesn't get hurt. You can also add honey, to make this drink taste sweeter and speed up your child's recovery. Teas that are suitable for giving to your child include:
- Chamomile tea.
- Peppermint tea.
- Tulsi leaf tea.
Step 6. Ask your child to take a cold shower
A cold shower can help relieve itching on your child's skin, as well as make him feel more comfortable during illness. You can also let her take a warm bath or bath if she doesn't like cold showers.
Just don't let your child take a hot bath, because hot water can dry out his skin and make the itching caused by chickenpox worse
Step 7. Trim your child's nails to avoid scratching his skin
As weird as it may sound, it's important to trim your child's nails so he doesn't scratch the chickenpox hives when scratching them. While it's best to prevent him from scratching the chickenpox altogether, short nails will ensure he doesn't break the chickenpox rash. Because if the chickenpox nodules burst, open wounds will be more easily infected.
If your baby has chickenpox, put on baby gloves to prevent him from scratching the pimple
Step 8. Rub an ice cube on the itchy area
If your child is very uncomfortable, you can rub an ice cube on the itchy rash to soothe it. Ice can help relieve itching and swelling in the affected area.
Gently massage the itchy area with an ice cube for about 10 minutes
Step 9. Apply calamine lotion to the skin
You can apply calamine lotion to chickenpox nodules. This lotion should be applied after your child has bathed. This lotion will relieve itching so your child can sleep better at night.
Pour a little lotion on the part of the nodule, then rub gently
Step 10. Give paracetamol to relieve pain from chickenpox
Paracetamol is a pain reliever and fever reducer. This medicine can relieve symptoms that accompany chickenpox such as fever and loss of appetite. However, you should consult a doctor first before giving any medication to your child.
- The oral dose of paracetamol for children is determined by their weight and age. If your child is less than 12 years old, the dose is 10-15 mg/kg body weight every 6-8 hours, no more than 2.6 grams or 5 times a day.
- If your child is 12 years or older, the dose is 40-60mg/kg body weight/day give every 6 hours, not more than 3.75 grams or 5 times a day.
- You can also give ibuprofen, however do not give aspirin to children.
Step 11. Give an antihistamine to relieve itching
The rash and hives that appear with chickenpox can be very uncomfortable for your child. Over-the-counter antihistamines can help relieve itching by reducing swelling in the nodules. Again, talk to your doctor before giving your child an antihistamine. Some of the over-the-counter and commonly used antihistamines include:
- Benadryl.
- allegra.
- Claritin.
- Zyrtec.
Step 12. Use acyclovir cream
Another drug that can be used to treat chickenpox is acyclovir (Poviral, Kenrovir). Acyclovir is an antiviral drug that can stop the spread of the virus and relieve symptoms such as the rash and hives of chickenpox. Treatment is generally started between 24-48 hours after the rash appears. You should ask your doctor for a prescription for this medicine. Acyclovir is also available as a cream. However, this drug is generally not recommended for healthy children.
- For children 2 years of age or older, the dose is 20 mg/kg body weight orally 4 times a day, or 80 mg/kg body weight/day for 5 days.
- Children weighing more than 40 kg should be given the adult dose of acyclovir, which is 800 mg 4 times a day for 5 days.
Method 2 of 4: Relieve Itching with Home Treatments
Step 1. Apply honey on the spots
The antibacterial properties and sugar content in honey will help relieve itching due to chickenpox, as well as speed up your child's recovery. Honey can also help moisturize the skin, thereby relieving the irritation caused by chickenpox hives.
Wash your hands with warm water and soap. Apply honey to all the itchy areas with your fingers three times a day
Step 2. Soak in the oatmeal solution
Oatmeal can relieve itching on your child's skin. The protein, fat, and sugar content in oats will help protect and moisturize the skin so that the itching is reduced. If you don't have oatmeal, use corn flour which has a similar effect to oatmeal instead. To make oatmeal bath water:
- Puree two cups of unflavored oatmeal until smooth using a blender or food processor. While you don't have to do this, soft oatmeal will dissolve more easily in the soaking water.
- Turn on the bathtub faucet and pour the oatmeal into it. Stir and let this mixture sit for about 15 minutes.
- Let your child soak for 20 to 30 minutes, then help him dry off with a towel when he's done.
Step 3. Soak in the baking soda solution
Baking soda is a natural substance that neutralizes acidity, which means it can help soothe your child's itchy skin. Baking soda can restore the natural pH of your child's skin, and the chickenpox virus cannot live at that pH. To make the baking soda water:
Prepare warm water and then dissolve a cup of baking soda in it. Stir well and let your child soak for about 15 minutes. Help your child dry off with a towel when finished
Step 4. Prepare soaking water from various herbal plants
Turmeric and ginger are both effective as antibacterial so they can repel bacteria from chickenpox nodules. Because, if the nodules of chickenpox are infected with bacteria, it will feel more itchy. These two plants can also help restore your child's skin after the chickenpox virus infection has healed.
- Turmeric: You can add three teaspoons of turmeric to your child's soaking water. Turmeric soaking water can help soothe your child's skin rashes.
- Ginger: ask your child to drink ginger tea. You can also add three teaspoons of dry ginger to your child's bath to help your child recover.
Step 5. Try the pea paste
Ripe peas contain vitamin K, B vitamins, protein, zinc, magnesium, potassium, and other important vitamins and minerals. Vitamins and protein will promote healthy skin, zinc will help regenerate the skin, thus helping to prevent serious scars from chickenpox in your child. To make pea paste:
Puree 200 grams of boiled peas into a paste. Apply to the spots, and leave for an hour. Wash off this paste with warm water
Step 6. Use neem leaves
The compounds produced by neem leaves can soothe a variety of skin problems, including itching from chickenpox. This leaf has properties as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory. Neem leaves can also remove toxins in the blood and digestive tract so that your child's body can fight the chickenpox virus infection well. To use neem leaves:
- Method 1: prepare a bunch of neem leaves and puree until it becomes a paste. Apply the paste to the bumpy area.
- Method 2: You can also boil neem leaves in boiling water for a few minutes. Let the water cool and use a washcloth to rub it over your child's skin.
Method 3 of 4: Treating Nodules with Home Treatments
Step 1. Apply aloe vera gel to the affected area
Aloe vera has long been known to rejuvenate the skin and fight infections. When your child is infected with chickenpox, aloe vera can be used to prevent the chickenpox sores from becoming infected, as well as speed up the recovery process. Aloe vera can also stimulate the growth of your child's skin cells, so the scars are minimal. To use aloe vera gel:
Wash your hands with warm water and soap. Apply a drop of aloe vera gel to each chicken pox nodule
Step 2. Apply sandalwood oil to the surface of the chickenpox nodule
Sandalwood oil has antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties that can help shrink your child's skin pores, thereby reducing irritation and speeding up the healing process. To use sandalwood oil:
Wet a cotton ball with sandalwood oil. Gently apply to each chickenpox nodule
Step 3. Use vitamin E oil to help treat pimples
Vitamin E oil is an antioxidant that promotes healthy skin. When applied to the surface of your child's skin, vitamin E oil can fight the infection-causing bacteria in the nodules. This oil can also help speed up the healing of the pimple and prevent scarring after the chickenpox rash has healed. To use vitamin E oil:
Apply to the nodules on your child's skin once daily
Step 4. Add brown vinegar to the bath water
The acid content in vinegar can help kill harmful bacteria. You can prepare it by dipping cup of brown vinegar in warm water to speed healing and prevent chickenpox rashes from becoming infected.
Step 5. Apply tea tree oil to the chickenpox rash
Just like the other natural ingredients mentioned in this section, tea tree oil can fight bacteria. This oil is also efficacious as an antiseptic, so it can accelerate the healing and recovery of skin wounds due to chickenpox nodules. However, tea tree oil can be irritating, so you should dilute it before applying it to your child's skin. To use tea tree oil:
- Mix about 50 ml of a carrier oil (jojoba oil, coconut oil, or olive oil) with 15 drops of tea tree oil.
- Wet a cotton ball with the oil mixture and apply it to each chicken pox nodule.
Method 4 of 4: Get Rid of Chicken Pox Scars at Home
Step 1. Apply coconut water to your child's wound
Coconut water is one of the most moisturizing liquids. Moisturizing the skin can help fade the redness of the scar until it disappears eventually. To use coconut water:
Soak a washcloth in coconut water, then rub it into your child's skin five or six times a day
Step 2. Apply lemon juice to the chickenpox scar
Lemon juice can make the skin look brighter and healthier. Thus, lemon juice can remove the red nodules caused by the chickenpox virus. To fade chickenpox scars using lemon juice:
Apply a drop of lemon juice over the scar. Make sure the lemon juice drips right over the scar. Let it dry. Rinse your skin after the lemon juice dries
Step 3. Use a paste of neem and turmeric leaves
Both turmeric and neem leaves have properties that can help heal and fade chickenpox scars. To make a paste of turmeric and neem leaves:
