my kid has chicken pox

[humanoid]

Well, my 3.5 YO has the chicken pox and he keeps scratching at the bumps. What's a dad to do to keep him more comfortable during this stage? When should we go to see the pediatrician?

[bigdadi]

Originally posted by humanoid
Well, my 3.5 YO has the chicken pox and he keeps scratching at the bumps. What's a dad to do to keep him more comfortable during this stage? When should we go to see the pediatrician?

In addition to below I also try 100% Aloe Vera gel that you can buy from 24-hrs drug stores. It is very soothing and cool.
I especially like the vinegar bath mentioned at the end part. I use organic apple cider vinegar and apply to the itch skin with Q-Tip. It usually lessen the itch almost immediately and stop the itch about 2 hrs.
This is not recommended for a child, but blowing with hair dryer in hot setting (hottest you can take) for a minute or two can stop itchy skin also, especially in the midnight hour that you can't find any drug to use. I tried that and it works.


How To Ease the misery of Chicken pox

Doc says. At first your child doesn’t feel well. Out of sorts.
You put him to bed and notice a tiny bump on his belly.
In the morning a whole flock has escalated.
WELCOME TO CHICKEN POX.

It’s a fairly harmless malady, that can strike babies, children, and adults.
For a week or two it is almost continual.
At first there may be a mild fever, then blisters, then itching, and finally scabs.
After your child has them, their usually gone for good.
Unless you have another susceptible child in the house, that hasn’t been through them yet.

Supply Pain Relief.
If the fever or itching makes your child unbearably uncomfortable, you can give Children’s Tylenol. Check the package directions for correct dosage.
Children under two years see doc.
If fever isn’t making him uncomfortable.
DO NOT TRY TO LOWER IT.
It is one of the body’s disease fighting mechanisms.
NEVER GIVE A CHILD WITH POX ASPIRINS. They have been linked to Reye’s Syndrome. A potentially life threatening complication.

Dress Child Lightly.
The cooler you keep your child the first 48 – 72 hours, the less discomfort he will have.
Cotton is best choice. The least irritating.

Supply SomeCool Relief.
Put child in a cool bath. No not cold he’ll shiver.
This will help bring the fever down.

Try An Itch Relief Bath.
A bath in Colloidal Oatmeal is very soothing. It is a ground powder, found at drug stores.
The brand name is Aveeno. Directions are on the box.
DO NOT ALLOW YOUR CHILD TO STAND IN THE BATH. This product is very slippery.

Or Soothe On Soda.
Baking soda is perfectly good to. Mix ½ cup in a shallow bath. Or 1 cup in a deep bath.
Use a washcloth to spread the bath water, over infected areas.

Cool That Itch.
If your child has one or two itching,, wring out a cold wash cloth. Lay it on the area for five minutes. Coolness on the sight of the itch, can counteract the itching. Make sure the smoothe side of the cloth is touching the skin. The rough side is too irritating.


Keep Your Child Clean.
Give him a daily bath and shampoo. This keeps the sores clean, and helps prevent infection. Change pajamas nightly, and diapers frequently. This reduces risk of sores getting infected.

Control All Scratching.
Explain good to your child that he must not scratch. Scraching causes infection and scarring. Supply a cool wash cloth, to prevent him from ripping his skin open.

Clip Those Nails..
Keep their nails cut short. Scratching with fingernails can lead to infection, and permanent scarring. Also keep them trimmed for several weeks after.

Treat With An Antibiotic.
If any of the pox shows signs of infection, such as redness around them, or pus apply an ointment such as Neopsporin, or Polysporin. If more than a few infected, see doc.

Or Try Calamine Lotion with Phenol.
This type of lotion works as a topical anesthethic, and can help with the itching. Be sure an put it on the pox only. DO NOT SMEAR ALL OVER THE SKIN. This gets absorbed into the skin. DO NOT EXCEED PACKAGE DIRECTIONS.

AVOID HYDROCORTISONE CRAMS AND OINTMENTS. True these will fight inflammation. BUT THEY INHIBIT THE CHILD’S OWN IMMUNE SYSTEM, FROM FIGHTING THE VIRUS IN THE AREAS APPLIED. COULD EVEN ALLOW THE POX TO GENERATE FURTHER.

KEEP YOUR CHILD OUT OF THE SUN.Children who have recently had pox, or are about to come down with them, should be extra careful, about sun exposure.
Children who become sunburned during the incubation period, or close to break out time, will have a worse case of them. So if you know of pox going around, keep your children off that sun drenched playing field.

Get Out That Protector.
Apply sunscreen with SPF sun protection factor of 15 or higher.

Get the Best Relief Of All.
Dyprotex one of the better anti itch formulas, does not crust. There is a less chance of scarring. Apply this after you get out of your vinegar bath. Mix up 1 cup of white vinegar
And ½ cup baking soda. Toss in your bath. Soak 20 minutes. Get out dry off and apply the Dyprotex. You can also use this vinegar mix, and soak any itching later on.

The older you are the worse case you will have. It’s hardest on the adults who have never had them before. They can even run into cases of pneumonia.

But remember anyone taking cancer drugs or cortisone must alert his doc immediately of the first sign of pox.

[humanoid]

Thanks for that, I'll give some of those remedies a try.

[bigdadi]

When to See the Doctor

In rare cases, the chickenpox virus can cause encephalitis, and it has also been linked to Reye's syndrome. Both ailments are life-threatening brain inflammations, so give your pediatrician a call if you have any doubts about your child's symptoms, advises William Howatt, M.D., professor of pediatrics in the Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor. And always contact your pediatrician when your chickenpox patient has:

* Fever after the sores have begun to scab over.

* High fever accompanied by severe headache, vomiting, disorientation or convulsions.

* Pain when the neck is stretched.

You should also contact the doctor if your child has more than a few sores that are excessively swollen, red or painful. These may be infected. Your doctor may want to prescribe antibiotics.

[humanoid]

Cool, once again, thanks!

[sblvro]

just call your peds first before going to the clinic or hosp with your child with chicken pox. you don't want to bring him/her there and infect all the child having well baby visit that day.

[tunergirl]

When I had them in 5th grade. We used Benadryl cream (don't know if it is still out there at walmart) and it helped to stop the itching. It's going to be hard to keep her from itching. If she keeps itching and breaks them open then she or he will have scars where it heals over. I have a couple from me scratching so much.

[hondacuraplanet]

I got them at age 27. No fun.

[LChisum]

And for those of you who've had chicken pox and have achieved the age of 60 (or will someday), chicken pox can rear its ugly head again in the form of shingles. Shingles can be a very prolonged, painful, and immobilizing experience. There is now a vaccine available which may prevent shingles, or at least lessen the impact of any attacks. The vaccine is relatively new, pricey, and current demand is making it hard to find in some cases. It's worth talking about to your doctor if you are the magic age, and have had chicken pox in the past.

Larry

[bigdadi]

How is your lil one doing so far?

[humanoid]

Originally posted by bigdadi
How is your lil one doing so far?

The wifey took the rugrat to the doc while I had to go to work. I'm going to give my wife a call and see how he's doing and I'll update everyone as soon as I find out, thanks for all the concern and help everyone!

[humanoid]

OK, update time...

The doc says he does indeed have the pox and he's just beginning to get some coughing. He says if it gets any worse to go see him again, quite normal he says. I guess the wife, myself and the grandparents will just have to keep him occupied enough to keep him from scratching too much. I've also read online at WebMD that it's best to keep my son out of the sun as much as possible; that's too bad too, my friend is going to have a suprise d-day party at a park with a bunch of little rugrats too, too bad he'll have to miss that. Thanks again for everyone's concern and help with my kid's pox outbreak, hope I can return the favor soon.