Chickenpox

Chickenpox is an infection caused by the varicella virus and it cannot be treated with antibiotics. Most children with chickenpox are unwell for about five to seven days.

Learn more about the signs and symptoms of chickenpox.

First Aid for Chickenpox

Children with chickenpox can usually be cared for at home after diagnosis.

• Treatment is usually to relieve the symptoms, which are commonly fever and an itchy rash that develops into blisters.
• Controlling the itching from the rash and other symptoms related to the viral illness is the main treatment.
• There are medications and creams that you can buy from your local pharmacy to minimise the itching.
• Chickenpox is no longer contagious when the blisters scab over.

You should take your child to see a GP again if:

• they get large, sore, red areas around the rash, which may indicate a secondary bacterial infection
• they are experiencing neck pain or difficulty breathing
• they become increasingly unwell, are very drowsy, have a high fever or are not drinking