What are the symptoms of chicken pox?
Chicken pox symptoms are usually more severe in adults than in children. You can expect to have a few uncomfortable days.
- Fever (temperature), aches and headache often start a day or so before a rash appears.
- Rash. Spots appear in crops. The spots develop into small blisters and are itchy. They can be anywhere on the body and sometimes also in the mouth. Several crops may develop over several days. Some people are covered in spots, others have only a few.
- Dry cough, sore throat, and feeling sick are common.
The fever and generally feeling unwell can last several days. The blisters gradually dry up and scab. They slowly fade over a week or so, but may take 2-3 weeks to go completely. A dry cough may persist for a while after all the other symptoms have gone.
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Rebecca Bennett, 3 months
I was given advice by two people separately to give my daughter a bath with a good dollop of bicarbonate of soda in. I tried that this afternoon and she really enjoyed the bath and perked up a lot afterwards. Apparently it helps the spots to dry out quicker. If anyone has advice for the sore tongue, that would be good (although think I'll resourt to NHS direct tonight). She will only sip water and is starting to go off that!
Report this commentsue, about 1 year
My little boy is 4 and just on his 9th day of being covered in spots. I used the calamine lotion and gave him the Piriton medicine. The worst part about it though is the sore mouth and tongue of which there is nothing at all to help. He tried bonjela which just stung him terribly and didnt do any good. So consequently he hasnt eaten much for the last week or so,even juice and sqush has stung his mouth. So glad its nearly at an end and hopefully he,l be back at school next week my sanity also is going fast as we,ve been confined to the house as i cant be done with the stares and stupid comments when out and about..........
Report this commentCarole, about 1 year
I have found that the spots come out in dribs and drabs over a period of four days or so. I used both the calamine cream and lotion I also gave my granddaughter priton to try and relieve the itching but no matter what I gave her she still scratched the spots. Think that as it was a novelty to have spots just wanted to scratch them. Her appetite was also affected especially as she had spots in her mouth and on her lips, hopefully this will return given time.
Report this commentbeth, about 1 year
it is mentioned above about an antiviral drug which can be prescribed to newborns... what age is classed as a newborn? my 2 month old has just come down with chickenpox, and i was unhappy with the treatment received by an on call doctor... he didnt even examine my sons general health so im left to fend for as much info by myself! his first spot appeared sat what warning symptoms should i be looking fo in a child his age... he cant tell me how he feels!
Report this commentkirsty marie bolton, about 1 year
I had chicken pox and my chicken pox started on my back than my sister caught them as well my mum's friend's children had chicken pox and then I started scraching my back then my mum looked on my back. She said you have chicken pox you are streat off to bed so then my sister and me were playing and she chaught them. It took me two weeks to get over it.
Report this commentMrs.Jacqueline Carter, over 2 years
My daughter (3 and a half) caught chickenpox at nursery this week. My doctor was excellent and prescribed Calamine Oily Lotion as she has Eczema. It took me over an hour and a half to find a chemist which had this lotion in stock. She is in good health and reminds me that she feels o.k to go back to Nursery (bless). Anyone that calls to get an update on her progress is given a running total of spots she's counted.
Report this commentKaren Pitt, over 2 years
My daughter caught chickenpox just after her 2nd birthday, and unfortunatly this let to aninfection in her lymph glands. She ended up spending 6 nights in hospital, had to have i/v anibioticswhich didn`t kill the infection completely. She ended up with a huge abscess on her neck, which she had to have drained under general anesthetic. Another local child had hydocephaly with it. I am sure that most people do not realise that Chickenpox can be serious, so please think about it before you send your child to a chickenpox party!
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alesha, about 1 month
am 14years old i had chicken poxs at the age of 13 i haeve just started my gcse i have chicken poxs again! i dont get it i thought when i have it once it will be all gone and that i will be immune to this chicken pox virus but now it gone worse i have it in my face , mouth, leg. arms and even my breast it everywhere am so afraid now because i will have to go to school soon and it looks so emberassing!!
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