diyhealth.com

9 DIY strategies to identify onset of chickenpox

Chickenpox is a very common contagious disease, especially prevalent among children. Though not a serious condition, much can be done to curtail the symptoms if the condition is identified early on. Check for the following symptoms if you have been in contact with people who have chicken pox and suspect that a certain rash and blister on your body and associated flu like symptoms could mean the onset of chickenpox. If diagnosed with chickenpox, it is important to isolate oneself from others so as to prevent the spread of the disease to other family members.

Identify the type of rash

Several types of rashes can affect the skin and therefore it is important to identify the rash correctly for the treatment to become effective. The rash associated with chickenpox mostly starts on the abdomen or the back or on the face. The rash appears as a multiple red bump with clear fluid, which turns cloudy in due course. It resembles a pimple or an insect bite. The rash finally turns crusty and form scabs, which are brown in color. If you find such a rash, it could most probably be chickenpox. Look for associated symptoms along with this rash to confirm the diagnosis.

Check the spreading of the rash

Rashes associated with chickenpox will soon start spreading to other areas of the body. Therefore, it is important to check other parts of the body to see if more rashes are breaking out. The rashes are such that they form into a blister and start bursting and forming into scabs. New rashes start forming for 3-4 days while the old ones start crusting. The rashes are also mostly concentrated around the abdomen, back, face and chest. The rashes can cause a whole lot of pain and discomfort with the pain being more prominent when the blisters burst. It is important to avoid scratching as the rashes can spread to other areas of the body. Treatment should start immediately to contain the spread as well.

Check for fever

As fever is a symptom of some kind of infection, when you get the rashes of chickenpox, slight fever too is not uncommon. Medications and pain relievers will be prescribed to reduce the fever and the discomfort associated with the rashes of chickenpox. When the rashes start appearing, look for signs of fever to confirm that it is chickenpox. Slight fever and associated body pain will be felt by most people even two to three days before the rashes start appearing. Whilst slight fever is common with chickenpox, high fever is unnatural and is a cause of concern. In such a situation, immediate medical attention must be sought.

Check for tiredness

All viral infections can make the person extremely tired. With the onset of chickenpox too, this must be expected. Children can turn increasingly lethargic and drowsy even before the fever and rashes start appearing, due to the action of the virus on the body and the body’s immune system working hard to combat the infection. Check for tiredness along with rashes and a general feeling of malaise if you suspect that you have chickenpox. You can go for a checkup immediately and start medication as early as possible to reduce the symptoms and formation of scar on the body.

Identify other cases of chickenpox

Most cases of chickenpox spread through contact with friends, neighbors, and family members. Therefore, if you have been closely dealing with friends and neighbors who have had chickenpox recently or have family members who have contracted the infection, it is a good idea to take preventive measures immediately and look for signs of infection every day so that you can catch the disease early on. Keep away from people who are infected to reduce your chances of infection. Chickenpox is known to be most contagious two days before the rashes actually appear on the skin. They remain contagious until all the rashes are completely healed.

Intense itching

Though most rashes have itching as a common symptom, it is still advisable to check for intense itching at the first appearance of a rash on your body. Intense itching combined with other symptoms and the appearance of more rashes in the coming days would surely mean that it is a case of chickenpox infection. Itching can be uncontrollable and this can make you scratch the affected area, thereby spreading the rash to other areas of the body and causing permanent scars to form. The scratching and itching can be controlled through the use of turmeric or neem paste or a combination of both as well.

Headache

Many people complain of a dull or severe headache, which starts even before the rashes appear on the body. The headache stays for several days throughout the infection. For some, the headache starts as a mild pain, but it goes on to increase in severity and finally develops into migraine, which has associated discomforts like nausea, sensitivity to light and lack of concentration. Headache can be controlled through the use of medications and its severity can be reduced considerably through adequate rest.

Flu symptoms

All viral infections are followed by symptoms that resemble flu. This includes headache, body pain, running nose, sore throat, cough and general bodily discomfort. The symptoms surface even before the rashes appear on the body. However, flu like symptoms are not common for all chickenpox cases and some people do not experience much physical discomfort even when the rashes are dominant. Symptoms of flu must be assessed only along with the rashes to confirm the presence of chickenpox.

Pain

Pain is a symptom that can occur even before the rashes appear. It can be a headache or body pain. Some people also complain of abdominal pain before the rashes appear. This will also be followed by pain and a general feeling of illness. Pain associated with chickenpox can be controlled through the use of pain medications.

Today's Top Articles:

Scroll to Top