Buzz
Children who contract chickenpox should refrain from participating in outdoor activities such as camping with friends or attending school. Chickenpox typically resolves on its own without the need for medication, but there are various ways you can help ease your child's discomfort while their body fights the virus. Specifically, there are simple guidelines you can follow to make your child more comfortable, as well as use natural ingredients to reduce itching, heal blisters, and treat scars from chickenpox. If your child experiences severe symptoms, or if someone in the household has a weakened immune system, seek medical care.
Steps to Follow
Basic Treatment Methods
Keep your child home from school. When infected with chickenpox, your child can easily spread the virus to classmates, particularly those who have not had chickenpox or been vaccinated. Keeping your child at home is essential. Additionally, ensure your child rests to recover more quickly. You can let them watch their favorite movie and rest on the couch or bed (if possible).
- Keep your child at home for at least 5 days after the first chickenpox lesion appears.
- Monitor the lesions, and once they dry, your child can return to school. This process may take longer than 5 days.
Cho trẻ uống đủ nước. Việc cho trẻ uống nhiều nước, đặc biệt là khi trẻ bị sốt hoặc cảm thấy mệt mỏi, là vô cùng quan trọng. Uống nước giúp thanh lọc cơ thể và giúp tế bào mới phát triển. Không những vậy, bước này còn giúp cung cấp nước cho da, từ đó giảm cảm giác ngứa và chữa lành sẹo do thủy đậu.
- Cố gắng cho trẻ uống 8-10 cốc nước mỗi ngày.
- Nếu trẻ không muốn uống nước lọc, bạn có thể cho trẻ uống nước ép hoa quả và các thức uống lạnh khác.
Ăn thức ăn mềm, dễ tiêu hóa. Vết thủy đậu có thể hình thành cả ở trong họng. Khi đó, trẻ sẽ gặp khó khăn trong việc nuốt thức ăn. Chính vì vậy, bạn nên cho trẻ ăn thức ăn mềm để thức ăn dễ trôi qua họng và vào dạ dày. Bên cạnh đó, bạn nên cho trẻ ăn thức ăn dễ tiêu hóa vì thức ăn khó tiêu sẽ khiến cơ thể trẻ mất nhiều năng lượng hơn, từ đó trẻ lâu hồi phục hơn. Thức ăn mềm gồm có: :
- Súp: súp gà truyền thống có tác dụng làm dịu cổ họng, còn súp cà rốt với rau mùi có tác dụng chống nhiễm trùng.
- Các loại kem và sữa chua đông lạnh.
- Sữa chua, bánh pudding và phô mai tươi.
- Bánh mì mềm.
- Tránh thức ăn cay vì đồ cay sẽ khiến tình trạng mụn nước tồi tệ hơn.
Tăng cường hệ miễn dịch bằng vitamin C. Vì thủy đậu là do nhiễm vi rút nên việc tăng cường hệ miễn dịch cho trẻ sẽ giúp chống lại nhiễm trùng và tăng tốc độ hồi phục. Vitamin C giúp cơ thể trẻ tấn công và tiêu diệt vi rút. Vì vậy, bạn cần đảm bảo bổ sung đủ vitamin C cho trẻ bằng các thực phẩm như: :
- Hoa quả họ cam quýt như cam, bưởi và quýt.
- Các loại hoa quả khác như kiwi, dâu tây và đu đủ.
- Các loại rau như bông cải xanh, rau bina (cải bó xôi) và cải xoăn.
Uống trà thảo mộc. Trà thảo mộc giúp làm dịu mụn nước trong cổ họng (nếu có). Ngoài ra, trà thảo mộc còn giúp trẻ dễ ngủ hơn dù đang khó chịu và cung cấp nước cho cơ thể trẻ. Nên nhớ để trà nguội trước khi cho trẻ uống để tránh gây bỏng. Bạn có thể cho thêm mật ong để tăng hương vị cho trà và tăng tốc độ hồi phục cho trẻ. Các loại trà thảo mộc nên cho trẻ uống bao gồm:
- Trà hoa cúc.
- Trà bạc hà.
- Trà hương nhu.
Cho trẻ tắm nước lạnh. Tắm nước lạnh giúp làm dịu cơ ngứa trên da, đồng thời giúp trẻ thoải mái hơn khi mệt mỏi. Bạn cũng có thể cho trẻ tắm nước ấm nếu trẻ không thích nước lạnh.
- Tuy nhiên, không được cho trẻ tắm nước nóng, vì việc tiếp xúc với nước nóng sẽ làm da khô và ngứa do vết thủy đậu nặng thêm.
Trim your child's nails to prevent scratching their skin. Although it may sound unusual, trimming your child's nails is important to prevent them from scratching and breaking open the blisters. Broken blisters are more prone to infection.
- If your baby has chickenpox, you can put mittens on their hands to prevent scratching the blisters.
Apply ice cubes to the itchy spots. If your child feels itchy, you can rub ice cubes on the affected blisters. The ice helps numb the area, reducing swelling and itchiness.
- Gently massage the ice cubes on the itchy area for about 10 minutes.
Use Calamine lotion on the blisters. You can apply Calamine lotion to the blisters. It's best to bathe your child before applying the lotion. The cooling lotion can alleviate discomfort and help your child sleep better at night.
- Squeeze a small amount of lotion onto each blister and apply gently.
Give Acetaminophen to relieve pain from chickenpox. Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer that can temporarily help with symptoms such as fever and loss of appetite due to chickenpox. However, you should consult a doctor before giving your child any medication.
- For children under 12 years old, the dose is 10-15 mg/kg every 6-8 hours, not exceeding 2.6 g/day or 5 doses.
- For children over 12, the dose is 40-60 mg/kg/day, every 6 hours, not exceeding 3.76 g/day or 5 doses.
- You can give ibuprofen, but never aspirin. In rare cases, aspirin can cause a dangerous condition known as Reye's Syndrome in children under 18.
Give antihistamine to reduce itching. The blisters and rash from chickenpox can make your child feel very uncomfortable. Over-the-counter antihistamines can help reduce itching by decreasing the swelling of the blisters. Be sure to consult a doctor before giving your child antihistamines. Common antihistamines include:
- Benadryl
- Allegra
- Claritin
- Zyrtec
Use Acyclovir Cream. Acyclovir, marketed under the brand name Zovirax, is an antiviral medication that can be used to treat chickenpox. It helps slow the spread of the virus and alleviates symptoms like blisters and rashes. Treatment should typically begin within 24-48 hours of the appearance of the rash. A prescription from a doctor is necessary. Acyclovir is also available in cream form. However, this medication is usually not recommended for healthy children.
- For children over 2 years old, the recommended dose is 20 mg/kg per dose, four times a day, or 80 mg/kg per day for 5 days.
- For children over 40 kg, the adult dose of 800 mg, four times a day, should be used for 5 days.
Home remedies for itching treatment
Apply honey to the blisters. Honey’s antibacterial properties and sugar content help reduce itching caused by blisters while promoting faster healing. Honey moisturizes the skin, reducing irritation caused by the blisters.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap. Use your finger to apply honey directly to each blister 3 times daily.
Soak in an oatmeal bath. Oatmeal is known to soothe itching on the skin. Its proteins, fats, and sugars help protect and hydrate the skin, easing irritation caused by the blisters. If oatmeal is unavailable, cornstarch can be used as an alternative. Here’s how to take an oatmeal bath:
- Use a food processor to grind 2 cups of whole oats into a fine powder. Although optional, this step helps the oatmeal dissolve better in the bath water.
- Turn on the warm water and fill the bathtub, then add the oatmeal. Stir the water and let it sit for about 15 minutes.
- Let the child soak in the bath for about 20-30 minutes. Help them dry off with a towel afterward.
Take a bath with baking soda. Baking soda is a natural acid-neutralizing agent that helps relieve itching on the skin. It works by maintaining the skin’s natural pH, which can be disrupted by the chickenpox virus. Here’s how to prepare a baking soda bath:
- Turn on the warm water and fill the tub, then add 1 cup of baking soda. Stir the water and allow the child to soak for about 15 minutes. Finally, help them dry off with a towel.
Take a bath with other herbs. Both turmeric and ginger are herbs known for their antibacterial properties, which help prevent bacterial infections in chickenpox blisters. If the blisters become infected, it can worsen itching. Additionally, turmeric and ginger both aid in faster recovery after the virus has been treated.
- Turmeric: Add 3 teaspoons of turmeric to a warm bath to soothe the blisters on the skin.
- Ginger: Have the child drink ginger tea. Alternatively, you can add 3 teaspoons of ginger to a warm bath to help heal the skin.
Try a mung bean paste. Cooked mung beans contain vitamin K, vitamin B, protein, zinc, magnesium, potassium, and other essential vitamins and minerals. These nutrients support skin health, while zinc helps in the skin’s healing process, reducing the risk of severe scarring after chickenpox. How to use mung bean paste:
- Crush 200 grams of cooked mung beans to create a paste. Apply this paste to the blisters and leave it for about 1 hour. Rinse off the paste with warm water.
Use Neem leaves. The molecules in Neem leaves help calm various skin conditions, including the itching caused by chickenpox. Neem leaves have antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. They also help purify the blood and cleanse the intestines, boosting the child’s ability to fight the chickenpox virus. How to use Neem leaves:
- Method 1: Crush a handful of Neem leaves to make a paste. Apply this paste to the blisters.
- Method 2: Boil a handful of Neem leaves in hot water for a few minutes. Let the water cool, then use a clean cloth to apply the water to the child’s skin.
Treat blisters with home remedies
Apply aloe vera gel to the blisters. Aloe vera has long been known for its skin regeneration properties and ability to treat infections. Applying aloe vera gel to chickenpox blisters helps prevent infection while speeding up healing. Additionally, aloe vera promotes faster new skin cell growth, helping to prevent scarring after the chickenpox has healed. How to use aloe vera gel:
- Wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap. Use your finger to apply a small amount of aloe vera gel (about the size of a pea) directly to each blister.
Apply sandalwood oil to the chickenpox lesions. Sandalwood oil has antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties that help tighten pores, reduce irritation, and accelerate the healing of chickenpox blisters. How to use sandalwood oil:
- Dip a cotton ball into the oil. Gently apply the oil directly to each blister.
Use vitamin E oil to treat chickenpox blisters. Vitamin E oil is an antioxidant that helps combat bacteria and prevent the inflammation of blisters. It also aids in faster healing and prevents scarring from the blisters. How to use vitamin E oil:
- Apply vitamin E oil to each blister once a day.
Add brown rice vinegar to the bath. The acidic nature of brown rice vinegar helps eliminate harmful bacteria. You can fill the bathtub with warm water and add ½ cup of brown rice vinegar to accelerate the healing of the blisters while preventing infection.
Apply tea tree oil to the blisters. Like the other natural remedies, tea tree oil has antibacterial properties. Additionally, tea tree oil has disinfectant qualities that help the blisters dry up and heal faster. However, tea tree oil can irritate the skin, so it should be diluted with another oil before applying it to the child’s skin. How to use tea tree oil:
- Mix 50 ml of carrier oil (such as jojoba oil, coconut oil, or olive oil) with 15 drops of tea tree oil.
- Dip a cotton ball into the mixture and apply it directly to each blister.
Home remedies for chickenpox scars
Apply coconut water to scars. Coconut water is known for its moisturizing properties, which help reduce redness and promote the healing of scars. To use coconut water for scar treatment:
- Dip a soft cloth into the coconut water and gently apply it to the affected area 5-6 times a day.
Apply lemon juice to scars after chickenpox. Lemon juice helps brighten the skin, making it look healthier. As a result, the red scars caused by the chickenpox virus will gradually fade. To use lemon juice to fade scars from chickenpox:
- Apply a drop of lemon juice directly onto the scar. Be sure to only apply the juice to the scar. Allow it to dry before washing thoroughly.
Use a turmeric and Neem leaf mixture. Both turmeric and Neem leaves have antiseptic properties that help heal and fade scars caused by chickenpox. To use the turmeric and Neem leaf mixture:
- Mix ½ cup of turmeric with ½ cup of Neem leaves. Grind the two ingredients together into a paste. Apply the mixture to the skin.
