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Chicken pox, also known as chickenpox, lasts 10 to 14 days and during this period some precautions are important for the prevention and relief of symptoms. Vaccination and physical detachment for non-transmission, as well as the infected person should look for ways to relieve itchy wounds so as not to hurt and generate scars, in addition to adapting the diet to strengthen immunity and help the body fight this phase.
Chickenpox is an infection caused by the Varicella-Zoster virus that causes fever, malaise and red spots on the body that itch a lot. Know other symptoms of chicken pox.
There are some precautions that help prevent and combat the damage caused by chicken pox, check out the main ones:
1. To prevent
There are several ways to get infected with the chicken pox virus, either by coughing or by breathing, as it passes through respiratory secretions, in direct contact with the skin or with a contaminated surface and can still be transmitted from the mother to the baby during pregnancy, in childbirth or breastfeeding and once with the disease, the person creates protection and is immune against the virus. There are cases of people who contracted the disease a second time, but they are rare and it appears milder.
Vaccination is the best form of prevention against the disease. In Brazil, the vaccine against chicken pox is offered free of charge by the Unified Health System and is part of the tetraviral vaccine, which also protects against mumps, rubella and measles, being administered in 2 doses, the first must be taken at 12 months and the second dose 3 months after the first. Because it is an easily contagious disease, infected people must remain without physical contact or collective contact with others for 14 days or until all the bubbles dry up to prevent transmission.
2. Not to be left with "little marks"
As the main symptom of chicken pox is wounds, all that the infected people want is the final healing and that the marks disappear. Never blow bubbles, avoid scratching the lesions as much as possible and exposure to the sun are very important precautions, as well as keeping your nails short and clean, using bactericidal soap or gel alcohol several times a day, and even putting on gloves or socks in the hands at night to avoid the risk of unconsciously scratching and hurting.
Other measures to relieve itching include applying something cold like ice packs to the lesions, since when the body feels cold on the skin it ends up blocking the itchy sensation. If there are head wounds, you should wash your hair without rubbing your scalp and take care when combing your hair. In addition, taking several cold baths a day, using 1 cup of rolled oats, without rubbing the skin, is an effective home remedy option to avoid the marks. See other home remedy options for chicken pox.
In addition, studies have been looking for ways to eliminate the marks left by chicken pox and products have already shown to be effective such as rosehip oil and rosehip essential oils, retinol creams, retinol creams and exfoliants, which by removing old skin and then, the stained or rough part. There are also some scar removal creams that can help in the process.
3. Ways of treatment
There are treatments that can be performed to decrease the symptoms of chicken pox and thus help the body fight this disease such as the use of anti-allergic drugs and analgesics, in addition to other forms such as natural treatments and ointments. Understand how chicken pox treatment is done.
4. Adequate feeding
To reduce the effects and control chicken pox it is essential to stay hydrated and well nourished to strengthen the immune system. Special care must be reinforced if the person has sores inside the mouth, and spicy, acidic, salty and crunchy foods can further irritate the lesions. Therefore, soft, light foods and non-acidic fruits and vegetables are the most suitable, as well as foods rich in iron. Sugar-free popsicles are a great option, as well as relieving itching, they help hydrate.
See in this video more about foods and nutrients that can be consumed to increase immunity:
Care of chicken pox in pregnancy
Since the woman cannot be vaccinated while pregnant, if she is infected during pregnancy, she should immediately contact the doctor who can prescribe an injection of immunoglobulin against varicella zoster, which when applied within 10 days of exposure, can prevent and reduce the severity of the risk of complications for the mother and baby.
In cases where the woman wants to become pregnant without these risks and does not know if she is immunized, she can have blood tests to find out if she has antibodies and, if she does not have one, she can get the vaccine. It is recommended to wait up to 3 months after the second dose before trying to conceive. Learn more about the risks, symptoms and how to protect yourself from chicken pox in pregnancy.
Baby chickenpox care
If there are suspicions that the baby has chickenpox, it is necessary to consult with the pediatrician, even if the symptoms are mild, in addition to it being important to take care of them:
- Help to reduce itching with warm baths and chamomile lotion;
- Put gloves on the baby during the day and night so that he does not scratch the wounds;
- Let the baby get plenty of rest;
- Offer plenty of water for the baby to stay hydrated;
- Offer food that is easy to swallow and digest. Unsalted soups and porridge and citrus foods like oranges, strawberries and tomatoes should be avoided as they can cause pain;
- Before the baby is 3 months old, medicines to reduce fever should not be administered without first consulting a doctor.
However, the baby tends to be irritable, not hungry and to cry more during the period when he is sick. See more about chicken pox in your baby and how to treat it.
How long does chicken pox last
The disease lasts 10 to 14 days and the person stops transmitting when the wounds dry, around the 7th day, however, the person becomes infected at the time of contact with the virus, but only 15 days after the symptoms that cause the disease.
The moment the person stops being contagious, that is, when the wounds are dry, the routine can be resumed. Even so, the marks of chicken pox should only come out completely after 3 weeks and if any wound has been hurt, it can produce scars that will remain on the skin for life.