A guide on chicken pox treatment, home remedies and some of the best hospitals in Nairobi, Kenya that you go for treatment.

What is Chickenpox?

Chickenpox is a highly viral disease that is caused by a virus known as varicella-zoster. Chickenpox causes red itchy blisters all over the body and sometimes some itchy rashes that last from 7 up to 21 days. It mostly affects children, but if one may get it at some point in their lives if they were never vaccinated.

Signs and symptoms of chickenpox

The most common sign of chickenpox is red itchy rashes all over the body but below are  other symptoms that come along with suffering from chickenpox;

• Loss of appetite
• Headache
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Feeling sickly
• Fatigue
• Crankiness in children

Chickenpox  Infection

Chickenpox is highly contagious. Simple contact with the infected person could infect you with chickenpox. When in the same room with someone with chickenpox, beware that a cough or sneeze could infect you with chickenpox.

Diagnosis and treatment of chickenpox in Kenya

You need to visit healthcare practitioner if you get chickenpox and are below one year, more than 12 years and are pregnant. For others, you can visit a chemist and get calamine lotion. You need to apply the lotion to prevent hitching.

For Home remedies, you should take a cool oatmeal bath (NOTE: The oatmeal we a referring to here is called Colloidal Oatmeal not the one you eat during your breakfast meals).

Also, avoid high temperature conditions as they increase itching.

If however, you have health related conditions like HIV/AIDs, Cancer, Asthma,  et.c visit your doctor  as you will need substitute drugs to hasten your healing. The healing process takes about two to three weeks and  it starts with the pink bumps becoming more like blisters. The blisters then dry up and become crusty and later they start peeling off.

You may want to visit a hospital or clinic near you if the bumps start spreading in the eyes and mouth.

Prevention of chickenpox in Kenya

Chicken pox can  be prevented by taking your child for immunization at 12 months with varicella zoster vaccine. If you child is also below 13 years and has never been vaccinated or developed Chicken Pox, it is recommended that you take him or her for vaccination. Otherwise, vaccination is not needed for  those who have had chicken pox as body  develops immunity.

Important! If you are expectant and you have contracted Chicken Pox, please seek medical attention as it will have an effect on the unborn baby. We do recommend Getrude’s Children’s hospital for chicken pox treatment.