How to Remedy Chicken Pox for Children

Chickenpox is an infection caused by the varicella zoster virus, and although vaccines have proven affective in prevention, there is currently no cure. Home treatment can lessen the effects of the uncomfortable symptoms, which include low fever, rashes and itchiness. Because chickenpox is highly contagious, isolation of the affected individual is recommended until symptoms are no longer present. Chickenpox appears most frequently in young children and babies.

Things You'll Need

• Colloidal oatmeal
• Baking soda
• Cotton washcloth
• Lavender essential Oil
• Burdock essential Oil
• St. John's Wort
• Nettle
• Acetaminophen

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Instructions

Treating Chickenpox

• 1

  Lavender essential oil is non-toxic, and may be applied in neat form.

  Prepare herbal remedies at home. Herbal treatments are affective in treating chickenpox, and should be applied throughout the duration of the virus's presence. St. John's Wort attacks the virus and reduces pain and may be taken internally, or applied in essential oil form to areas of the skin. Burdock essential oil reduces fever and lessens the damage to skin caused by blisters, and is often used in tonic form under the direction of an herbal specialist. Aloe Vera gel and Lavender essential oil relieve itchiness and keep affected areas of the skin cool during the healing process. Nettle is an effective skin healer and may be taken in tonic form under the direction of an herbal specialist.

• 2

  Acetaminophen is often flavored and available in syrup form for children's use.

  Administer fever reducing medication. Acetaminophen is given orally to individuals with chickenpox to reduce fever and pain. Children between 2 and 3 years of age should be given one teaspoon of acetaminophen every four to six hours, according to the Tylenol Children's Dosage Guide. For children under 2 years of age, consult your physician. An antihistamine may also be given for children over 4 years of age, which helps reduce swelling and itching of the rash areas. Fever is part of the body's defense against chickenpox, so unless the fever is making the individual uncomfortable, do not administer fever reducers. Aspirin should not be used due to the medicine's link with Reyes Syndrome, a potentially life-threatening disease.

• 3

  Cool water temperatures help reduce fever and stop itchiness.

  Bathe the individual in a cool, treated bath. Cool baths prepared with colloidal oatmeal powder calm the skin and help reduce itchiness. Colloidal oatmeal powder or one cup of oatmeal from the kitchen cupboard (ground in a blender) may be added to the bath. Baking soda has similar healing properties and may be substituted for oatmeal. Add a half-cup of baking soda to a shallow, cool bath or a full-cup for a deeper bath. Cotton washcloths are used to spread the bath solution over affected areas of the skin, and may be used to treat itchiness if scratching becomes an issue. Use a cool washcloth with diluted baking soda or lavender oil on the rash area to prevent scratching and skin damage. Treat rash areas with Calamine lotion to keep the skin dry and reduce itchiness.

• 4

  Encephalitis, the inflammation of brain tissue, is a rare complication from chickenpox.

  Treat any complications with prescribed medication. According to the Mayo Clinic, "for people who have a high risk of complications from chickenpox, doctors sometimes prescribe medications to shorten the duration of the infection and to help reduce the risk of complications." Pneumonia and skin infections may be treated with an antibiotic. Immune globulin intravenous antiviral medications are used to treat severe cases, which includes the onset of encephalitis.