How to treat chicken pox?

Posted by editor07 on Thursday 02 Apr 2009

260

Chicken pox is a highly contagious disease that is caused by varicella zoster virus. It is a common illness among children and those in the age group of five to nine years are mostly affected by it than individuals of any other age group. Infants under the age of six months seem to be immune to chicken pox.

Chicken pox usually begins with cold, runny nose, low grade fever, loss of appetite and general weakness. This is followed by the appearance of red colored rashes mostly on the chest, upper back, face, ears, nose and behind the ears. They soon cover the hands and legs and turn into blisters. Many of them become pustules and form scabs that later fall off. The extent of rash varies from individual to individual and the skin is cleared after a few days and the patient recovers.

Treatment for chicken pox:

If you happen to be suffering from chicken pox you need to keep cool. Heat and sweat increases itching and causes a great deal of discomfort. Take a cool, wet washcloth and place it on the really bad areas to get quick relief. Do cut your nails because you might end up scratching the rashes and spread the infection to other parts of the body. It is best to wear cotton gloves at night to avoid the risk of scratching.

Vitamin E oil is highly beneficial for speeding the recovery process and enabling the scars to fade away faster. You can apply Vitamin E oil to the scabs if you are looking to end your misery real fast. A mild sleeping aid can be prepared by taking any of the herbs like chamomile, lemon balm, Holy basil or marigold and taken several times during the day. This will enable the patient to relax and will give him/her the much needed rest.

Therapeutic baths are also highly beneficial for relieving itching and quicken the recovery process. A bath of oatmeal is one of the most effective natural treatments for chickenpox. Take about 2 cups of oatmeal and add it to 2liters of water. Cook it for 15 minutes and put the mixture in a cotton bag and tie the string tightly. Leave the cotton bag to float in a tub of warm water until the water turns silky. The patient should soak in this water to get quick relief from itching.