Chickenpox is not serious in most people. Some treatments used to ease discomfort are:
- Cool, moist compresses
- Oatmeal or baking soda baths
- Calamine lotion
- Popsicles and other cold foods to ease sores in the mouth
Scratching can lead to infection. A person should take steps to avoid it, such as:
- Keeping fingernails cut short
- Covering fingers with gloves or mittens
References
Chickenpox. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/chickenpox . Accessed September 8, 2020.
Chickenpox. Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/chickenpox.html. Accessed September 8, 2020.
Chickenpox (varicella). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/chickenpox. Accessed September 8, 2020.
Gershon AA, Breuer J, et al. Varicella zoster virus infection. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2015 Jul 2;1:15016.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Shawna Grubb, RN
- Review Date: 03/2020
- Update Date: 03/19/2021