What is Chickenpox?
Chickenpox is a viral infection that affects everyone once in a lifetime. This infection stays for 7-10 days and later goes off gradually.
Once the infection is gone human beings develop natural immunity for the virus and stay protected throughout life later. But in some cases, the virus can get reactivated and raise symptoms which are referred to as shingles.
Children between the ages of 5-12 years are common victims of the infection. But this can affect adults too who were not infected during childhood.
The symptoms of chickenpox are milder in a child compared to an adult. Home remedies for chickenpox are trusted ways to get rid of the infection and also symptoms.
Natural treatment for chickenpox prevents complications, relieves itching, etc. and also reduces the duration of stay of symptoms.
Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. This is a quite common infection and in the old days was untreatable even by home remedies for chickenpox.
This infection has claimed many lives in ancient times. The mortality rate due to chickenpox is minimal these days but marks and spots on the skin which blister leave are the cause of concerns for many.
In a few cases, complications like swelling in the brain, pneumonia and bacterial infection in the skin can occur. These are serious conditions and need immediate medical attention.
Many adults even after suffering from chickenpox in childhood can face reoccurrence of symptoms in the form shingles.
This condition raises rash and frustrating symptoms. Home remedies for chickenpox are suitable for calming symptoms of shingles as well.
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Causes and Symptoms of Chickenpox
Varicella-zoster virus is main cause for chickenpox which is highly contagious and active. This virus is almost every case infects a person once in a lifetime.
Mostly at a young age, people get infected with this virus and later stay immune to it. But in many cases, people get infected at later age after adulthood.
In a few cases, viruses can affect more than once and cause shingles. Children having mild symptoms of chickenpox are susceptible to get another infection at a later age.
There are a few factors that increase the chances of infection in a person who never had chickenpox.
Contact with an infected person via sharing clothes, towels, and other personal things or even staying in the room with infected person for more than 15 minutes increase chances of infection.
Coming in contact with skin or flakes of blisters of an infected person and poor immunity are other factors that increase the chances of chickenpox in person who never had this infection.
Vaccines for chickenpox are available but these do not provide 100% protection. People working with children at schools or at childcare facilities are at high risk of catching an infection.
Pregnant women and newborn babies whose mother never had an infection are also at high risk of catching chickenpox. People taking treatments that lower immunity can catch chickenpox or shingles easily.
Occurrences of red rashes that turn into blisters are primary symptoms of chickenpox. These generally occur first over neck, shoulders, and face and spread all over the body.
The symptoms of chickenpox accompany fever, tiredness and low stamina, loss of appetite and feeling of malice. The blisters first appear as red bumps or papules which turn into fluid-filled blisters.
These later dry off and form a crust, after crusting these heal in few days. The symptoms of chickenpox arrive after 10-21 days of infection and last for 5-10 days.
A person suffering with chickenpox can spread infection before the arrival of blisters and till blisters form a scab. The blisters after healing can leave a mark or spot.
If rashes become tender or extend in one or both eyes. If there is shortness of breath, dizziness, lack of muscle coordination or rapid heartbeat.
Or if one notices disorientation, vomiting, stiff neck, tremors, severe cough and fever above 102 degrees it is a sign of severe infection.
During an outbreak, it is advisable to keep people with poor immunity and children less than 4 years completely away from patient.
Home Remedies for Chickenpox
Baking Soda Water – Treatment for Chickenpox
Sponge the patient with baking soda water. Add a tablespoon of baking soda to a jug full of warm water and give a sponge bath.
Alternatively, add a cup of baking soda to a bathtub full for warm water and give patient a bath for 10-15 minutes. Let the mixture dry on skin in both cases and repeat regularly for a few days.
These are trusted home remedies for chickenpox which allow blisters to heal faster and suppress itching etc.
Neem Leaves – Natural Remedy for Chickenpox
Take Neem leaves and grind these, add few drops of water to make a paste, apply the paste over blisters and leave. Wash off after 15-20 minutes and repeat till blisters heal.
Neem is antifungal and antibacterial and also prevents the problem from aggravating. Fan patient with neem fronds and hang a few neem fronds around the patient’s bed.
This also helps in stopping the virus from affecting people entering the room. This is one of the old and trusted home remedies for chickenpox.
Home Remedies to Getting Rid of Chickenpox
Take 2 cups of oatmeal powder or grind oats to get a powder. Add these to 2 liters of water and let the mixture sit for 15 minutes.
Now strain and collect oatmeal in a muslin cloth, tie to form a bag and stir it in a bathtub till the water turns milky. Now add 4 drops of roman chamomile and lavender oil and 2 drops each of niaouli, tea tree, cloves, and rosemary essential oil.
Mix the oils with water and take a relaxing bath for 20 minutes. Repeat regularly to get rid of itching and heal the blisters faster. This is one of the popular home remedies for chickenpox.
Honey and Aloe Vera – Home Remedy to Relief Chickenpox Itching
Honey and Aloe Vera gel both provide excellent natural treatment for chickenpox. Apply honey over blisters or fresh Aloe Vera gel whichever is convenient.
Let any of these sit for 15 minutes and wipe off later. These will soothe itching and burning and also provide faster healing. These also ensure clear and smooth skin after chickenpox.
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Holy Basil Leaves – Natural Treatment for Chickenpox
Boil a pot full of water with 2-3 tablespoons of holy basil leaves. Let the mixture boil for a few minutes and allow it to simmer till it cools down. Strain and keep the water in the refrigerator.
When it is chilled soak a cotton towel and sponge the skin of the patient. Let the water dry off over skin. Use remaining water the next day till you have used entire water.
Repeat regularly to calm down itching and burning and heal the blisters faster. Holy basil is part of the old natural treatment for chickenpox.
Carrots and Coriander Leaves – Remedy for Chickenpox
Take one cup of chopped carrots and one and a half cup of coriander leaves. Add these to a sufficient amount of water and keep the mixture to boil.
Let it boil for 15 minutes over a low flame and allow it to become warm later. Strain and drink the water regularly for a month. It will heal blisters and also minimize the chances of marks and spots on the skin.
Eating boiled carrots is also good way to relieve the symptoms. Both of these are reliable home remedies for chickenpox.
Epsom Salt – Natural Treatment for Chickenpox
Use Epsom salt for bath or sponge to relieve symptoms and heal the blisters faster. Add 2 cups of Epsom salt to a bathtub full of warm water.
Give a bath for 20 minutes and wash off later. Repeat regularly. Prepare a mixture by adding a cup of Epsom salt to a jug full of warm water and give a sponge bath.
Let the mixture dry off and wash with a wet clean cloth later. Epsom salt is good natural treatment for chickenpox which relieves symptoms and heals blisters faster and safely.
Diet for Chickenpox Patients
Diet for chickenpox patient shall contain a large portion of fruits and veggies. Avoid using preserved or canned fruit juices due to preservatives. Drink fresh juices and eat raw fruits.
Consume boiled or steamed veggies with meals. A few cups of herbal teas are also wonderful as part of a diet for chickenpox. Herbal teas like green, cinnamon, basil, and chamomile are good.
Carrots, cucumber, walnuts, eggs, beetroot, ginger, garlic, blueberry, tofu, cashew nuts, watermelon, kiwi, sprouts and tomatoes shall be included in the diet for chickenpox patient regularly.
Keep away processed, junk, greasy and fried foods completely from diet for chickenpox patient. These foods are hard to digest and aggravate symptoms.
Drink plenty of water and take sufficient sleep and rest. Red meat, bread, and dairy products shall also be avoided during infection for quick relief.
Chickenpox Treatment and Prevention
Varicella-zoster virus is highly contagious and can travel a distance in the air as well. For most reliable prevention of chickenpox get vaccinated.
Children and adults all can get vaccinated which provides protection from infection. However, not everyone gets 100% protection through vaccines but even if infection occurs the symptoms are very mild.
For those who are not vaccinated staying away from an infected person is the only prevention of chickenpox. Do not stay with an infected person in the same room.
Avoid touching or sitting close to an infected person. Do not touch towels, bed sheet or other things used by the patient.
If ever one comes in contact with an infected person wash hands thoroughly and does not touch any part of the body before washing.
Precautions are only the prevention of chickenpox. Those who have suffered from chickenpox get immunity for life from infection but this is not correct for everyone. In many cases, infection can strike again and cause shingles.
So taking precautions is the best way to stay protected.
Keep room of patient clean and keep visitors at a safe distance to prevent infection from spreading. Completely avoid children from entering the room of the patient.
Smoke neem leaves in the room of the patient to suppress the virus from floating in the air. Wash all the used things thoroughly and wash hands later.
Do not eat or drink anything in the room of a patient, not even at a safe distance. These precautions work effectively for the prevention of chickenpox infection.
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