Chickenpox is a childhood disease caused by a virus: the varicella-zoster virus. It is a very contagious virus. What are the symptoms of chickenpox and what can you do to relieve the symptoms in a child? Can a child with chickenpox actually swim or fly? Can you also get chickenpox as an adult and what if you are pregnant and you come into contact with chickenpox? What do chickenpox and shingles have in common? Chickenpox is also called chicken pox

Article content

• Chicken-pox
• Baby and chickenpox
• Can an adult get chickenpox?
• Symptoms, symptoms of chickenpox
• What if a child scratches the spots?
• When is a child contagious?
• How long does the childhood illness last?
• How can you reduce/relieve the itching?
• Can a child with chickenpox go into the sun?
• More tips to reduce/mitigate the complaints
• What should you absolutely not do?
• Is there a vaccination against chickenpox?
• Can a child with chickenpox go to school, can you swim with chickenpox?
• Good to know
• When should you definitely consult a doctor?
• Pregnancy wish or pregnancy and chickenpox
• Chickenpox and a plane trip!
• Chickenpox and cancellation insurance, travel insurance

Chicken-pox

Almost every child gets chickenpox, usually between the first and sixth year of life . But babies, teenagers and adults can also get chickenpox. The incubation period is 11 to 21 days , which indicates the time between infection and the moment the first symptoms occur. The varicella-zoster virus is the culprit. After experiencing chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus remains in the body in an inactive form. It can become active again later in a person’s life and cause shingles . Another name for shingles is herpes zoster.

Baby and chickenpox

In a newborn baby, the blood usually still contains the mother’s protective antibodies. Then the mother must have had chickenpox in the past. That is why babies who get chickenpox at a very young age (up to three months) often have a mild form. This does mean that the chance of recurrence of chickenpox later in life may be slightly greater.

Can an adult get chickenpox?

You can get chickenpox as an adult if you have not had the disease in childhood. It is also possible that you have had chickenpox, but in such a mild form that the body has not yet built up sufficient defense against chickenpox. You can also get chickenpox in adulthood if, for example, you have an HIV infection or suffer from leukemia. The reason is the lowered immune system. An adult often suffers from chickenpox more severely . Ask your doctor for advice!

Symptoms, symptoms of chickenpox

• Mild fever and a child is often hangry.
• A sore throat.
• With chickenpox, a child has a characteristic rash. It is a small red and very itchy rash. You often see them first appear on the back and later on the entire body. A child may have a fever, often have a cold and feel ill.
• The spots grow into small blisters with clear fluid.
• The blisters open and scabs form. The scabs fall off naturally after 9 to 13 days without leaving scars.
• The simultaneous occurrence of spots, blisters and scabs is characteristic of chickenpox.

 Source: Photo infoteur

What if a child scratches the spots?

• You should try to prevent a child from scratching the skin. Scratching can cause scars to form. This is usually the result of infections caused by bacteria entering wounds that have been scratched open.
• Make sure the nails are not long.

When is a child contagious?

The disease is contagious from a few days before the outbreak until all blisters have dried. The virus spreads through water droplets in the air, it can also be caused by contact with blisters that have not yet dried out.

How long does the childhood illness last?

A child suffers from chickenpox for about two weeks.

How can you reduce/relieve the itching?

• Calendulan (children’s) emulsion.
• Menthol powder.
• Keep your nails short to prevent scratching. You can also put anti-scratch mittens and socks on your child.

Can a child with chickenpox go into the sun?

It is better to keep a child with chickenpox out of the sun . The heat causes even more sweating, which leads to more itching. The spots on the skin are also more sensitive to burning and scars are more likely to form if the skin receives a lot of sunlight.

More tips to reduce/mitigate the complaints

• If a child has blisters in the mouth, an ice cream or a cold drink can ease the pain.
• Avoid acidic fruit juices, as they can sting. Also, do not give a child spicy food.
• Washing or showering a child can also help, but make sure you use lukewarm or cool water. Hot water can make itching worse. You must dry it carefully because of the scabs. Taking a bath is allowed, but make sure that a child does not sit in it for too long, otherwise the scabs will soften.

What should you absolutely not do?

Never use aspirin on a child with chickenpox . Aspirin can lead to Reye’s syndrome. It is a very rare but potentially fatal syndrome. It can cause damage to various organs, especially the brain and liver.

Is there a vaccination against chickenpox?

Vaccination against chickenpox is possible, but it is not included in the National Vaccination Program. If chickenpox can pose a danger to a child, for example in the event of serious immune disorders, an antiserum can be given after infection.

Can a child with chickenpox go to school, can you swim with chickenpox?

In principle, a child can go to school as long as he or she does not feel ill. Children have already infected each other at school before the blisters develop. Swimming is slightly different , here a child can be the new source of infection. It is therefore better to postpone swimming until the blisters have dried and the child is no longer contagious. The warm water in a pool can also make the itching worse.

Good to know

• Do not let a child with chickenpox play in sand or mud, as chickenpox can easily become infected.
• Once children have had chickenpox, they are usually immune for life.

When should you definitely consult a doctor?

• If an older person gets chickenpox.
• Chickenpox during pregnancy.
• In a baby, children under six months.
• If the high temperature (fever) lasts for more than four days or is higher than 39 degrees Celsius.
• There is a violent cough or if someone has problems breathing.
• Pus comes out of the spots.
• The skin around the spots swells, looks very red, feels warm and causes pain.
• For a severe headache.
• If someone is very sleepy or has trouble waking up.
• For a rash near the eyes.
• Confusion, stiff neck, vomiting or difficulty looking at bright lights/lamps.

If in any doubt, call your doctor!

Pregnancy wish or pregnancy and chickenpox

• If you want to become pregnant and you do not know whether you have antibodies against chickenpox, you can have this tested . If it turns out that you are not protected, you can opt for vaccination against chickenpox in consultation with your GP.
• If you are already pregnant and you do not know whether you are protected against the virus, avoid contact with children and adults who may have chickenpox or shingles. Contact your GP, obstetrician or gynecologist if you have come into contact with someone with chickenpox or shingles!
• If you are pregnant and have chickenpox for the first time, you have a greater risk of serious pneumonia (also called varicella pneumonia).
• Chickenpox during pregnancy can lead to an asymptomatic intrauterine infection, and it can also lead to congenital varicella syndrome. You can check during which phases of pregnancy this can occur on the RIVM website .
• If the mother has chickenpox five days before and two days after delivery, there is a risk of neonatal infection through placental transmission.

Chickenpox and a plane trip!

The Schiphol website states the following: If a child is infected with a contagious childhood disease, such as mumps, whooping cough, measles or chickenpox, the child is not allowed to fly without a medical certificate stating that it is safe to fly.On the Transavia website: Transavia.com only accepts children infected with mumps, whooping cough, measles, rubella, scarlet fever, fifth disease or chickenpox if a medical certificate in Dutch and English can be submitted, signed by an independent (i.e. not own) doctor. The declaration may be issued no more than 7 days before departure of the outward journey. This medical certificate indicates that the disease is no longer contagious and that it is safe to fly.

Chickenpox and cancellation insurance, travel insurance

If your child (including an adult) contracts chickenpox before leaving the Netherlands and is therefore not allowed to fly, canceling or postponing the trip will be covered by cancellation insurance (check the policy ) . If a child or adult gets chickenpox just before you fly home, you will have to stay longer at the holiday address. If you have taken out travel insurance , the costs for changing flights and extra nights will, if all goes well (check the policy), be reimbursed by your travel insurance.

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• Mumps: infectious disease caused by a virus
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