A-Z of Illnesses
Chicken Pox
What is it?
Many children get Chickenpox. You do not catch it from chickens, which makes you wonder why it is called chickenpox. You only get chicken pox once normally. When you get it you feel hot and you ache. Then you get lots of little red spots that stick out and are very itchy. After about four days they dry up and little scabs form on them. Try not to pick them as this might leave scars or marks on your body.
Treatment
Rest in bed, use Calamine lotion to stop the spots itching and use something like paracetamol (eg calpol) to make you less hot/keep you cool (help your fever). Get everyone to be nice to you!
How do you catch it?
It is very easy to get chickenpox. It is spread through coughing and sneezing or contact with things like towels that have the chickenpox bugs in them.You should stay away from school until five days after the spots have started.Chickenpox is most infectious before you know you have it.If you get chickenpox tell anyone that is pregnant or has a very young baby and avoid contact with them.
