If you are unsure whether or not you’re already immune to chickenpox, your doctor can administer a simple blood test to check for immunity to varicella. The varicella vaccine can be combined with the vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella, in what is known as the MMRV vaccine. It’s estimated that a single vaccination is between 70-90% preventative for chickenpox infection, whereas a double dose is about 98% protective. If you do get chickenpox after being vaccinated, the case is usually mild. If you’ve had chickenpox, you don’t need the varicella vaccine because you already have natural immunity (resistance) against it. The varicella vaccine isn’t approved for pregnant women, people with weakened immunity (because the vaccine can actually trigger a chickenpox infection), and people who are allergic to gelatin or the antibiotic neomycin. [4] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
Getting more sleep (or better quality sleep), eating more fresh fruit and vegetables, cutting down on refined sugars, reducing your alcohol consumption, quitting cigarette smoking, practicing good hygiene and light exercise are all proven ways to keep your immune strong. [6] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School’s Educational Site for the Public Go to source Dietary supplements that boost immunity include: vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, echinacea and olive leaf extract. [7] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source People can develop weakened immune systems due to illness (cancer, diabetes, HIV infection), medical treatments (surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, use of steroids, over-medicating), chronic stress and poor nutrition.
Sequestering your child in their room (while being properly fed and hydrated, of course) and keeping them home from school (for at least a week) is a practical way of preventing the infection from spreading to you and other children. Having them wear a surgical mask and keeping their nails trimmed short also help prevent the spread of the virus. It typically takes from 10-21 days after exposure to chickenpox to develop an infection. [10] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source Chickenpox can also be spread by contact with the rash in people with a condition called shingles (although not via airborne droplets from coughing or sneezing), because it too is caused by the varicella zoster virus.
Natural disinfectants for household use include white vinegar, lemon juice, salt water, diluted bleach and hydrogen peroxide. You should also make sure that the clothes, bed sheets and towels of the infected person are regularly and thoroughly washed — add baking soda to the laundry for more sanitizing ability. Make an effort not to rub your eyes or put fingers in your mouth after you’ve touched someone with chickenpox.
Once a chickenpox rash appears, it goes through 3 phases: raised pink or red bumps (papules), which break out over a few days; fluid-filled blisters (vesicles), which quickly form from the papules before breaking and leaking; and crusty scabs, which cover the broken vesicles and take several days to fully heal. The itchy rash first appears on the face, chest and back before spreading to other areas of the body. As many as 300-500 blisters can form during a chickenpox infection. [14] X Research source
Valacyclovir and famciclovir are only approved for use in adults, not children. Natural antiviral compounds that you can take as supplements include vitamin C, olive leaf extract, garlic, oregano oil and colloidal silver. Ask a naturopath, chiropractor or nutritionist about how to protect yourself from chickenpox with natural antivirals.
