Childhood Conditions: Chicken Pox

Question 1

Prodromal symptoms of chicken pox

Answer 1

• fever
• headache
• sore throat
• myalgia
• malaise

Question 2

When can prodromal symptoms show in chicken pox

Answer 2

up to 3 days before eruption

Question 3

Chicken pox presentation

Answer 3

• small, red, itchy, infectious and crusty blisters
• spots appear on face or limbs first, spreading to rest of body
• blisters, over 12 hours, burst and scab over the net few days

Question 4

Chicken Pox referral

Answer 4

• Adult
• Pregnant women
• weakened immune system
• infants under 4 weeks old
• Shingles (reinfection has blisters on one side of body

Question 5

OTC chicken pox symptomatic treatment

Answer 5

Itching
- calamine lotion
- Eurax
- Piriton

Fever
- Paracetamol

(avoid ibuprofen, can cause serious skin reaction)

Question 6

Chicken pox advice

Answer 6

• Do not scratch lesions (cut nails short to reduce bacteria
• Very contagious
  (spreads though direct contact and droplets)
  (shingles only direct contact)