Does chickenpox itch? Does chickenpox itch in the early stages?

In the early stages of chickenpox, you won't actually feel any very obvious symptoms, because the disease has a certain incubation period. Only after the incubation period is over will you gradually feel some symptoms in your body. The onset is usually quite sudden, and you will feel the skin all over your body become itchy, accompanied by a series of symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.

Does chickenpox itch in the early stages?

The incubation period of the disease is 12 to 21 days, with an average of 14 days. The onset is relatively acute. Older children and adults may have prodromal symptoms such as fever, headache, general fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, etc. before the rash appears. In children, the rash and systemic symptoms appear at the same time.

The rash appears within 24 hours of onset, first on the scalp and compressed parts of the trunk, with a centripetal distribution. At first, it is a small pink macule, which quickly turns into a round tense blister the size of a rice grain to a pea, with a noticeable red halo around it, and the center of the blister is umbilical. Mucous membranes are also often invaded, such as the oral cavity, pharynx, conjunctiva, vulva, and anus.

During the eruption period of 1 to 6 days, the rash appears in batches one after another. The skin lesions evolve from small red maculopapules → blisters → scabs → descending, and no scars are left after descending. There is obvious pain and itching during the blister stage, and if secondary infection occurs due to scratching, slight indentations may be left. Weak people may develop high fever, and about 4% of adults may develop disseminated varicella and varicella pneumonia.

The clinical manifestations of varicella include bullous varicella, hemorrhagic varicella, neonatal varicella, adult varicella, etc. In addition, if chickenpox is infected during pregnancy, it can cause fetal malformation, premature birth or stillbirth.

Air circulation can also kill viruses in the air, but when ventilating the room, be careful to prevent the patient from catching cold. Let as much sunlight into the room as possible and open the glass windows.

3. Reduce fever

If you have a fever, it is best to use physical methods to reduce fever, such as using an ice pillow, towel, and drinking plenty of water. Let the sick child rest, eat nutritious and easily digestible food, and drink plenty of boiled water and fruit juice.

4. Pay attention to changes in the condition

Pay attention to changes in the condition. If you find persistent high fever, cough and asthma, or vomiting, headache, irritability or drowsiness after the rash appears, or convulsions, you should go to the hospital for medical treatment immediately.

5. Avoid scratching herpes with your hands

Be especially careful not to scratch the acne on your face, so as to avoid purulent infection caused by scratching the herpes. If the lesions are deep, they may leave scars. To prevent this from happening, keep your child's nails short and keep their hands clean.