What Is Varicella?
7. Treatment
If you have severe symptoms or are at particular risk for complications, your doctor may prescribe you an antiviral drug to lessen the severity and shorten the duration of the varicella infection.1https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chickenpox/symptoms-causes/syc-20351282 For these to be most effective, they must be administered within 24 hours of the first appearance of the chickenpox rash.
Otherwise, treatment for chickenpox mostly consists of managing symptoms until the disease runs its course. Antihistamines, lotions, or cool baths are often recommended to relieve itching, while over-the-counter medications can be used to relieve fever. If your child has chickenpox, you should never give him or her aspirin for fever or pain relief. This can increase the risk of a serious complication called Reye syndrome.2https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/chickenpox
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