Health A-Z

How to deal with chickenpox

How to deal with chickenpox

One of the most common and transferable diseases out there is chickenpox. When you hear people around you are contracting it, you know it is time to gear up and ensure you do not get affected. Chickenpox is a condition that lasts only for a few weeks and so, living with it can be handled.

It is a condition that can affect people of all age groups. You can get vaccinated and protect yourself ahead of time. Newborns are given 2 doses of vaccinations after they are born. Adults also need to get themselves vaccinated once in a few years to protect themselves against the condition.

Symptoms of chickenpox
Chickenpox is a condition that you won’t have to live with for very long. Since the first appearance of the rashes, the condition will persist for about two weeks or more in rare cases. It is very important to note that you don’t get in touch with any person who has not been affected for that period of time.

The rashes that are caused due to chickenpox can be very itchy and irritable. However, scratching then can leave scars on your skin. There are creams that you can apply to prevent the itching from getting worse. The rashes get better over time and the blisters start dropping. This is said to be the time when the infection spreads the most. You must make sure no one comes in contact with the blisters as well.

The time when you are infected might make you weak. The blisters also appear all over the body causing you high discomfort. However, you need to ensure that you are getting all the essential nutrition and stay hydrated throughout the time. You may experience a loss of appetite, but you need the strength to make a quick recovery. Try eating foods that are easy to consume. Hydration is essential to recover from the condition quickly.

Diet for a chickenpox patient
There is a list of food items that can help speed up the recovery when you have chicken pox. There are also certain foods you want to avoid to prevent further discomfort. Here is everything you need to know regarding a healthy diet when you have this disease.

  • Vegetables of different colors each have their own set of essential vitamins and minerals in them. You need to ensure that you can cover all the ones that you need most to stay healthy.
  • Yogurt is a great source of lysine and probiotics. They can help keep the bad bacteria away.
  • The perfect food anyone craves when are not feeling too well is some hot chicken soup. Add in some veggies and it’ll be the perfect food to have while you recover.
  • Garlic is made up of antibiotics that have healing power. You can crush and add it raw to your food.
  • Apple cider when consumed in small amounts can be helpful for digestion.
  • Coconut oil used in cooking or taken orally has antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties.
  • Other foods you can have are mushroom, fish, eggs, beef, chicken, liver and turkey.
  • The foods you should be avoiding are high in carbohydrates and sugar. It includes foods like pasta, raw nuts, and bread.

You need to prevent an infection from festering on the skin. Avoid scratching as much as you can. Here are some ways in which you can avoid that itching.

  • Apply coconut oil as the blisters start coming up. You need to gently apply some of it using a cotton bud. You can use it on any part of the body where the blisters are present.
  • Aloe vera gel can help heal the blisters.
  • Lavender essential oil can be used along with coconut oil to treat the skin.
  • Taking regular baths with baking soda and other herbs mixed in the water can help reduce the itching. Apple cider vinegar can also be used for the same purpose.
  • A great way to stop children from itching is to tape mittens on their hands.

These are a few ways in which you can recover quickly from chicken pox. If you have the right diet and medication in place, you can feel better in a few weeks.