Chickenpox information

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We have one case of chickenpox in Year 8.

What is chickenpox?  Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease that causes fever and an itchy, blister-like rash.  This is accompanied by a general sense of tiredness.

How does chickenpox spread?  Chickenpox is an airborne disease and is spread by coughing or sneezing.  It can also be spread by breathing in the virus from the blisters from the chickenpox rash or by touching a person with the chickenpox rash.  It is advisable to wear a mask to prevent spreading chickenpox.

When does chickenpox develop? Chickenpox can develop after 10 days to 21 days of being exposed to the disease.

When is chickenpox contagious?  Children with chickenpox are contagious 1-2 days before the spots appear and when the chickenpox lesions are open and oozing.

When can children return to school?  Children may return to school when they do not have a fever, if they do not have any new chickenpox lesions appearing and when all of their chickenpox lesions have crusted over.

What medications can be given? If your child has chickenpox, a non-aspirin containing medication is best to give them for the fever.  Examples of this would be Tylenol or Paracetamol.  Calamine lotion can be helpful for the itching as well as taking a bath in oatmeal.

Are there any particular groups of people at risk? Pregnant women, immunocompromised individuals and individuals with HIV or AIDS should avoid contact with people with chickenpox because of potential complications.

Additional information: Trimming nails short can be beneficial to help reduce the harm from scratching.

Here is a link from the CDC with information about chickenpox: http://www.cdc.gov/chickenpox/about/overview.html

If you have any, please contact me, Donna Buckner, BSN, RN at 2607-9140 or donna.buckner@shatincollege.edu.hk .

Sincerely,

Donna Buckner, BSN, RN

School Health Professional

Sha Tin College

Information retrieved from the CDC at: http://www.cdc.gov/chickenpox/about/overview.html