Chickenpox usually appears 14 to 16 days after a child was exposed to another person with the disease. It is often accompanied by fever and can cause sores in the mouth, eyelids, and genital area. Once the fever disappears and the new bumps stop emerging, a child will begin to feel better.

Unless sores become badly infected with impetigo or a child repeatedly picks off the scabs, it is unlikely that chickenpox will leave permanent scars. However temporary marks can remain for up to 6 to 12 months.

Pediatricians at Boys Town Pediatrics suggests several home remedies that can provide relief to your child:

• Cool bath - Soak in the bathtub every 3 to 4 hours during the first few days. Adding baking soda (4 tablespoons) to the water will help to minimize discomfort. Gently pat calamine lotion on spots after bathing.
• Ice - Massage itchy areas with ice for 10 minutes.
• Benadryl - Give nonprescription Benadryl if itching interferes with sleep or becomes severe.
• Acetaminophen - If fever develops, give acetaminophen. Do not give ibuprofen. It is linked with Strep throat. And, do not give aspirin. It is linked to Reyes Syndrome.
• Acyclovir - If started within 24 hours of the appearance of sores, an anti-viral drug called Acyclovir can be used to treat chickenpox. This drug can reduce the number of sores by 20% and the days of illness by one.

In years past, there was no way to prevent a child from getting chickenpox if exposed to someone else with the disease. Today, children one year and older can receive a vaccine, which is 70-90% effective in preventing chickenpox. A child who receives the vaccine still has a chance of getting chickenpox, however it will be much milder than if no vaccine was administered.

Although it is recommended that the vaccine be given between 12 and 18 months of age, older children who have not yet had the disease can still be vaccinated. Those children over age 13 should receive two doses of the vaccine at least 4 weeks apart.

A child will be contagious until all the sores have crusted over, usually about 6 to 7 days after the rash begins. During that time, if a scab looks infected, fever lasts more than 4 days, the itching is severe and doesn't respond to treatment, or you have other concerns, contact your child's physician within 24 hours.

However, if chickenpox sores look infected with yellow pus, spreading redness or red streaks, your child develops a speckled, red rash, or starts acting very sick, contact a physician immediately.