Chickenpox (Chhoti Mata): Symptoms, Itch Relief, Treatment and Vaccine

It begins with a mild fever, a tired child and a few red spots, and within a day or two the spots become itchy blisters all over the body. Chickenpox (chhoti mata) spreads very easily in schools, madrassas and homes, and most children recover in about a week or two. But it is also a disease where wrong home habits, such as the wrong medicine for fever or scratching the blisters open, can cause avoidable harm.

This guide explains how chickenpox looks and spreads, how to ease the itch and fever safely, which medicines to avoid, who needs a doctor early, and how the vaccine prevents it.

What is chickenpox?

Chickenpox is a viral infection caused by the varicella zoster virus. After it settles, the virus stays asleep in the body for life and can wake up many years later as shingles, a painful blistering rash in one area. You can read about related skin infections in our guide to cold sores, which are caused by a different but related virus.

How the rash develops

• Day 1 to 2: mild fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, headache.
• Next days: small red spots, mostly on the face, chest and back, spreading to the arms and legs.
• Then: the spots turn into fluid filled, very itchy blisters. New spots keep appearing for several days, so you see spots at different stages together.
• Finally: the blisters dry into scabs, which fall off in one to two weeks.

How it spreads and how long to stay home

Chickenpox spreads through coughs, sneezes and direct contact with blister fluid. A person is contagious from about one to two days before the rash appears until all the blisters have crusted over. Keep the child at home until every blister has scabbed, and keep them away from newborn babies, pregnant women who have not had chickenpox and people with weak immunity.

Chickenpox treatment at home

Most children need only supportive care. The aim is comfort and preventing infection of the blisters.

• Itch relief: cool, loose cotton clothes, lukewarm baths with gentle patting dry, and calamine lotion on the rash. We stock calamine lotion for this purpose.
• No scratching: keep nails short and clean. For small children, cotton mittens at night help.
• Fluids: encourage water, soups and milk. Blisters in the mouth can hurt, so offer cool, soft foods and avoid spicy or salty food.
• Fever: use only the fever medicine your doctor or pharmacist recommends for the child’s age and weight. See our guide to fever in children and the fever category. A digital thermometer from our thermometer range helps you track it.
• Itch tablets or syrups: some doctors advise an antihistamine, mainly to help sleep. Read allergy medicines explained and ask your doctor first, as some cause drowsiness.
• Antiviral medicine: in some cases, such as teenagers, adults, pregnant women or people with weak immunity, a doctor may prescribe an antiviral if started early, ideally within the first day or two of the rash. Prescription items can be ordered through our upload prescription page, and related products are in herpes, shingles and warts and viral infections.

Medicines and habits to avoid

• Aspirin: never give aspirin to a child with chickenpox or any viral illness. It is linked to a rare but serious liver and brain condition called Reye syndrome.
• Ibuprofen and similar painkillers: many doctors advise against them in chickenpox because they have been linked to serious skin infections. Ask your doctor which fever medicine to use.
• Steroid creams on the blisters, unless a doctor has prescribed them.
• Home pastes, powders and turmeric on open blisters, which can bring in germs.
• Bursting blisters, which raises the risk of infection and scars.

When to see a doctor

• A newborn, a pregnant woman, an adult, or a person with diabetes, cancer treatment, steroid use or weak immunity gets chickenpox.
• Fever lasting beyond four days or rising again after settling.
• Blisters that become red, hot, swollen or leak pus, which suggests a bacterial skin infection.
• Fast breathing, cough, chest pain, severe headache, stiff neck, confusion or unusual drowsiness.
• Rash that spreads to the eyes, or bleeding spots.
• The child will not drink and is passing little urine.

Prevention: the chickenpox vaccine

A safe vaccine is available and is given in two doses in many countries. It greatly lowers the chance of getting chickenpox and makes the illness much milder if it does occur. It is not always part of the free routine schedule in Pakistan, so ask your paediatrician. Our guide to vaccines in Pakistan lists the usual childhood vaccines, and our vaccines category shows what is available. Good hand hygiene helps too, and you can read about hand sanitiser versus soap.

Frequently asked questions

Can you get chickenpox twice?

It is uncommon, but the virus can return later as shingles. A second true attack is rare.

Is chickenpox worse in adults?

Yes. Adults are more likely to get complications such as pneumonia, so they should see a doctor early.

Will the scars stay?

Most blisters heal without marks if they are not scratched. Deeper scars usually follow picking or infection.

Can a vaccinated child still get chickenpox?

Sometimes, but it is usually mild, with fewer spots and a shorter illness.

Khasmart delivers medicines, skin care and baby health products across Pakistan, and our pharmacists can help you choose the right item.

This article is for general information and is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or paediatrician. It does not give doses; the doctor decides the medicine and amount by age and weight. If you are worried about a child, a pregnant woman or someone with weak immunity, see a doctor promptly.