Parents with newborns warned of common virus

PARENTS have been warned to keep children with chickenpox away from newborns.

It comes as cases of infection have increased in recent weeks, putting children at risk.

1

Newborns are more susceptible to the virus because their immune systems are not fully developed.

Chickenpox is uncomfortable for most healthy babies, but in some cases it can cause complications.

These include dehydration, bacterial infections, pneumonia, inflammation of the brain, and inflammation in other parts of the body.

The rise in cases coupled with a rise in scarlet fever puts children at risk because the combination of the two bacterial infections could make treatment more difficult.

While chickenpox is generally mild in otherwise healthy children, it can be more severe in pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.

If signs of illness are suspected, parents are asked to keep their children away from school and kindergarten until the spots have formed scabs.

In most cases, this is usually five days after the spots appear.

You should also try to stop your little one from scratching the spots as this can leave scars on the skin.

If you’re an adult and have never had chickenpox, it can be difficult to recognize the signs.

It is important to note that it can appear anywhere on the body.

Here are the five symptoms you need to know about:

1. Small stains
2. A high temperature
3. Aches, pains and general malaise
4. loss of appetite
5. mood swing

The NHS says chickenpox spots look the same in children and adults, but adults usually have a higher temperature than children.

To relieve symptoms, you should drink plenty of fluids.

If your child is not drinking, you can give them popsicles to prevent dehydration.

You can also take acetaminophen to relieve pain and discomfort.

But it’s important to note that you shouldn’t give aspirin to children under the age of 16 and you should stay away from ibuprofen – as it can lead to serious skin infections.

You should also cut your child’s fingernails at night and put on socks to prevent scratching and use cooling creams or gels from the pharmacy.

To relieve the rash, you can also take a bath in cold water, pat your skin dry, and also wear loose clothing to avoid skin irritation.

Many people think you should use calamine lotion to help soothe the rash, but one doctor has previously warned against it.

dr Posting on Instagram, Ranj Singh said it’s no surprise infections like chickenpox are making the rounds again as children start mixing again after Covid lockdowns.

He explained: “Did you know that using calamine lotion can make it feel more itchy? It cools the skin (which feels nice at first), but can then also dry it out (eurgh!)!”