Dear Families,

We currently have children in first grade who have been diagnosed with chickenpox and have been under the care and treatment of their doctors.

General Information

Chickenpox(Varicella) is a relatively common childhood illness and is highly contagious. People who are not immune to the disease usually develop symptoms 10 days to 3 weeks after the exposure. Chickenpox is contagious for a few days before the rash appears and for 5-7 days after the spots appear. A chickenpox vaccine is available for children and adults who have not had the illness. This vaccine will lower the risk of becoming ill with chickenpox. Those who do get the chickenpox despite having received the vaccine usually have a milder form of the disease(usually less than 50 lesions and never get to the "blister" stage). Talk with your doctor about the vaccine if you or your children have not had the disease.

The Illness

Symptoms of Chickenpox usually start as a cold, cough, fever and abdominal pain. Within a few days a pimple-like rash appears. The eruptions can occur anywhere on the body and evolve from clear blisters to crusted spots. The rash of chickenpox is very itchy. If your child or a family member has a chronic health condition which may weaken the immune system please notify your physician of a possible exposure to chicken pox. Pregnant woman who have not had the disease and have been exposed should also notify their physician.

Treatment

Treatment of chickenpox is symptomatic. Physicians commonly will advise using acetaminophen ("Tylenol") for relief of fever, and oatmeal baths for the itching. It is important that children do not receive aspirin with viral illnesses like chickenpox because the use of aspirin has been shown to cause a serious disease called Reye's syndrome in children. Call your doctor if your child has any other worrisome symptoms beyond the mild fever and annoying itching normally associated with the disease.

School Exclusion

Children may return to school when all of the spots have scabbed over (7-10 days) and no new "pox" have erupted in the past 3 days.

If you have any questions concerning chickenpox or any other health issues that may affect your child please feel free to call the health office and/or your child's physician.

Sincerely,

Barbara A. Lesniewski R.N.
Health Services