Prevention

Doctors recommend that kids receive the chickenpox vaccine when they're 12 to 15 months old and a booster shot at 4 to 6 years old. The vaccine is about 70% to 85% effective at preventing mild infection, and more than 95% effective in preventing moderate to severe forms of the infection. Therefore, although some kids who are immunized still will get chickenpox, the symptoms are usually much milder than those of kids who haven't had the vaccine and become infected.
Healthy kids who have had chickenpox do not need the vaccine — they usually have lifelong protection against the illness.
Treatment
A virus causes chickenpox, so the doctor won't prescribe antibiotics. However, antibiotics may be required if the sores become infected by bacteria. This is pretty common among kids because they often scratch and pick at the blisters.
The antiviral medicine acyclovir may be prescribed for people with chickenpox who are at risk for complications. The drug, which can make the infection less severe, must be given within the first 24 hours after the rash appears. Acyclovir can have significant side effects, so it is only given when necessary. Your doctor can tell you if the medication is right for your child.

BackContinueDealing With DiscomfortTo help relieve the itchiness, fever, and discomfort of chickenpox:
Use cool wet compresses or give baths in cool or lukewarm water every 3 to 4 hours for the first few days. Oatmeal bath products, available at supermarkets and drugstores, can help to relieve itching. (Baths do not spread the rash.)Pat (don't rub) the body dry.Put calamine lotion on itchy areas (but don't use it on the face, especially near the eyes).Serve foods that are cold, soft, and bland because chickenpox in the mouth may make drinking or eating difficult. Avoid feeding your child anything highly acidic or especially salty, like orange juice or pretzels.Ask your doctor or pharmacist about pain-relieving creams to apply to sores in the genital area.Give your child acetaminophen regularly to help relieve pain if your child has mouth blisters.Ask the doctor about using over-the-counter medication for itching.Never use aspirin to reduce pain or fever in kids with chickenpox because aspirin has been associated with the serious disease Reye syndrome, which can lead to liver failure and even death.
As much as possible, discourage kids from scratching. This can be difficult for them, so consider putting mittens or socks on your child's hands to prevent scratching during sleep. In addition, trim fingernails and keep them clean to help lessen the effects of scratching, including broken blisters and infection.
Most chickenpox infections require no special medical treatment. But sometimes, there are problems. Call the doctor if your child:
has fever that lasts for more than 4 days or rises above 102° F (38.8° C)has a severe cough or trouble breathinghas an area of rash that leaks pus (thick, discolored fluid) or becomes red, warm, swollen, or sorehas a severe headacheis unusually drowsy or has trouble waking uphas trouble looking at bright lightshas difficulty walkingseems confusedseems very ill or is vomitinghas a stiff neckCall your doctor if you think your child has chickenpox and you have a question or are concerned about a possible complication. The doctor can guide you in watching for complications and in choosing medication to relieve itching.
If taking your child to the doctor, let the office know in advance that your child might have chickenpox. It's important to try to avoid exposing other kids in the office — for some of them, a chickenpox infection could cause severe complications.