Health Information
Chickenpox (Varicella)
Treatment Overview
Treatment for chickenpox depends on your age, your health, how long it's been since you were exposed to the virus, and your symptoms.
- A healthy child with chickenpox may need only home treatment to help relieve itching and monitor fever. For more information, see Reference Home Treatment.
- Healthy teens and adults with chickenpox usually have more severe symptoms than children and are at higher risk for Reference complications than healthy children. If you are older than age 12, are pregnant, or have a Reference weak immune system Opens New Window, your doctor may want to give you a medicine or vaccine that helps protect you from the virus. For more information, see Reference Medications. Home treatment measures can also help to make you more comfortable.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference May 11, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference John Pope, MD - Pediatrics
Reference Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MD, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics |
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