The majority of parents are unaware of how to correctly treat their child's chickenpox as they rely on advice from family members and the internet, according to new research.
The study of 5,000 parents commissioned by Care, producers of children's medicines, reveals that most parents are not effectively helping to reduce their child’s chickenpox symptoms of fever or relieve itching. Some even manage to worsen their child’s symptoms.
Rather than take advice from their GP, parents either consult with other mothers via social networking sites, internet search engines or speak with older relatives who suggest traditional remedies.
According to the research, nine out of ten parents use calamine lotion to help relieve their child’s itching, despite there being no clinical evidence to show it works. Other parents reported that they gave their children antihistamines, which can cause drowsiness and help children sleep better.
Dermatologist Dr Sarah Wakelin said, ‘Calamine offers a momentary cooling effect as the liquid evaporates from the skin. However this drying effect may exacerbate the condition and actually cause further itching.'
One in eight parents said they would consider deliberately exposing their child to chickenpox in order to get the illness ‘out of the way.’
When asked how many days they took off work to care for a child with chickenpox, 15 per cent said they had four to ten days off, 13 per cent took two to three days, and 11 per cent had more than ten days off from work.
Advice for parents and carers has been developed by Care - The 10 golden rules of chickenpox management - to help them spot the symptoms of chickenpox and effectively treat their child’s symptoms.
Care advise giving children a lukewarm bath to relieve itchiness, to give children infant paracetamol, and not aspirin as it can cause a potentially fatal condition.
Care Family Remedies has also developed a new product ViraSoothe Chickenpox Relief Cooling Gel, which is designed to relieve children’s hot and itchy skin without causing dryness.
Rather than take advice from their GP, parents either consult with other mothers via social networking sites, internet search engines or speak with older relatives who suggest traditional remedies.
According to the research, nine out of ten parents use calamine lotion to help relieve their child’s itching, despite there being no clinical evidence to show it works. Other parents reported that they gave their children antihistamines, which can cause drowsiness and help children sleep better.
Dermatologist Dr Sarah Wakelin said, ‘Calamine offers a momentary cooling effect as the liquid evaporates from the skin. However this drying effect may exacerbate the condition and actually cause further itching.'
One in eight parents said they would consider deliberately exposing their child to chickenpox in order to get the illness ‘out of the way.’
When asked how many days they took off work to care for a child with chickenpox, 15 per cent said they had four to ten days off, 13 per cent took two to three days, and 11 per cent had more than ten days off from work.
Advice for parents and carers has been developed by Care - The 10 golden rules of chickenpox management - to help them spot the symptoms of chickenpox and effectively treat their child’s symptoms.
Care advise giving children a lukewarm bath to relieve itchiness, to give children infant paracetamol, and not aspirin as it can cause a potentially fatal condition.
Care Family Remedies has also developed a new product ViraSoothe Chickenpox Relief Cooling Gel, which is designed to relieve children’s hot and itchy skin without causing dryness.
