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How Long Does Recovery From Chicken Pox Take?

Posted on Tue, 17 May 2016

Question: Hi,

My son had chicken pox from 17th Feb 2016, the boils have dried up, but has not completely peeled off. He is 3 1/2 years. By when can he resume school.

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (14 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
He should wait some more

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

I would suggest waiting till the crustings fall off completely before he resumes school. The fluid contained within the boils is rich in the virus and hence the crustings are likely to be virus laden, hence contagious.

After the crustings have fallen off, he is no longer contagious and he can resume school.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (2 minutes later)

Thank you doctor for the prompt reply. But what is the minimum number of days from when it dries?

Is flu injection safe and can be given to him. He has been having cold and cough almost every 15 days. we stay in KSA.

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (8 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Usually crustings fall off in a week or so.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. Usually it dries and falls off in a week or so. (You can ignore tightly adherent crusts).

Flu injection is safe to be taken. Please note that it only protects from certain strains of influenza virus. Common cold can be caused by some 200 types of viruses and so do not expect that it will protect him from common cold. Moreover, the validity is only one flu season. Next year he would need another shot (for that year, and so on).

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (6 minutes later)

Thank you doctor!I feel the ones at the back are tightly adhered.Will those peel off naturally. Many on his legs and arms have been peeling naturally since three days back.

So sorry for so many queries.

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You need not worry.

Detailed Answer:
You need not be sorry for the repeated queries; I am there to help you. You need not peel off the ones tightly adherent. While some of them will fall off naturally, the others might stay. You need not worry if scarring occurs.

Feel free to revert back in case of further queries.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (12 minutes later)

Thank you doctor.

So I need to send him to school and play only when the tightly adhered ones get peeled?

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (36 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You can send him to school after the initial crustings have fallen off.

Detailed Answer:
No, you can leave alone the tightly adherent ones. You can send him to school after the initial crustings have fallen off.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (25 hours later)

Thank you doctor!

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Glad to help

Detailed Answer:
In case you found my answer to be helpful, I will request you to close the thread with a positive review and a 5 star rating.

Regards

Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Naveen Kumar