My two year old daughter has chicken pox. The doctor said she doesn't normally give kids anything for chickenpox "but as she's young and a girl" that she would prescribe her medicines. I'm wondering does anyone know why it would make a difference that she's a girl?
No difference that I know of and we have had 2 girls and 2 boys with
chickenpox. All treated the same.
I've never heard this. The only people I have known that were given medication were those that got it in high school.
Here's what the Mayo Clinic says about chickenpox treatment:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chickenpox/DS00053/DSECT...
They only recommend anti-viral treatment if a person has other complicating factors, and some of them have not been tested on children. The site also talks about ways that you can reduce the itching.
The only reason I could think of is that "a girl" wouldn't want to have the scars that can be caused by the chickenpox lesions if they are scratched. (I'm sure most boys don't want to have scars, either!). I would ask the doctor.
Unless my daughter had any of the mentioned complicating factors, I would probably stick with OTC and home remedies (for the itching) as chickenpox is a virus and there is no medicinal "cure", just an anti-viral that may reduce the length of the illness, and only if given soon enough after the illness began.
You should just ask your doctor what she meant. Maybe in case of tiny scars, it's worse for a girl to get scars? I can't imagine what she meant. It's not worse for girls to get chickenpox.
I am just guessing, but maybe because they can get them in the vaginal area, and boys don't have that issue. I would think that would be very uncomfortable, other then that I am at a loss.
Never heard of them being different for girls. Generally speaking, the older (like teens and above) you are, the harder it is on you and could cause sterility so it is actually good that she is getting them while young. If it is a mild case, she could still get them again (I did) but she will not be required to get the vaccine when she starts school since she has now had them. And scarring can happen without scratching (they did for both myself and my son).
Calamine lotion and oatmeal baths will help make her more comfortable. Treat her fever but be sure NOT to use aspirin because of possible complications.
And why didn't you just ask "why is that?" when the doctor said that? I would certainly want to know his/her reasoning.
I have heard this before regarding scars. I guess nobody wants girls to scar? My older daughter has really bad scars from her bout with the pox.
just anti itch cream and otmeal bath may be be doestn want her to scar he skin from scrathing jut put that pinl lotion on no meds needed
I've never heard of this. Chicken pox is chicken pox! There isn't anything you can give since it's a virus. Just let it run it's course like all viruses. There are things you can do to help minimize her discomfort like oatmeal baths or anti itch lotions. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen for fever. That's about it.
And as for scarring, whether you itch them or not, you can still scar. I know, I had chicken pox when I was 24 years old. I did NOT scratch them but I got some scars anyway. Many of them faded over time, however.
I think he was just trying to make small talk.
Chicken pox are just as itchy whether you are a boy or a girl.
Other than keeping a fever down, since Chicken pox are a virus, I'm not sure what medication he could give her.
I ink justbecause she is young and you can't make her not itch and girls are the ones that usually worry about looks more than guys so scaring from itching the poxs is a possibility. I don't think it is any more than that. (although I have known some guys that were more careful of their looks than some of the girls)
I suspect he is concerned that she might have scars and a girl might be more self conscious than a boy when she got older. I have one small scar near my ear and it was never an issue. My husband also has one small scar on his face. It was pretty much normal for everyone in our age group to have chicken pox as a child. My sister was 18 months and didn't even have that bad a case.
When I was a kid the choices were calamine lotion, a paste of baking soda and water and oatmeal baths. Maybe there are some new things these days.
FM,
WHAT THE HECK? There is no medicine - maybe tylenol/motrin for fever? Find out EXACTLY what she would give! Look it up too, and find out what it is - or better yet, make your doctor give a fact sheet on the medicines (or the pharmacy).
Good luck,
M.
