Upper back of young boy, 5 years, blond short hair, with red chickenpox on his shoulders, neck and cheek. He is scratching his back with right hand. (Diana Ponikvar)
Chicken pox is one of the most uncomfortable diseases, which typically affects children. Although symptoms can often include a fever, headache, sore throat, or stomach ache, the worst part about this extremely contagious illness is the red, itchy skin rash that covers the body in "crops." The rash usually appears first on the abdomen or back and face, and then can spread to almost everywhere else on the body — and it is not pleasant. While many children avoid the disease by getting the Varicella vaccination, some who are exposed need meticulous care in order to get better. Of course, a huge part of this care involves a supportive diet.
It is important to keep in mind that eating well and healthily will not prevent anybody from contracting chicken pox, but what food can do is help to provide relief, as well as assisting with fighting off the diseases’ terrible symptoms. Most people think of using food as a topical remedy, like oatmeal baths and baking soda to reduce itching, and even honey to help soothe skin, but what you eat is just as important.
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An unhealthy diet can aggravate the condition if the immune system does not receive the nutrition it requires; healthy food will enhance the immune system to help fight off the disease quickly. To make sure the chicken pox patient in your home gets the nutrients they need, and stays away from the ones they don’t, check out our slideshow!
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