People infected with chickenpox, the vast majority being children, usually recover successfully from the condition without any lasting effects. The most common complication of the disease is scarring that results from scratching the blisters. Most cases of the disease typically only require the treatment of symptoms (e.g., rash, itching). Common treatments include:

• Wet compresses. Help soothe itching and prevent scratching of blisters. Compresses also help dry out blisters.
  
  
• Bathing in oatmeal. Can help relieve itching.
  
  
• Keeping cool. Helps relieve itching due to sweating.
  
  
• Clipping of nails. Minimizes scratching and the spread of infection.
  
  
• Calamine lotion. Used to reduce itching and speed recovery from symptoms.
  
  
• Antihistamines. Used to treat mild or severe itching often associated with the disease.
  
  

  

• Acetaminophen. Used to reduce the mild fever commonly experienced with chickenpox.

A physician may prescribe antiviral drugs or a shot of chickenpox antibodies in order to shorten the duration of serious chickenpox infections. Use of acyclovir is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in healthy children and adults if administered within the first 24 hours of the appearance of a rash. Treatment with acyclovir more than 24 hours after the appearance of a rash has little or no effect on the disease. Acyclovir may also be used for treatment of children with compromised immune systems or with varicella pneumonia or encephalitis. Adults at risk for pneumonia from an initial chickenpox infection may benefit as well from treatment with the drug.

Because of the association of Reye's syndrome (a serious condition that affects brain, liver and kidney function in children) with aspirin, acetaminophen is typically used to reduce fever. A physician may also recommend that a patient receives the chickenpox vaccine after being exposed to the virus, even if the individual does not develop the disease. This is done for added protection from future exposure to the varicella-zoster virus (VZV).  

In the past, some parents intentionally exposed their children to other children with chickenpox, believing it was better for a child to contract the chickenpox at a young age. This is not a recommended practice and parents should not knowingly expose their children to the chickenpox virus. Though it is generally safer to have chickenpox at a young age, serious complications can and do occur from the infection.