Treating Chickenpox and Shingles and an excellent overview of these diseases

From the Communicable Disease Control Branch of the Government of S. Australia comes this excellent overview of the varicella-zoster virus.

An antiviral treatment for both chickenpox and shingles is available, but it is only given to those with severe disease or at risk of severe disease, and to be effective it must be started within 24 hours of onset of the rash.

You should see your doctor if: a child or adult with chickenpox has a high fever, cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain; a pregnant woman has chickenpox; a newborn baby (up to 1 month of age) is exposed to chickenpox; a person over 50 years of age has shingles.

Calamine lotion can be used to relieve the itch. If treatment to reduce temperature or discomfort is necessary, paracetamol is recommended.
ASPIRIN SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR CHILDREN OR ADOLESCENTS who have chickenpox or shingles.