Diagnosing Chickenpox
by JustinA doctor can determine if your child is suffering from chickenpox with a simple physical examination. However, they may not even require this and will have your child remain at home to avoid spreading the infection to others. If they still require seeing your child, be sure to ask for any special precautions to take to avoid spreading the infection, like being directed to an examination room immediately upon arrival to avoid the waiting room.
The most obvious sign of being infected with chickenpox are the numerous red spots that cover the entire body. This can be enough information for your doctor to diagnose your child over the phone, but many other infections can cause similar red spots so the doctor may still want to see your child depending on your explanation of the symptoms.
Teenagers should see the doctor for a physical examination if they are showing symptoms of chickenpox. This could be the sign of a more serious infection, and if it isn’t, chickenpox in older children is more severe and the doctor may want to offer different treatment options that those commonly used. Pregnant women should see a doctor immediately because chickenpox can cause many birth defects like eye problems and the loss of limbs.
Related: