Hello Doctor,
I’m a 24-year-old male. My younger brother recently recovered from chickenpox, and now I think I might be coming down with it too. For the past two days, I’ve had a fever and noticed 3-4 small blisters or pimples on my skin. I’m wondering—can I still get the chickenpox vaccine at this stage to reduce the severity of symptoms? Or is it too late for that, and I should just let my immune system handle it? I’ve heard the vaccine is more for prevention, not treatment. What’s the best thing to do in my situation?
Hello,
Thank you for reaching out Dr. Galen, Please find the below response to your query.
1. Since you already have symptoms like fever and a few blisters, the chickenpox vaccine won’t be helpful at this stage. The vaccine is mainly used to prevent the illness before symptoms start, not to treat it once the infection has begun.
2. Instead, I recommend speaking with a doctor about starting antiviral medication like acyclovir. If taken early—ideally within 24 to 48 hours of the rash appearing—it can help reduce the severity and length of the illness.
3. Meanwhile, take good care of yourself: rest well, stay hydrated, avoid scratching the blisters, and use calamine lotion or antihistamines for itching. You can take paracetamol for fever, but avoid ibuprofen unless advised by a doctor.
4. Also, stay isolated until all blisters have scabbed over to prevent spreading the virus to others, especially vulnerable individuals like pregnant women or those with weak immune systems.
Thanks
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