Diet For Chickenpox

My neighbour got chicken pox and now is weak and unable to eat or drink. Please suggest some healthy diet to get freedom from chicken pox?
(October 12, 2010)

What is the chicken pox diet for children?

Chicken pox is viral infection which is highly contagious in nature. It causes itchy break outs on the skin all over the body in the form of small pus boils. You will need to keep a close eye on your child to prevent him/her from scratching at the rash in a bid to experience relief from the itchiness. Vigorous scratching will break the skin and cause the rash to spread further and not to mention, it would leave ugly scars. While this is a grueling time for you, keep in mind that your child is in constant discomfort and so you may need to repeatedly remind them not to scratch the boils.


Apart from preventing them from scratching at the rashes, it is important to carefully plan out the best chicken pox diet for children in order to speed up the healing process.

Their diet must be rich in nutrients, vitamins and minerals. This would serve to restore and boost the immune system. Therefore, foods such as a variety of fruits and vegetables are essential. Fruits like lemons, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries and particularly rhubarb are beneficial. Among vegetables, coriander and carrots are a good choice. Focus on new recipes and make arrange their food so that it is also visually appealing. Use a cookie cutter to shape their fruit slices and you will find that they willing eat all their fruits. You can cut small pieces of fruit into attractive shapes like stars or hearts and add these to their glass of fruit juice or sprinkle them over softies. Chicken pox treatment for children has to be holistic and must be aimed at minimizing and/or containing the infection in order to stop it from spreading further.

What foods prevent chicken pox?

Chicken pox is a nuisance for the affected child as well as the parents. The chicken pox rash causes intense discomfort and itching and repeatedly preventing your child from scratching the rashes can cause tempers to flare. Keep in mind that your child will be continuously tempted to scratch the rashes and so you will need to keep him/her preoccupied throughout the day. Like all other illnesses, chicken pox too, comes with its list of do’s and don’ts.  This is especially true in the case of the patient’s food or diet. It is rather easy to outline the foods that should be consumed as well as the foods to avoid during chicken pox. However it’s a whole new ballgame when it comes to foods that prevent chicken pox.

Chicken pox is caused by a virus and is extremely contagious and no amount of preventive diet measures could keep your child from contracting it. However, there is a vaccine for chicken pox which is extremely effective in preventing chicken pox. Here, in the US, the vaccine is part of routine vaccination and has drastically reduced the incidence of this condition.

Chicken pox results in fever, chills, overall fatigue and weakens the immune system. Your child will be constantly listless and fatigued and so he/she should consume those foods that would restore and revive the immune system. Food must be rich in nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Junk food and oily food must be strictly avoided. You can allow your child to sit with you while you are preparing his/her meals as this will keep him/her preoccupied and so they will be less likely to scratch the rashes. You can buy a particularly colorful set of oven gloves for him/her as this will prevent your child from scratching the chicken pox rashes. You can even use twisted plaits of colorful ribbon to secure the glove and prevent your child from taking them off. Do not force your child to wear the gloves instead coax them into using them by making them colorful and attractive.

Can you eat chicken during chicken pox?

Chicken pox is an extremely contagious disease and generally affects toddlers and kids. This condition causes the break out in rashes all over the body which appear in the form of pus filled boils. It is often accompanied by extreme itching. However, scratching the rashes would cause the infection to spread and can leave unattractive scars. When your child is affected by this virus, utmost care must be taken so as to prevent it from spreading. 

The most important question that will come to your mind is with regard to the kind of food your child can and cannot consume. Chicken pox attacks the immune system and causes weakness and lethargy and so your child may be easily fatigued. Make sure that his/her diet includes foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Emphasis is placed on eating fruits and vegetables. Most people wonder whether it is safe to eat chicken during chicken pox. The answer is yes, consuming chicken during chicken pox is often recommended as chicken contains several types of healthy proteins which boost the immune system. You can add shredded chicken to the meals you prepare or you can puree steamed chicken and add it to soups and broths. Consult your doctor before deciding on a diet plan for chicken pox as your doctor will be able to give you detailed information on which foods to eat during chicken pox. Remember to give your child plenty of water and fruit juices but avoid citric fruit juices as they have the tendency to increase the irritation of oral lesions.

Chicken pox recipes for kids are healthy recipes that are meant to be especially attractive to children in terms of taste and appearance. Cherry tomatoes, diced red cabbage, and thin strips of carrots can make a bowl of plain chicken soup extremely attractive.

What fruit juices to drink during chicken pox?

Chicken pox mainly affects babies and toddlers and while it may not be life-threatening, it can leave your child extremely weak and fatigued. Chicken pox causes sores and scabs which are unsightly but they are not a cause for worry and anxiety. Chicken pox causes high fever and chills and so you should ensure that all meals have a high nutritive value that will serve to boost the immune system.

While down with chicken pox, fruits and vegetables should form an essential part of your little one’s diet. If a child has chicken pox, fruit juice and smoothies are also good options, as the child will be less likely to refuse meals. These delicious treats are great nutrient storehouses and their high fluid content keeps the child well hydrated. Lemon juice is one of the best fruit juices for chicken pox but it should be avoided if your child has a spotty mouth as it will irritate the sores. The juice of soft fruits such as raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, and rhubarb in particular are considered to be among the best home remedies for alleviating the symptoms of chicken pox.

The main reason why fruit juices are considered to be beneficial is because they help to flush the system, provide a wide variety of vitamins and minerals, and are easy to digest. However, a note of caution; citrus fruits such as oranges are sometimes known to increase irritation in patients suffering from chicken pox. Hence it is advisable to avoid citrus fruit juices completely.

Chicken Pox Causes

Chicken pox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Today there is a chicken pox vaccine to prevent the occurrence of this illness. The vaccine many be administered to children, adolescents, and adults. There are certain signs and symptoms that occur when an individual is infected with chicken pox. Some of the common symptoms include headache, abdominal pain, sore throat, and fever. There is also a rash that gradually develops across the body. Initially the rash looks similar in appearance to insect bites. It then forms blisters which are red and filled with fluid. When the blisters rupture and drain, they turn into sores and finally the sores become dried scabs. This entire process occurs in various stages. The blisters first develop on the back, abdomen or face, and then progress to the scalp, genitals, ears, mouth, and nose.

Chicken Pox Diet, Foods

Chicken pox is a contagious disease and can spread quite easily from person to person. The most contagious time is during the initial 2 to 5 days of the illness. The chicken pox virus may spread through contact with infected droplets that are released into the air while coughing and sneezing. Since chicken pox is caused by a virus, antibiotics are not helpful. Usually treatment for chicken pox involves topical applications in order to reduce discomfort caused by the rash. Medication may also be given to reduce fever and pains. A healthy chicken pox diet is very important as there may be appetite loss during the illness. Therefore it is necessary to provide the body with vital nutrients so that it can stay healthy and fight the infection. The human immune system produces antibodies to help fight off a viral infection and so a chicken pox diet will help the affected individual fight off the infection. Although a healthy chicken pox diet will not be able to cure a patient immediately, an unhealthy diet can aggravate the condition as the person’s immune system does not receive the nutrition it requires to produce the necessary antibodies.

A chicken pox diet should be balanced and nutritious. Home cooked foods are recommended for an individual with chicken pox. The foods must also be soft and easy to swallow and it is important to avoid spicy and fried foods. Oranges and other citrus fruits are excellent immune boosters and so orange juice should be given to a patient on a daily basis. However, if the individual has blisters in his/her mouth it would be best to avoid these juices as their acidic content can cause irritation and pain in the inflamed areas. Fresh fruits and vegetables must be incorporated into a chicken pox diet. To prevent dehydration, plenty of fluids must also be consumed. Herbal teas such as cinnamon, chamomile, and basil are also beneficial. There are also some chicken pox remedies which are known to provide relief from the illness. Adding oatmeal powder to bath water aids in the healing of the blisters. Baking soda may also be added to the water for best results. One may also apply vitamin E oil to the rash as this soothes and relieves itching. This will also help in the removal of scars left behind by the blisters. Benefits of vitamin E oil include increased growth of new cells on the skin.

Shingles is another infection which occurs when the chicken pox virus in the body becomes active again. Once chicken pox occurs, the virus may stay dormant in certain cells of the body. In case the immune system is suppressed, the virus activates and caused shingles. Shingles is characterized by painful rash, headache and tiredness. Natural remedies for shingles include the application of a paste of mint leave to ease itching. Application of an ice pack and aloe vera gel are some of the other effective shingles home remedies.

Chicken Pox can be a very serious health condition because it is highly contagious by nature. It spreads easily from one person to the other though physical contact. Usually chicken pox affects children but it may also infect young adults.

The symptoms of chicken pox are lesions, rashes and blisters on the skin, which spread rapidly all over the skin. The patient needs to take at least 2 to 3 weeks to get back to normal with proper medication and rest. The after effects of chicken pox are what can be really worrying, because even after the blisters and rashes scab and fall off, they can leave scars all over the body. Remember, your diet is very important during chicken pox and the patient needs to eat the right food, at regular intervals. .

The best thing for your neighbour would be to give him the following foods –

Fruits – Fruits are an excellent remedy to flush out the harmful toxins in the body, which have sprung up due to chicken pox. Some people advise against the consumption of citrus fruits as they are high in acidic content and can further aggravate or irritate the skin rashes and blisters. This is however, debatable.
Fruits also help the body fight the bacteria, which have built up due to the disease.

Water – Drink plenty of water and keep your body well hydrated. It will help you control the fever and also excrete the bodily waste.

Vegetables- Vegetables are an excellent source of vital vitamins and minerals, which are essential to reduce the infection and rash. Try eating vegetables like carrots and coriander as these vegetables have shown great results to cure Chicken Pox.

There are also certain foods, which you have to avoid during Chicken Pox. These comprise of fast or junk foods, oily and sugary foods. All these foods aggravate the rashes and can worsen your condition and cause break up of more blisters.

Along with diet hygiene is of great importance due to the contagious nature of the disease. Your neighbour can opt for an oatmeal bath, which comprises of mixing oatmeal with lukewarm water. Honey is also excellent for the skin as it has many anti bacterial properties. Baking Soda also helps in reducing the itching and irritation of the skin, which can be a major problem in Chicken Pox.

Although Chicken Pox is highly contagious, it can definitely be overcome with appropriate precautions.