Red spots that turn into blisters on a child’s body may be chickenpox. The NHS says chickenpox is a common infection that spreads easily, mostly affects children and usually gets better on its own after 1 to 2 weeks. You can spread it from 2 days before your spots appear until they have all formed scabs (usually 5 days after they first appeared), so stay off school, nursery or work until then. At home, drink plenty of fluids and take paracetamol, and don’t use ibuprofen unless a doctor tells you to. Get help from 111 now if the skin around the blisters is red, hot or painful, your child shows signs of dehydration, or you’re more short of breath than usual. This sets out the NHS page “Chickenpox”.
1. It usually gets better on its own after 1 to 2 weeks. Spots, then blisters, then scabs — 3 stages.
2. Infectious from 2 days before the spots until they have all scabbed — usually 5 days after they first appeared. Stay off school, nursery or work until then.
3. No ibuprofen unless a doctor says so; no aspirin under 16. Red, hot or painful skin around blisters, dehydration or breathlessness: 111 now.
Symptoms — NHS
The NHS says chickenpox happens in 3 stages: small spots appear anywhere on the body, the spots become blisters (very itchy, and may burst), and the blisters become scabs. New spots can appear while others are becoming blisters. Spots can be red, pink, darker or the same colour as surrounding skin depending on skin tone, and can be harder to see on brown and black skin. Before or after the rash you might have a high temperature, aches and pains, and loss of appetite.
What to do and not do at home — NHS
| Type | What the NHS says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Do | Drink plenty of fluids | — |
| Do | Take paracetamol for pain and discomfort | Choosing one: OTC medicine by symptom |
| Do | Bathe in cool water and pat the skin dry (don’t rub) | — |
| Do | Use cooling creams or gels from a pharmacy | — |
| Do | Dress in loose clothes | — |
| Do | Cut your child’s fingernails and put socks on their hands at night | To stop them scratching |
| Do | Ask a pharmacist about antihistamine for itching | — |
| Don’t | Use ibuprofen unless a doctor tells you to | — |
| Don’t | Give aspirin to children under 16 | — |
| Don’t | Go near newborn babies, anyone pregnant or with a weakened immune system | It can be dangerous for them |
Choosing a fever medicine is in OTC medicine by symptom; the thresholds for a child’s fever are in baby fever.
How it spreads — NHS
| Item | What the NHS says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Infectious period | From 2 days before the spots appear until they have all formed scabs | — |
| Usually | About 5 days after the spots first appeared | — |
| Staying off | Stay off school, nursery or work until all the spots have scabbed | We didn’t read Korean attendance rules |
| How you catch it | Being in the same room; touching things with fluid from the blisters on them | — |
| Shingles | If you haven’t had chickenpox, you can catch it from someone with shingles | — |
When to get help — NHS
| If | Where | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| You’re not sure it’s chickenpox | GP | — |
| You’re breastfeeding and have chickenpox symptoms | GP | — |
| Symptoms get worse — skin around the blisters is red, hot or painful | 111 now | Redness may be harder to see on brown or black skin |
| Your child shows signs of dehydration, such as fewer wet nappies | 111 now | — |
| You have a weakened immune system or are pregnant and have been near someone with chickenpox | 111 now | — |
| You think your newborn has chickenpox or has been near someone with it | 111 now | — |
| You have chickenpox and are more short of breath than usual | 111 now | In Korea, same-day care or A&E (our gloss) |
| Any other symptoms you’re worried about | 111 now | — |
The NHS says some people may be able to take medicine to prevent complications, which needs to be started within 24 hours of the spots appearing; it doesn’t name the medicine. This page has no separate 999 list.
Vaccination — NHS
In the UK, children are now offered the MMRV vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox, as 2 doses at 12 months and 18 months. We didn’t read the Korean schedule this time; check the KDCA immunisation helper (our pointer).
Checklist
- ☐ Stay off school, nursery or work until all spots have scabbed
- ☐ Plenty of fluids, paracetamol, cool baths
- ☐ No ibuprofen unless a doctor says so; no aspirin under 16
- ☐ Short nails; socks on hands at night
- ☐ Keep away from newborns, pregnant people and anyone with weakened immunity
- ☐ Red, hot or painful skin round blisters, dehydration or breathlessness: 111 now
The NHS shingles page says the same from the other side — chickenpox can only spread from shingles while the rash is weeping (shingles).
Questions that remain
Can I use ibuprofen for the fever?
The NHS says not to use ibuprofen unless a doctor tells you to. It suggests paracetamol for pain and discomfort.
When can they go back?
Once all the spots have scabbed — usually 5 days after they first appeared, the NHS says. Check Korean nursery or school rules with them.
A blister has burst.
The NHS says the blisters are very itchy and may burst. If the skin around them turns red, hot or painful, use 111. Ordinary blisters are covered in blisters.
Sources
- NHS — Chickenpox — source (page shows: reviewed 31 January 2025, next review 31 January 2028; checked 19 October 2026). 3 stages, duration, 7 dos and 3 don’ts, infectious period, 2 GP and 6 111 reasons, the 24-hour medicine window, MMRV vaccine.
- Not read. Korean agency guidance on chickenpox; the Korean immunisation schedule; Korean attendance rules.
- What we added. The “worth noting” column and the Korean care gloss.
Where else to check
- KDCA immunisation helper — the Korean chickenpox vaccine schedule.
- A paediatric clinic — if you’re not sure it’s chickenpox.
Written on 19 October 2026. The content is from the NHS; the glosses are ours.
