Treating chicken pox. Most doctors won't prescribe medication for a common case of the chicken pox. Their advice: let the disease run its course and treat bothersome symptoms such as itchiness and fever with over-the-counter remedies. Here are a few things to try:

Reduce fever with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Do NOT give your child aspirin. The combination of chicken pox and aspirin can increase a child's risk of contracting Reyes syndrome - a rare and potentially fatal disorder that can affect the liver and brain.

Get more information in our fever guide.

Relieve itching with a lukewarm bath filled with oatmeal or baking soda. Apply cold compresses and calamine lotion on itchy spots.

Prevent scarring by keeping your child's nails cut short so if she does scratch, she won't transfer any bacteria to the pox.

Soothe mouth sores with soft, bland and cold foods like Jell-o, bananas or rice. Avoid all things acidic (like oranges and juice) which can aggravate the blisters.

When to see the doctor

It's always safest to take your child to the doctor once you suspect the pox. That way, she can properly diagnose the disease and decide what course of treatment is best. Then, she can monitor your child for complications. Always call in advance to let them know that your little one could be contagious - you don't want to get any other children sick in the waiting room.

Where to find more information

• http://www.cdc.gov/ (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Find a bevy of illness definitions, treatment options and a ton of helpful information on pretty much any disease you can think of.
• http://nlm.nih.gov/ (National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health) A huge medical reference library, this site is full of the latest research and up-to-date disease information.