Diet and food guidance for smallpox

Smallpox is eradicated, so there is no diet to follow for it today. This page describes general supportive nutrition for a person with a severe feverish blistering illness, as it was understood in the past and as it applies to modern care of similar illnesses.

Goals of food during severe infection

• Keep the body hydrated.
• Provide easy calories and protein for healing.
• Keep the mouth and throat comfortable when sores are present.

Helpful choices

• Plenty of fluids: water, oral rehydration solution, clear soups, coconut water and thin dal water.
• Soft, bland foods: rice porridge (kanji), khichdi, mashed vegetables, boiled potato and curd rice if tolerated.
• Protein sources that are easy to digest: moong dal, eggs, milk, yogurt or soft paneer, if tolerated.
• Fruits that are soft and mild, such as banana or stewed apple.

What to limit

• Very spicy, sour, salty or hot foods that irritate mouth sores.
• Fried and heavy foods during fever.
• Alcohol and smoking.

Mouth sores Cool, soft foods and sipping fluids may help. A doctor may advise pain relief.

Traditional notes Classical texts advise light, cooling food and avoiding heavy, oily and very spicy foods during eruptive fevers. These fit with modern common-sense advice, though they are not a treatment.

Ayurvedic view (interpretive) Light diets are meant to pacify Pitta and ease digestion during fever. This is supportive only.

When to get urgent care Inability to drink, repeated vomiting, drowsiness or breathlessness needs urgent medical attention (112).

Remember Food only supports recovery. Any suspected pox-like illness needs a doctor.