Chickenpox

Chickenpox (varicella), a viral illness characterized by a very itchy red rash, is one of the most common infectious diseases of childhood. It is usually mild in children, but adults run the risk of serious complications, such as bacterial pneumonia.

People who have had chickenpox almost always develop lifetime immunity (meaning you can't get it again.) However, the virus remains dormant in the body, and it can reactivate later in life and cause shingles.

Because chickenpox can pass from a pregnant woman to her unborn child, possibly causing birth defects, doctors often advise women considering pregnancy to confirm their immunity with a blood test.

Chickenpox causes

Chickenpox is caused by the herpes zoster virus, also known as the varicella zoster virus. It is spread by droplets from a sneeze or cough, or by contact with the clothing, bed linens, or oozing vesicles of an infected person. The onset of symptoms is seven to 21 days after exposure. The disease is most contagious a day before the rash appears and up to seven days after, or until the rash is completely dry and scabbed.

Chicken pox vaccine

Varicella, also known by many of us as chicken pox, is a disease cause by a virus. This disease, is contagious and unfortunately it affects children. You can safely say that if you have had chicken pox when you were a child, you will never suffer from it again.

Rash, blisters, scabs and a lot of itching are what you should expect when suffering from chicken pox. This is not a very pleasant disease, but it does not pose any actual threats on your child. Nowadays, the number of children that are affected by chicken pox is smaller and smaller, due to the invention of the chicken pox vaccine. Before, an astonishing number of children got infected with chicken pox each year. However, things have started to change since the vaccine fro chicken pox was discovered. The name of the vaccine against chicken pox is Varivax and it is very effective. Actually, it has a rate of efectivness somewhere between eighty and ninety percent. So now, there is a way to prevent chicken pox. However, not all children will benefit from this vaccine against chicken pox. There are some kids that have other health problems and should not be given the chicken pox vaccine. Except them, all children are vaccinated against chicken pox when they are one year old. It is preferable that your child receives the chicken pox vaccine at the same time with the vaccine against mumps- measles- rubella. If you are older, but are considered susceptible to chicken pox, you should also use the vaccine.

One dose of the chicken pox vaccine is more than enough for children under twelve years old. Adults and children that are over twelve, will receive a second dose of the chicken pox vaccine about six weeks after the first shot. There is little to non risks involved in this vaccine against chicken pox. However, it is best that you talk to your doctor first and decide if you should take the vaccine against chicken pox or not. There could be side effects to this vaccine, although there is no valid complaint up to this day. Even if you get your child or yourself vaccinated against chicken pox, the risk of developing this disease still exists, but it is lower considerably.

chicken pox symptoms

Chicken pox is a highly infectious and very common childhood disease.  It is caused by the varicella zoster virus, a member of the herpes family of viruses. It is usually a mild, self-limiting disease in healthy children but it can be severe if contracted by babies, immune-suppressed children or adults.

Children under 10 years old are the main target of chicken pox. Adults can catch chicken pox as well, but this is very rare. Once you have had chicken pox, you can not develop it again. However, if you have not had chicken pox by the time you were ten, then things do not look so good. Older children and adults that develop chicken pox risk more severe complications. Winter and spring are the most common seasons for chicken pox. There are also some people that are more vulnerable to chicken pox than others. For example kids that are immunosuppressed or newborns are especially vulnerable to chicken pox.

Chicken Pox- Symptoms

The symptoms of Chickenpox is worse in adults than children. Complications are most common among the older age group. Serious and widespread dissemination of the disease can occur in patients who are immunosuppressed e.g patients with leukemia, lymphoma, HIV and Transplant patients. The lungs and brain may get involved causing pneumonia or encephlitis.Chicken pox is a disease that affects mainly children. It is contagious and can be spread even through air. The main way of chicken pox transmission is by direct contact with the person infected by chicken pox. Like many other disease, chicken pox also has symptoms. These signs will appear about three weeks after infection with the virus that causes chicken pox. The reason for this is because the chicken pox virus has an incubation period. The proper medical term fro chicken pox is actually varicella, because the name of the virus that causes this children' s disease is called varicella zoster.

Some of the chicken pox symptoms are quite characteristic. However, many of the other symptoms of this skin problem are similar to many other skin conditions. It is important to examine the chickenpox symptoms below to ensure that the problem is actually chicken pox and not some other illness. When in doubt, contact a physician or skin doctor to properly diagnose the condition.