CHICKEN POX ( Varicella)
CHICKEN POX ( Varicella)
What is chickenpox?
Chickenpox is a common childhood skin
disease caused by a viral infection.
Chickenpox is a very infectious disease
caused by one of a group of herpes
viruses. It causes a distinctive rash and
mild flu-like symptoms.
What causes chickenpox?
The virus involved is called
the varicella-zoster virus.
How does chickenpox spread?
Chickenpox is very highly contagious.
It is easily passed between members of
families and workmates through airborne
particles, droplets in exhaled air, and
fluid from the blisters or sores.
It also can be transmitted indirectly by
contact with articles of clothing and
other items exposed to fresh drainage
from open sores.
How does chickenpox spread?
Patients are contagious up to five
days (more commonly, one to two
days) before and five days after the
rash appears.
When all of the sores have crusted
over, the person is usually no longer
contagious.
What are the symptoms and signs?
Symptoms tend to appear 14 to 16
days after the initial exposure but can
occur anytime from 10 days up to 21
days after contact with the virus.
Chickenpox is characterized by
◦ one to two days of mild fever up to 102 F,
◦ general weakness, and
◦ a rash, often the first sign of the disease.
What are chickenpox symptoms and
signs?
The rash of chickenpox develops in crops
with raised red spots arriving first,
progressing to blisters that burst, forming
open sores, before crusting over.
This process usually starts on the scalp, then
the trunk (its area of greatest concentration),
and finally the arms and legs.
The rash is typically very itchy (pruritic).
What are treatment options for
chickenpox?
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be used to
decrease the fevers and aches often
associated with the initial presentation of
the viral infection.
◦ Children should never be given acetylsalicylic
acid (Aspirin) or aspirin-containing cold
medications because of the risks for
developing Reye's syndrome (a severe
acquired metabolic disease associated with
liver and brain dysfunction and death).
What are treatment options for
chickenpox?
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or other
antihistamines can be helpful in
controlling the itching.
To soothe your itchy spots, you can use
calamine lotion. You can also try putting
bicarbonate of soda in your bath to relieve
itchiness.
Reminders:
It is important to keep nails trimmed in
order to minimize injury due to scratching
and to control the risks for secondary
bacterial infections.
Wear loose cotton clothing to keep the
skin cool and reduce itching.
What are treatment options for
chickenpox?
Lastly, in some cases of
chickenpox, acyclovir (Zovirax) can be
prescribed.
◦ Acyclovir is an antiviral medication which has
been used to shorten the duration of the infection.
◦ This medication has only been shown to be
affective if started within one to two days of onset
of the rash associated with chickenpox.
◦ Most commonly, this treatment is reserved for
patients with other diagnoses which put them at
risk for severe disease (severe skin diseases,
immunodeficiency).
Can chickenpox be prevented
with a vaccine?
Most people develop lifetime immunity to
chickenpox after the first occurrence and
never experience it again.
But the virus can sometimes resurface
later in life as shingles (zoster).
Can chickenpox be prevented
with a vaccine?
The vaccination requires only two shots.
◦ The first vaccination is given at about 1 year of
age, and the second (booster) is given at 4 years
of age.
◦ If an older person has not had chickenpox, the
shot may be given at any time.
◦ There have been few significant adverse reactions
to the chickenpox vaccine.
◦ Vaccination has been associated with a 90%
decrease in the incidence of chickenpox and
significantly lower complication rates in those
who do develop the symptoms.
