Chickenpox: What You Need to Know
- Gary Ferone
Chickenpox which is also known as varicella is a highly contagious disease that is caused by the initial infection with varicella zoster virus. It is a viral illness which is characterized by a very itchy red rash and is one of the most common infectious diseases of childhood. An itchy rash of spots which look like blisters can appear all over the body as well as can be accompanied by symptoms such as flu. It usually starts on the face, chest, and back and then spreads to the whole body. However, it has become much less common since the introduction of the chickenpox vaccine has been introduced. The complications may also include pneumonia, inflammation of the brain as well as bacterial infections of the skin among others.
Some signs as well as symptoms of chickenpox are:
- Nausea and headache
- Loss of appetite
- Aching muscles and malaise
- Rash or oral sores
- Low grade fever
Some possible problems of chickenpox are:
- Damage to the body which includes hypoplasia of upper/lower extremities
- Damage to the eye which includes optic stalk, cataracts, chorioretinitis, microphthalmia
- Skin disorders which includes skin lesions, hypopigmentation
- Damage to the brain which includes microcephaly, encephalitis, aplasia of brain
- Other neurological disorder which includes motor/sensory deficits, absent deep tendon reflexes
The diagnosis of the chickenpox is primarily based on the signs as well as the symptoms with typical early symptoms which are followed by a characteristic rash and the confirmation of the diagnosis is by the examination of the fluid within the vesicles of the rash.
Chickenpox can be prevented by using the following methods:
- Hygiene measures: The spread of the chickenpox can also be prevented by isolating affected individuals and its virus is susceptible to disinfectants. Contagion is by exposure to the respiratory droplets within a period from three days before the onset of the rash to four days after the onset of the rash.
- Vaccine: Varicella vaccine is used by most of the countries and a vaccinated person is likely to have a milder case of chickenpox if they become infected.
An antiviral medicine might be prescribed to those people with chickenpox who are at risk for complications and the decision to use it will depend on some factors such as age, health, extent of infection, timing of treatment, etc. Antibiotics are only used if a secondary bacterial skin infection is developed or if the person with the chickenpox develops bacterial pneumonia.
Gary Ferone
Some signs as well as symptoms of chickenpox are:
- Nausea and headache
- Loss of appetite
- Aching muscles and malaise
- Rash or oral sores
- Low grade fever
Some possible problems of chickenpox are:
- Damage to the body which includes hypoplasia of upper/lower extremities
- Damage to the eye which includes optic stalk, cataracts, chorioretinitis, microphthalmia
- Skin disorders which includes skin lesions, hypopigmentation
- Damage to the brain which includes microcephaly, encephalitis, aplasia of brain
- Other neurological disorder which includes motor/sensory deficits, absent deep tendon reflexes
The diagnosis of the chickenpox is primarily based on the signs as well as the symptoms with typical early symptoms which are followed by a characteristic rash and the confirmation of the diagnosis is by the examination of the fluid within the vesicles of the rash.
Chickenpox can be prevented by using the following methods:
- Hygiene measures: The spread of the chickenpox can also be prevented by isolating affected individuals and its virus is susceptible to disinfectants. Contagion is by exposure to the respiratory droplets within a period from three days before the onset of the rash to four days after the onset of the rash.
- Vaccine: Varicella vaccine is used by most of the countries and a vaccinated person is likely to have a milder case of chickenpox if they become infected.
An antiviral medicine might be prescribed to those people with chickenpox who are at risk for complications and the decision to use it will depend on some factors such as age, health, extent of infection, timing of treatment, etc. Antibiotics are only used if a secondary bacterial skin infection is developed or if the person with the chickenpox develops bacterial pneumonia.
Gary Ferone