Description

Chickenpox is a disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Have an itchy rash with small, fluid-filled blisters. Chickenpox is spread very easily to the people who have not had the disease or have not received the varicella vaccine. Chickenpox used to be a widespread problem, but today the vaccine protects children.

The chickenpox vaccine is a safe way to prevent this disease and other health problems that can occur during the same.

Symptoms

The rash caused by the chickenpox appear 10 to 21 days after exposure to the varicella-zoster virus. The rash usually lasts about 5 to 10 days. Other symptoms that may appear 1 to 2 days before rash include:

  • Fever.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • The pain of a headache.
  • The tiredness and a general feeling of malaise.

Once the chickenpox rash appears, it goes through three phases:

  • Raised bumps called papules, which break for a couple of days.
  • Small fluid-filled blisters called vesicles, which are formed in a day and then break and leak.
  • Crusts and scabs, which cover the blisters and take a couple more days to heal.

New developments continue to show up for several days. So you can have bumps, blisters, and scabs in the same time. You can spread the virus to other people for up to 48 hours before the rash appears. And the virus remains contagious until all the blisters have crusted over.

The disease is mild in healthy children. But sometimes, the rash may cover the entire body. The blisters may form in the throat and eyes. Also can form in the tissue that lines the inside of the urethra, the anus and the vagina.

When to see a doctor

If you believe you or your child has chickenpox, call your health care provider. Often, chickenpox can be diagnosed with an examination of the rash and other symptoms. You may need medications that can help to combat the virus or the treatment of other health problems that can occur because of chickenpox. To avoid infecting others in the waiting room, call ahead to make an appointment. Mention that you believe that you or your child might have chickenpox.

In addition, tell your doctor if you:

  • The rash spreads to one or both eyes.
  • The rash becomes very hot and sensitive. This could be a sign that the skin is infected with the bacteria.
  • You have more severe symptoms, along with the rash. Watch for dizziness, new confusion, fast heart rate, difficulty breathing, tremors, loss of the ability to use the muscles together, a cough that gets worse, vomiting, stiffness in the neck, or a fever higher than 102 F (38.9 C).
  • Living with people who have never had chickenpox and have not yet received the varicella vaccine yet.
  • Someone in your household is pregnant.
  • You live with someone who has a disease or taking medications that affect the immune system.

Causes

A virus called varicella-zoster virus causes chickenpox. It can be spread through direct contact with the rash. Can also be spread when a person with chickenpox coughs or sneezes and you breathe in the air drops.

Risk factors

The risk of becoming infected with the virus that causes chickenpox is higher if you have not had chickenpox, or if you have not had the chickenpox vaccine. It is very important for people who work at the daycare or school to be vaccinated.

The majority of people who have had chicken pox or have received the vaccine are immune to chickenpox. If you have been vaccinated and still get chickenpox, often the symptoms are milder. You may have fewer blisters and mild or no fever. Some people may get chickenpox more than once, but this is rare.

Complications

Chicken pox is often a mild disease. But it can be severe and can lead to other health problems, including:

  • Infection of the skin, soft tissues, bones, joints, or the bloodstream caused by bacteria.
  • Dehydration when the body gets too low in the water and other liquids.
  • Pneumonia, a disease in one or both lungs.
  • The swelling of the brain called encephalitis.
  • Toxic shock syndrome, a dangerous complication of some diseases caused by bacteria.
  • Reye's syndrome, a disease that causes inflammation in the brain and the liver. This can occur in children and teens who take aspirin during the chicken pox.

In very rare cases, chickenpox can lead to death.

Who is at risk?

The people who are at higher risk of complications from chickenpox include:

  • Newborns and infants whose mothers have never had chickenpox or the vaccine. This includes children under the age of 1 year, who have not received the vaccine.
  • Adolescents and adults.
  • Pregnant women who have not had chickenpox.
  • The people who smoke.
  • People with cancer or HIV who are taking a medication that has an effect on the immune system.
  • People with a chronic disease, such as asthma, you take a medicine that calms the immune response. Or those who have had an organ transplant and take medication to limit the immune system of the action.

Chickenpox and pregnancy

Low birth weight and limb problems are more common in babies born to women infected with chickenpox early in your pregnancy. When a pregnant person catches chickenpox in the week before birth or within a few days after giving birth, the baby has a higher risk of developing a life-threatening infection.

If you are pregnant and not immune to chickenpox, talk with your health care provider about these risks.

Chickenpox and herpes zoster

If you have had chickenpox, you are at risk of a complication called herpes zoster. The virus of varicella-zoster virus remains in nerve cells after the chickenpox rash disappears. Many years later, the virus can re-ignite and cause shingles, a painful cluster of blisters. The virus is more likely in older adults and in people who have weaker immune systems.

The pain of shingles can last long after the blisters disappear, and can be severe. This is called postherpetic neuralgia.

In the united States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that you get the shingles vaccine, Shingrix, if you are 50 years old or more. The agency also suggests Shingrix if you are 19 years or more and you have a weaker immune system due to disease or treatment. Shingrix is recommended, even if you have already had shingles, or who has attained the age the shingles vaccine, Zostavax.

Other tiles of the vaccines offered outside of the united States. Talk with your vendor for more information on how to prevent shingles.

Prevention

The vaccine against chickenpox, also called varicella vaccine, is the best way to prevent chickenpox. In the united States, experts from the CDC report that two doses of the vaccine to prevent the disease in more than 90% of the time. Even if you get chicken pox after receiving the vaccine, the symptoms can be much milder.

In the united States, two of the vaccines varicella-use license: Varivax contains only the chickenpox vaccine. Can be used in the united States to immunize people from the age of 1 or more. ProQuad combines the varicella vaccine with a vaccine against measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. Can be used in the united States for children from 1 to 12. This is also called the MMRV vaccine.

In the united States, children receive two doses of the varicella vaccine: the first between the ages of 12 and 15 months and the second between the ages of 4 and 6 years. This is part of the routine immunization schedule for children.

For some of the children between the ages of 12 and 23 months, the MMRV combination vaccine may increase the risk of fever and seizures of the vaccine. Ask your doctor about the pros and cons of the use of combination vaccines.

Children from 7 to 12 years of age who have not been vaccinated should receive two doses of the varicella vaccine. The dose should be administered at least three months apart.

Persons 13 years or more who have not been vaccinated should receive two catch-up doses of vaccine, at least four weeks apart. It is even more important to get the vaccine if you have a higher risk of being exposed to the chicken pox. This includes health care workers, teachers, child care employees, international travelers, military personnel, adults living with small children and all non-pregnant women of childbearing age.

If you do not remember if you've had chickenpox or the vaccine, your doctor can give you a blood test to find out.

Other varicella vaccine is offered outside of the united States. Talk with your health care provider for more information about how to prevent chickenpox.

Do not receive the varicella vaccine if you are pregnant. If you choose to receive the vaccine before pregnancy, do not try to become pregnant during the series of shots, or one month after the last dose of the vaccine.

Other people also should not receive the vaccine or should wait. Check with your health care provider about whether you should receive the vaccine if you:

  • They have a weaker immune system. This includes people who have HIV or are taking any medications that have an effect on the immune system.
  • Is allergic to gelatin or the antibiotic neomycin.
  • Having any type of cancer or are receiving treatment for cancer with radiation or drugs.
  • Has recently received a donor's blood or other blood products.

Talk with your doctor if you are not sure if you need the vaccine. If you plan to become pregnant, consult with your provider if you are current on their vaccinations.

Is it safe and effective?

Parents often wonder if vaccines are safe. Since the chickenpox vaccine became available, studies have shown that it is safe and works well. The side effects are usually mild. They include pain, redness, pain and swelling at the injection site. Rarely, you may get a skin rash on the site, or fever.

Diagnosis

Most often, the health care providers who have chickenpox based on the eruption.

Chickenpox can also be confirmed with laboratory tests, including tests of blood or tissue sampling study of affected skin.

Treatment

In healthy children, chickenpox often do not need medical treatment. Some children may be able to take a type of medicine called an antihistamine to calm the itching. But for the most part, the only disease has to run its course.

If you are at high risk of complications

For the people who are at high risk of complications from chickenpox, providers sometimes prescribe medications to shorten the duration of the disease and to help reduce the risk of complications.

If you or your child is at high risk of complications, your doctor may suggest an anti-viral medication to fight the virus, such as acyclovir (Zovirax, Sitavig). This medicine can lessen the symptoms of chickenpox. But they work best when given within 24 hours after the rash first appears.

Other antiviral drugs, such as valacyclovir (Valtrex) and famciclovir, you can also make the illness less severe. But these may not be approved or right for everyone. In some cases, your doctor may suggest that you receive the varicella vaccine after having been exposed to the virus. This can prevent the disease or help make it less serious.

The treatment of the complications

If you or your child have any complications, your provider to find out the right treatment. For example, antibiotics can treat the infection of the skin and pneumonia. Inflammation of the brain, also called encephalitis, is often treated with antiviral medications. The in-hospital treatment may be necessary.

Lifestyle and home remedies

To help relieve mild symptoms of chickenpox, you can follow these self-care tips.

Try not to scratch

Scratching the skin can cause scarring and slow healing. You can also increase the risk that the sores are infected. If your child can't stop scratching, trim your child's fingernails. It can also help to put the gloves in the hands of a child, especially in the night.

Relieve itching and other symptoms

The chickenpox rash can be very itchy and blisters called vesicles, at times, the bite. For the relief of these and other symptoms, you can try:

  • A bath of cold water with the addition of sodium bicarbonate, acetate, aluminum, or without cooking the oatmeal. Or you could add colloidal oatmeal, finely ground oatmeal that is made for the soak.
  • The calamine lotion can be spread on the itchy spots.
  • A soft, bland diet if chicken pox sores form in the mouth.
  • Antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for itching. But ask your doctor if your child can take antihistamines.
  • Acetaminophen (Tylenol) for a mild fever.

Call your healthcare provider if fever lasts more than four days, and is higher than 102 F (38.9 C). And do not give aspirin to children and teenagers who have chickenpox. This can lead to a serious medical problem called Reye's syndrome.

Talk with your doctor before giving any type of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), for someone who has chickenpox. Some studies suggest that this type of medication can lead to infections of the skin or damage to the tissues.

Preparing for your appointment

Call your family doctor if you or your child has symptoms of chickenpox. Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

Collection of information by advance

  • Pre-appointment of security measures. Ask if you or your child should follow all the restrictions before the checkup, such as staying away from other people.
  • Symptom of the story. Write down any symptoms you or your child has had, and for how long.
  • The recent exposure to people who might have had chickenpox. Try to remember if you or your child has been exposed to someone who might have had the disease in recent weeks.
  • Key medical information. Include any other health problem, and the names of the medicines that you or your child is taking.
  • Questions to ask your provider. Write down your questions so that you can make the most of your time at the check-in.

Questions to ask your provider about the chickenpox include:

  • What is the most likely cause of these symptoms?
  • There are other possible causes?
  • What treatment do you suggest?
  • How soon before your symptoms improve?
  • There are home remedies or self-care measures that may help to relieve the symptoms?
  • Am I or is my child contagious? For how long?
  • How can we decrease the risk of infecting other people?

Feel free to ask any other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Your provider may ask:

  • What symptoms have you noticed, and when they appear for the first time?
  • Do you know someone who has had symptoms of chickenpox in the past few weeks?
  • Have you had or your child has had a chickenpox vaccine? How many doses?
  • Do you or your child is being treated? Or has recently been treated for other health problems you have?
  • Do you or your child take any medication, vitamins or supplements?
  • Is your child in school or daycare?
  • Are you pregnant or breastfeeding?

What you can do in the meantime

Rest as much as possible. Try not to touch the skin with the chickenpox at him. And think about wearing a mask over your nose and mouth in public. Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease until the blisters in the skin thoroughly with a crust.

Symptoms and treatment of chicken Pox