Healthytalk8 OVER VIEW
Contents
Chickenpox is a disease, also known as varicella, that is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It mainly affects children but is also found in adults.
90% of its cases are children below the age of 10 years. but it also is serious, especially in toddlers, pregnant women, and people with weak immune systems.
It is highly contagious means it can spread from one person to another person by saliva, by touch.
In chickenpox, itchy red blisters appear all over the body, after several days, the blisters pop and start to leak.
Then they crust and scab over before finally healing (1).
The vaccine may also reduce the incidence of chickenpox in 98% of people who receive the two recommended doses.
Causes
It is mainly caused by the varicella-zoster virus, but it is also caused by infected persons contact with. include:
- You can get a virus by touching blisters
- Salvia
- Cough
- Sneezing
Chickenpox remains highly contagious for 1 to 2 days and even until its blisters burst and dry up.
Symptoms of chickenpox
Anyone can get chickenpox, especially children, if you have not been vaccinated against this illness, then you are more at risk of this disease.
The illness of chickenpox usually lasts for about 4 to 7 days. and its symptoms appear within 10 to 21 days after exposure to the virus.
Rash Symptoms may include:
- Itchiness
- fluid-filled blisters
Non-rash common symptoms include:
The rash may first show in the back, followed by the chest, abdomen, face, and then the last leg, inside the mouth, eyes, and genital area.
In most cases, it goes away on its own, but if it does not go away on its own, and shows these symptoms, then talk to the doctor. include:
- Dizziness
- Vomitting
- Dehydration
- If the rash spreads from one eye to another eye
- Difficulty in breathing
- If you can’t control your muscles
- High fever
Who is at more risk?
Anyone can get chickenpox, but these people are more at risk of chickenpox. these include:
- If a person has recent contact with an infected person
- Children under 12 years of age
- If haven’t been vaccinated yet
- Weak immune system due to illness or any disease
- If a mother has chickenpox, then it may pass from mother to newborn baby.
How doctor Diagnose it?
The doctor checks you’re diagnosis based on a physical exam of blisters and lab tests can confirm the cause of the blisters (2)
You should consult your doctor if you see unwanted rashes on your body, especially if you have cold symptoms or fever.
NOTE: Talk to your doctor, if you are pregnant, and you are infected with chickenpox..
Treatment of chicken pox
In most cases, it goes away on its own.
There are several ways to treat this illness at home which help relieve chickenpox symptoms and prevent skin infections. such as:
- Lotion
- uncooked oatmeal
- warm bath
- Wearing lightweight or soft cloth, so the blister doesn’t hurt
- eat boiled food like oats, khichadi
NOTE: Just remember, keep your nails short, or cut, so that the blister would not be wounded because of them.
Also, the doctor may recommend you some medicines or over-the-counter medicines to help relieve itching like non-aspirin medicines, which lower fever levels.
Chickenpox is a virus, so can’t be treated with antibiotics.
But antibiotics are needed if bacteria infect the sores. this can happen when kids stretch the blisters (3).
The doctor may prescribe you antiviral medicines, and it depends on your
- Age and health
- How severe is a condition
- Extent of infection
- timing of the treatment
However antiviral drugs do not cure chickenpox.
But they make the symptoms less severe by dialling back viral movement. This helps the immune system to heal quicker.
NOTE: In children’s case, if you don’t know how to treat it, don’t do anything by yourself, seek a doctor’s advice.
Complications of chicken pox
People who get serious are more prone to its complications, however, In some other cases, adults are at risk of developing complications more than children.
Because of the Weakened immune system due to HIV, cancer, chemotherapy, and other condition that affect immunity.
Complications that occur in most are:
- Infants
- Pregnant women
- Adolescents
- Weak immune system people
- old people
If pregnant women are affected by this, its effect can be seen on children too. which include:
- Late growth
- weak intelligence
- Eye problem
Learn – Women’s Health and Pregnancy
Some serious complications of chickenpox are:
- Dehydration
- Red, tender rash, and warm signs of other infections
- Dizziness
- shortness of breath
- Pneumonia
- Bleeding issue
Being more severe or complicated than chickenpox can lead to hospitalization and may also cause death.
Prevention
The best way to prevent this illness is to get vaccinated.
Everyone should take the chickenpox vaccine, especially kids, the vaccine may sometimes be given to healthy children between 1 and 12 years of age.
Youngsters get a supporter between 4 and 6 years old.
NOTE: The vaccine is totally safe for all ages, it prevents the disease worldwide, and most people who are vaccinated do not get chickenpox.
Like all vaccines, it cannot completely protect you against catching chickenpox.
If you have had chickenpox, you will see fewer symptoms, if you have been vaccinated.
Make sure children get both doses before age 13 here is the schedule for the first and second doses are:
- First dose at age 12 through 15 months
- Second dose at age 4 through 6 years
The vaccine also provides protection for vulnerable people.
If women are already pregnant, getting the chickenpox vaccine is not recommended, consult your doctor about this.
“Preventing the disease before is the best way to prevent further issues.”
— Uma, Volunteer
Important Note about – chickenpox
Try to keep your fingernails short or cut them, to prevent the virus from spreading to others, which also helps prevent skin infections.
If blisters have burst by mistake, wash your hands thoroughly before touching any person so that they do not spread further.
Cutting the nails short or wearing gloves may prevent scratching and minimize the risk of secondary infections (5).
So maintain good hygiene, especially at this time, Hygiene includes:
- Don’t scratch the blisters
- cleaning the skin with warm water
- Don’t feed your food to people.
BOTTOM LINE
The illness of chickenpox usually lasts for about 4 to 7 days. and its symptoms appear within 10 to 21 days after exposure to the virus.
It is mainly caused by the varicella-zoster virus, but it is also caused by infected person contact with.
The best way to prevent this illness is to get vaccinated.
