Chickenpox is a highly contagious and very common disease that is often described as one of the “classic” children’s diseases, because so many people suffer from it during their childhood. Chickenpox can be spread by direct contact and also by airborne transmission. Rare but serious complications can result from the disease, requiring immediate medical treatment attention. The best way to avoid chickenpox is be immunized against the disease. The most common symptoms of chickenpox are headache, fever, stomach ache, and a loss of appetite, followed by an itchy rash of blisters, which usually lasts for 2 to 4 days.
Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), also known as human herpes virus 3 (HHV-3), which is a member of the herpes family and is known to cause herpes zoster (shingles) in adults.
Chickenpox is usually diagnosed by looking at the tell tale blisters and rash that chickenpox causes from and the sufferer’s medical history. Blisters on the scalp are a strong indication of chickenpox.
The diagnosis can be verified by blood tests and various tests of the pox blisters themselves.
Like all viral diseases, chickenpox cannot be treated with antibiotics. A chickenpox infection (in the vast majority of cases) can simply be left to run its course.
For the majority of people, it is sufficient the chickenpox sufferer comfortable while their own immune systems fight the disease. Oatmeal baths, calamine lotion, oral antihistamines, and lotions containing antihistamines can help to reduce the itching.
If someone is scratching their chickenpox blisters, then trim their fingernails to reduce the chance of turning the blisters into sores, which can become infected and result in scars.
The best defence against chicken pox is immunisation. However, there are misguided and misinformed people who refuse vaccination for themselves and their children. To protect these foolish people, and visitors to your area from other countries who may not been vaccinated, chickenpox sufferers should remain isolated in their houses until 4 days have after the symptoms have passed.
Various antiviral medicines can be effective against chickenpox, provided they are used within 24 hours of the chickenpox rash appearing. For most healthy children, these medicines are not needed. However, adults and teenagers usually develop more severe symptoms, and they may benefit from these medicines.
In addition, for people with skin conditions (such as eczema or recent sunburn), lung conditions (such as asthma), or those who have recently taken steroids, or those who need to take aspirin on an regular basis, the antiviral medicines may be an effective treatment.
Some doctors also prescribe the antiviral medicines to people who share the same house as the chickenpox sufferer and have not had chickenpox themselves. This is to avoid them developing chickenpox with more severe symptoms as a result of their increased exposure to the disease.
If you suspect that you or your child has chickenpox, then contact your doctor as soon as possible to avoid the risk of developing complications or spreading the disease to others.
WARNING DO NOT USE ASPIRIN. Unless instructed by your child’s doctor, don’t give aspirin to a child who has a viral illness since the use of aspirin in such cases has been associated with the development of Reye Syndrome – a serious and potentially deadly encephalitis-like illness. Instead, acetaminophen and ibuprofen may be used safely.