The varicella-zoster virus is responsible for chickenpox. It is characterized by an itchy rash with tiny, fluid-filled blisters. People who haven’t had chickenpox or been immunized against it are very infectious. A vaccination against chickenpox is now accessible for youngsters. The United States recommends routine immunization. CDC stands for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The chickenpox vaccination is a safe and efficient strategy to protect against chickenpox and associated sequelae.
Symptoms
The painful blister rash produced by chickenpox infection occurs 10 to 21 days after virus contact and typically lasts five to ten days. Other symptoms and indicators that may emerge one to two days before the rash include:
- Fever
- Appetite loss
- Headache
- Tiredness and an overall sense of being ill (malaise)
When the chickenpox rash forms, it progresses through three stages:
- Raised pink or red pimples (papules) that appear over a few days
- Small fluid-filled blisters (vesicles) that grow in approximately a day before breaking and leaking
- Crusts and scabs form over fractured blisters and take many days to cure.
Because new bumps emerge for several days, you may experience all three stages of the rash — bumps, blisters, and scabbed lesions — at the same time. You can transfer the virus to others up to 48 hours before the rash emerges, and the virus is infectious until all ruptured blisters crust over.
In healthy youngsters, the condition is often minor. The rash can cover the entire body in extreme instances, and lesions can occur in the mouth, eyes, and mucous membranes of the urethra, anus, and vagina.
Stay away from school or work.
You must avoid going to school, childcare, or work until all of the spots have formed a scab. This normally happens 5 days after the spots emerge.
Chickenpox is quite contagious.
You can contract chickenpox just by being in the same room as someone who has it. It can also be transferred by contacting items that have fluid from blisters on them.
When is chickenpox contagious?
You can transfer chickenpox to others from two days before your spots show until they have all formed scabs, which is generally five days.
How soon after contracting chickenpox do you get symptoms?
The spots emerge 1 to 3 weeks after you have chickenpox.
Home remedies for chickenpox
DO’S
- To avoid dehydration, drink plenty of fluids (try ice lollies if your youngster does not drink).
- To alleviate pain and discomfort, use paracetamol.
- To prevent scratching, trim your child’s fingernails and put socks on their hands at night.
- Use pharmacy-purchased cooling creams or gels.
- Consult a pharmacist about taking antihistamine medication to relieve itching.
- Bathe in lukewarm water and gently dry your skin (do not rub)
- Dress comfortably.
DON’TS
- Ibuprofen should not be used unless prescribed by a doctor, as it can cause dangerous skin infections.
- Children under the age of 16 should not be given aspirin.
- Do not go near newborn babies, pregnant women, or those with low immune systems, since chickenpox can be fatal to them.
- Do not scratch the patches, since this might result in scarring.
Immunity against chickenpox
Most chickenpox survivors will be immune to the disease for the rest of their life. However, the virus remains latent in nerve tissue and may reactivate later in life, resulting in herpes zoster (shingles). A subsequent episode of chickenpox does arise on occasion. In those who are unclear if they have had chickenpox, blood testing can prove immunity.
What are the most prevalent problems linked with chickenpox?
Chickenpox can lead to complications. Infants, adults, pregnant women, and persons with compromised immune systems are the most vulnerable to severe instances of chickenpox. If the woman has not had chickenpox prior to pregnancy, her unborn child may also be infected. Even healthy youngsters can suffer chickenpox consequences, most often severe skin infections. Chickenpox complications may include:
- Bacterial secondary infections
- Pneumonia
- Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) (inflammation of the brain)
- Cerebral ataxia (defective muscular coordination)
- Myelitis transverse (inflammation along the spinal cord)
- The Reye syndrome (a serious condition that may affect all major systems or organs)
- Death
Can my child get a chickenpox vaccine?
Yes, there is a chickenpox vaccination. It is advised, so inquire with your doctor about the vaccine.
What should I be aware of about the chickenpox vaccine?
Two dosages are advised. If your kid is under the age of 13, he or she should receive one dosage between the ages of 12 and 15 months, and another between the ages of four and six years.
If you are 13 years old or older and have never had the vaccination, you should receive two doses at least 28 days apart.
Varivax® is a vaccination that is specifically for chickenpox. Another is ProQuad®, which protects against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV).
Vaccination prevents chickenpox in more than 90% of cases.
