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Chicken Pox Vaccine Information - Causes, Symptoms And Treatment of Chicken Pox

What is Chicken Pox ?

Chicken pox is a rash illness caused by a virus. Once a person is exposed to the virus, it takes between 2 and 3 weeks before the symptoms appear. Chickenpox usually occurs in childhood. Adults who contract chickenpox are usually more ill, especially with pneumonia. Chickenpox is very common and highly contagious. Approximately 3 million cases occur each year in the United States. More than 90% of chickenpox cases occur in children less than 12 years of age.

Causes of Chicken Pox

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, a type of herpes virus. It is spread like a cold, entering through your respiratory tract after an infected person sneezes, coughs, or shares food or drinks. Similarly, you can become infected if the virus gets on your hands and you don't wash them before you touch your face. Chickenpox also can spread from skin to skin through open sores.

A person infected with chickenpox can spread the virus before developing any symptoms. Chickenpox is most contagious from 2 to 3 days before the rash develops until all the blisters have crusted over

Symptoms of Chicken Pox

• A rash that usually begins on the body and face and later often spreads to the scalp and limbs.
• It may also spread to the mucous membranes especially in the mouth and on the genitals.
• The rash is often itchy.
• It begins as small red spots which develop into blisters in a couple of hours.
• After one or two days, the blisters turn into scabs.
• New blisters may appear after three to six days.
• The number of blisters differs greatly from one person to another.
• The infected person may run a temperature.
• These symptoms are mild in young children.
• Chickenpox lasts 7 to 10 days in children and longer in adults.
• Adults can feel very ill and take longer to recover. They are also more likely than children to suffer complications.

Treatment of Chicken Pox

The treatment mostly consists of easing the symptoms.

• Remember that an infected person will be contagious until new blisters have stopped appearing and until all the blisters have scabs. They should stay at home while they are infectious.
• Avoid scratching the blisters because of the risk of infection.
• Cut the nails short or make the patient wear gloves.
• Pay attention to personal hygiene.
• Calamine lotion will help to relieve the itching.
• Keep the patient in cold surroundings, as heat and sweat may make the itching worse.
• In attacks of chickenpox where the itching is so serious that the child's sleep is totally disturbed, antihistamine medicines with a heavily sedative effect can be used. Antihistamines are medicines for allergic reactions, motion sickness or insomnia .
• In serious cases of chickenpox in people with a weak immune system, aciclovir (eg Zovirax tablets/suspension) , which works specifically against chickenpox, can be used.

Home remedies for Chicken Pox

• Apply Sandalwood oil ( not the paste ) from the first day of appearance of rash till the fall of scabs.
• Apply Vitamin E oil over the skin. Will help the healing process..
• A bath of oatmeal is a natural remedy to relieve the itch due to chicken pox.
• Honey smeared over the skin will also help in healing the disease.
• Lukewarm water baths with neem leaves will help relieve the itching.

Chicken pox and Pregnancy

Chicken pox can cause serious problems during pregnancy , especially when infection occurs early in the pregnancy or at the time of delivery. If it occurs early in pregnancy, several types of fetal abnormalities, including limb abnormalities, scarring of internal organs and neurological damage can occur. Pregnant women who suspect exposure to chicken pox should immediately contact their healthcare provider.