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CHICKENPOX

Men's Health, Skin Conditions, Women's Health / By

CHICKENPOX

A disease, commonly of children, caused by the varicella zoster virus and characterized by mild headache and fever, malaise, and eruption of blisters on the skin and mucous membranes.

It’s very rare to have the chickenpox infection more than once. And since the chickenpox vaccine was introduced in the mid-1990s, cases have declined.

Causes

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes the chickenpox infection. Most cases occur through contact with an infected person. The virus is contagious to those around you for one to two days before your blisters appear. VZV remains contagious until all blisters have crusted over. The virus can spread through:

  • saliva
  • coughing
  • sneezing
  • contact with fluid from the blisters

Signs and Symptoms

The hallmark symptom of chickenpox is a rash.

Before the rash appears, there will be:

  • a general feeling of being unwell (malaise)
  • fever, which is usually worse in adults than children
  • aching muscles
  • loss of appetite
  • in some cases, a feeling of nausea

After the rash appears, there will be:

  • Rash: Severity varies from a few spots to a rash that covers the whole body.
  • Spots: The spots develop in clusters and generally appear on the face, limbs, chest, and stomach. They tend to be small, red, and itchy.
  • Blisters: Blisters can develop on the top of the spots. These can become very itchy.
  • Clouding: Within about 48 hours, the blisters cloud over and start drying out. A crust develops.
  • Healing: Within about 10 days, the crusts fall off on their own.

During the whole cycle, new waves of spots can appear – in such cases, the patient might have different clusters of spots at varying stages of itchiness, dryness, and crustiness.

Other symptoms

A few people have more severe symptoms.

If the following occur, a doctor should be contacted:

  • the skin around the spots or blisters becomes painful and red
  • there are breathing difficulties

Most healthy individuals make a full recovery, as with a cold or flu, by resting and drinking plenty of fluids.

Diagnosis

A doctor or nurse will know whether a child or adult has chickenpox just by looking and asking a few questions. No medical tests are required to aid in the diagnosis. On rare occasions, chickenpox may be confused with scabies or some types of insect bites.

Treatment

If you have a fever, your doctor may recommend antipyretics

  • If you appear dehydrated and are unable to drink fluids, your doctor may recommend IV fluids either in an emergency room or as a hospitalized patient.
  • Secondary bacterial skin infections may be treated with antibiotics. Because a virus causes chickenpox, no antibiotic can cure the disease.
  • Tap or pat — don’t scratch — your itch
  • Take a cool oatmeal bath (you can buy it at your local drugstore). Dab or pat (don’t rub) your skin dry.
  • Wear loose, cotton clothing so your skin can breath
  • Heat and sweat make you itch more. Use a cool, wet washcloth on super-itchy areas to calm your skin.
  • Drink lots of fluids to help your body rid itself of the virus faster. It’ll also keep you from getting dehydrated.