What is Chickenpox?
Chickenpox is a viral illness that generally starts with a fever.
There are multiple small, red bumps on the skin that become
thin-walled blisters filled with water. These become cloudy
blisters or open sores and finally dry up with brown crusts (all
within 24 hours). There are repeated crops of these sores for 4 to
5 days. The rash is on all body surfaces, but usually starts on
the head and back. Some sores may be in the mouth, eyelids or
genital area. There may be an exposure to a case of chickenpox 2-3
weeks earlier.
What is the cause?
Chickenpox is caused by a highly contagious virus known as
varicella-zoster virus. The varicella virus belongs to the Herpes
group of viruses.
What is the course of the disease?
The fever is usually the highest on the third or fourth day.
Children start feeling better and stop having fever once they stop
getting new crops. On an average, a child gets a total of 300
chickenpox sores.
The normal chickenpox scars can take 6 to 12 months to fade.
Chickenpox rarely leaves any permanent scars unless the sores
become infected or the scabs are picked off repeatedly. A single
attack usually gives lifelong immunity. Very rarely, a child may
have a second mild attack.
Children with chickenpox are contagious until all the sores have
crusted over, usually about a week after the rash begins. To avoid
exposure to other children, avoid taking the child to the doctor’s
clinic. Once all the sores have crusted over (after 6 to 7 days),
the child does not have to stay at home anymore even though scabs
may still be there. It may take up to 2 weeks for all the scabs to
fall off.
Most adults who think they did not have chickenpox as a child
probably had a mild attack. Siblings will come down with
chickenpox in 7 to 21 days. The second case in a family generally
has many more chickenpox sores than the first case.
How is it treated?
The treatment for skin discomfort and itching is a cool bath every
3 to 4 hours for the first few days. Add 4 tablespoons of baking
soda per tub of water. Bath water does not spread chickenpox.
Calamine lotion can be applied on the itchy areas. The itchy areas
can be massaged with an ice cube.
Paracetamol may be given in the dose appropriate for the child's
age for fever over 102°F (39°C). Do NOT give aspirin to children
and adolescents with chickenpox because of the risk of Reye's
syndrome, a neurological illness.
Since chickenpox sores also occur in the mouth and throat, the
child may be picky about eating. Encourage the child to drink cold
fluids. For infants, use a cup rather than a bottle because the
nipple can cause pain. A soft, bland diet, avoiding salty foods
and citrus fruits is good.
If urination becomes very painful due to sores in the genital
area, apply 5% Xylocaine ointment to the genital ulcers every 4
hours for pain relief.
Acyclovir is an expensive, oral anti-viral drug that can be used
to treat chickenpox. It helps only if it is started within 24
hours of the appearance of the first sores. It may reduce the
number of sores and the duration of illness. The complications are
not reduced. Some doctors prescribe acyclovir for adults and older
students. It may also be prescribed for younger children having
social obligations (such as travel). Most doctors do not treat
normal, healthy children with acyclovir.
When should the doctor be called?
Consult the doctor immediately if some chickenpox sores look
infected (yellow pus, spreading redness, red streaks), the child
looks very sick, or fever lasts more than 4 days, or the itching
is severe and doesn't respond to treatment.
Can chickenpox be prevented?
A chickenpox vaccine is available that is recommended for all
children who haven't had chickenpox. It is given at any time after
12 months of age.
Vaccinations required for children
Vaccination
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