Chickenpox

Chicken pox or varicella, as it is medically known, is the infection that is caused the virus, varicella zoster. It is highly infectious in nature and is contagious. Once a person acquires the infection, the symptoms appear after ten to twenty one days. That time is known as the incubation period.

Normally the infection can be seen in children from two to eight years. But any one can be infected. When the person suffering from chickenpox coughs or sneezes, the infection spreads.

Even though the virus remains dormant after an episode of chickenpox in a particular person, there are chances of the person developing the infection again due to the reactivation of the virus by shingles, which is another virus. This is characterised by the development of pain on the affected nerve area, followed by the appearance of rashes after one week. Then one side of the body tends to develop blisters.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of chicken pox are the presence of red rashes all over the infected person’s body. In certain cases, people also develop symptoms that are usually found in case of flu like:

• fever
• nausea
• aching muscles
• headache
• general unwell feeling
• appetite loss

The symptoms will be severe in adults.

Then the rashes start developing:

• on the person’s face
• over his scalp
• behind his ears
• under his arms
• on his stomach and chest
• on his legs and arms

The rashes initially develop as tiny, red spots with an itchy nature. These develop into low intensity blisters that contain fluid, within twelve hours. Even the soles of his foot and palms are subjected to the development of the blisters.
The blisters normally dry and start crusting after four days. The crusted skin starts falling off after two weeks.

The doctor should be visited if

• The infected person has a very weak immune system
• The infected person is a pregnant woman
• The person had come into contact with another person suffering from chickenpox.
• The infection develops in a baby who is hardly four weeks old.
• The blisters that formed on the skin develop infection.
• The person has severe chest pain.
• The person finds it difficult to breathe.

Treatment

There is no treatment for the infection, but the virus has to clear off by itself. But the symptoms can be soothed in certain ways.

Analgesics, or pain killers, can be used to get relief from fever or pain. One can use paracetamol even if she is pregnant, but the pregnant woman needs to avoid ibuprofen if she is a pregnancy stage of after 30 weeks.

Aspirin should not be used as it can result in a medical condition termed the Reye’s syndrome, which is very fatal. It results in fatal damage of the liver as well as brain. It can also damage other parts of the body.

Intake of fluids must be high to avoid dehydration and infection of the sore mouth. Sugar and salt intake must be restricted to avoid worsening of the sore mouth.

The finger nails must be short and clean. Wear cotton clothes that are loose and smooth.

Use calamine lotion if the skin is itching.

Use of antiviral Aciclovir is advised in cases where pregnant women develop chickenpox.