Chickenpox ( or Varicella )

~ is highly contagious disease.
~ caused by the varicella-zoster virus.
~ once the virus enters the body, it starts replicating in the respiratory region, ( its route of entry ) and the regional lymph nodes within 2-3 days.
~ then enters the bloodstream and further replicates in the liver, spleen and other organs.
~ symptoms starts 10- 21 days after exposure to virus.
~ fever, headache, sore throat, loss of appetite and tiredness, then pimple-like red bumps pop up all over the body, causing itching.
~ these bumps develop into blister, which burst and dry after a few days, then turn into brown scabs.
~ scratching predisposes to secondary bacterial infection and causes scarring.
~ 12 years above and adults suffer more severe form of chickenpox.
~ develop a lifetime immunity against chickenpox after the first infection.
~ the virus stays in the nerve cells near the spinal cord long after the illness remaining dormant.
~ it may reactivate later in life and move along the nerves to the surface of the skin causing shingles. ( herpes zoster )
~ shingles is a rash of painful blisters last for 2-3 weeks.
~ not dangerous but very painful and cause lingering nerve pain for months after the rash is gone.
~ 10-20% had chickenpox develop shingles ( age of 50 years ).
~ prevent chickenpox through varicella vaccination.
~ varicella vaccine contains weakened live varicella-zoster virus.
~ 95% effective in preventing the infection.
~ vaccinated people get milder form of the illness, with fewer blisters and symptoms.
~ 7-8% several small bumps may develop at the area where the shot was give.
~ vaccine not recommended for people with impaired immune systems, those allergic to gelatin or the antibiotic neomycin and pregnant women those taking steroids or aspirin should not be given the vaccine until after stopping the medicine, asthmatics and children recovering from kawasaki disease.
~ it spreads easily through direct contact with the infected person, through a sneeze or cough by touching the fluid from a chickenpox blister.
~ also spread indirectly through contact with contaiminated surfaces.
~ can also catch chickenpox from someone with shingles.
~ it is contagious 2 days before the rash appears up to the time when all the blisters have dried up.
~ Acyclovir, an antiviral agent is effective when given during the early stages of the infection.
~ never use aspirin to reduce pain or fever in patient with chickenpox.
~ chickenpox infection during early pregnancy leads to birth defects, low birth rate, or limb abnormalities in the foetus.
~ catch chickenpox one week before and after delivery can lead to severe chickenpox in the newborn baby who is not immunologically protected.
~ if the mother gets infected within 10 days after delivery, the newborn baby may suffer a life-threatening infection.
~ an immune mother can protect her baby from infection within baby's first few months of life, as her immunity can pass to the baby through the placenta and breast milk.