Chickenpox (patient information): Difference between revisions
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*The [[blister]]s are usually first seen on the face, chest, back, scalp and then to the rest of the body. | *The [[blister]]s are usually first seen on the face, chest, back, scalp and then to the rest of the body. | ||
*After | *After one or two days, the [[blisters]] become cloudy and form [[scab|scabs]]. The newly formed blisters occur in groups. They are usually seen on the eyelids, in the mouth and in the vagina.. | ||
* | *Numerous blisters are observed in children suffering with [[eczema]]. | ||
* | *[[scar]]s are usually not formed unless the pox are infected with bacteria from scratching. | ||
* | *Despite having had the vaccine, some children may still develop a mild case of chickenpox. Recovery is usually much more quicker and they are left with only a few pox (fewer than 30). Such cases are often harder to diagnose. These children can still spread chickenpox to others. | ||
==What causes Chickenpox?== | ==What causes Chickenpox?== | ||
* | *In children, chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus of [[Herpes]] virus family. The same virus also causes herpes zoster (shingles) in adults. | ||
*Chickenpox | *Chickenpox spreads easily to others by touching the fluids from a chickenpox blister, or if someone with chickenpox in the vicinity [[coughs]] or [[sneezes]]. People with mild illness may be contagious. | ||
* | *An individual with chickenpox is contagious one to two days even before the [[blisters]] appear. Infected individuals remain contagious until all the blisters have turned into crusts. | ||
*Most cases of chickenpox occur in children younger than 10. The disease is usually mild, although serious complications sometimes occur. Adults and older children usually get sicker than younger children. | *Most cases of chickenpox occur in children younger than 10. The disease is usually mild, although serious complications sometimes occur. Adults and older children usually get sicker than younger children. | ||
Revision as of 20:31, 26 July 2017
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Chickenpox |
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Chickenpox On the Web |
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For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Assistant Editor-in-Chief: Alexandra M. Palmer
Overview
Chickenpox is a viral infection in which a person develops extremely itchy blisters all over the body. It used to be one of the classic childhood diseases. However, it has become much less common since the introduction of the chickenpox vaccine.
What are the symptoms of Chickenpox ?
- Most children with chickenpox have the following symptoms before the rash appears:
- The chickenpox rash occurs about 10 to 21 days after coming into contact with someone who had the disease. The average child develops 250 to 500 small, itchy, fluid-filled blisters over red spots on the skin.
- The blisters are usually first seen on the face, chest, back, scalp and then to the rest of the body.
- After one or two days, the blisters become cloudy and form scabs. The newly formed blisters occur in groups. They are usually seen on the eyelids, in the mouth and in the vagina..
- Numerous blisters are observed in children suffering with eczema.
- scars are usually not formed unless the pox are infected with bacteria from scratching.
- Despite having had the vaccine, some children may still develop a mild case of chickenpox. Recovery is usually much more quicker and they are left with only a few pox (fewer than 30). Such cases are often harder to diagnose. These children can still spread chickenpox to others.
What causes Chickenpox?
- In children, chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus of Herpes virus family. The same virus also causes herpes zoster (shingles) in adults.
- Chickenpox spreads easily to others by touching the fluids from a chickenpox blister, or if someone with chickenpox in the vicinity coughs or sneezes. People with mild illness may be contagious.
- An individual with chickenpox is contagious one to two days even before the blisters appear. Infected individuals remain contagious until all the blisters have turned into crusts.
- Most cases of chickenpox occur in children younger than 10. The disease is usually mild, although serious complications sometimes occur. Adults and older children usually get sicker than younger children.
- Children whose mothers have had chickenpox or have received the chickenpox vaccine are not very likely to catch it before they are 1 year old. If they do catch chickenpox, they often have mild cases. This is because antibodies from their mothers' blood help protect them. Children under 1 year old whose mothers have not had chickenpox or the vaccine can get severe chickenpox.
- Severe chickenpox symptoms are more common in children whose immune system does not work well because of an illness or medicines such as chemotherapy and steroids.
Who is at highest risk?
Since chickenpox is contagious, anyone in close proximity to someone with the disease is at risk.
Diagnosis
Your health care provider can usually diagnose chickenpox by looking at the rash and asking questions about the person's medical history. Small blisters on the scalp usually confirm the diagnosis.
When to seek urgent medical care?
Call your health care provider or visit your nearest hospital if you think that your child has chickenpox or if your child is over 12 months of age and has not been vaccinated against chickenpox.
Treatment options
Treatment involves keeping the person as comfortable as possible. Here are things to try:
- Avoid scratching or rubbing the itchy areas. Keep fingernails short to avoid damaging the skin from scratching.
- Wear cool, light, loose bedclothes. Avoid wearing rough clothing, particularly wool, over an itchy area.
- Take lukewarm baths using little soap and rinse thoroughly. Try a skin-soothing oatmeal or cornstarch bath.
- Apply a soothing moisturizer after bathing to soften and cool the skin.
- Avoid prolonged exposure to excessive heat and humidity.
- Over-the-counter oral antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) are widely used but, be aware of possible side effects such as drowsiness.
- Over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream is widely used but to help ease discomfort on itchy areas.
- Medications that fight the chickenpox virus are available but not given to everyone. To work well, the medicine usually must be started within the first 24 hours of the rash.
- Antiviral medication is not usually prescribe to otherwise healthy children who do not have severe symptoms. Adults and teens, who are at risk for more severe symptoms, may benefit from antiviral medication if it is given early.
- Antiviral medication may be very important in those who have skin conditions (such as eczema or recent sunburn), lung conditions (such as asthma), or who have recently taken steroids.
- DO NOT GIVE aspirin or ibuprofen to someone who may have chickenpox. Use of aspirin has been associated with a serious condition called Reye's syndrome. Ibuprofen has been associated with more severe secondary infections. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be used.
- In order to prevent the risk of infection from scratching, especially during overnight, the use of clean gloves or socks on hands is recommended.
- A child with chickenpox should not return to school or play with other children until all chickenpox sores have crusted over or dried out. Adults should follow this same rule when considering when to return to work or be around others.
- Due to the excessive drying nature, calamine lotion which was prescribed traditionally is not recommended anymore.
- Some doctors also give antiviral medicines to people in the same household who also develop chickenpox, because they will usually develop more severe symptoms.
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
- Usually, a person recovers without complications.
- Once you have had chickenpox, the virus usually remains dormant or asleep in your body for your lifetime. About 1 in 10 adults will have shingles when the virus reemerges during a period of stress.
Possible complications
Rarely, serious bacteria infections such as encephalitis have occurred. Other complications may include:
- Reye's syndrome (associated with the use of Aspirin).
- Myocarditis
- Pneumonia
- Transient arthritis
- Cerebellar ataxia may appear during the recovery phase or later. This involves a very unsteady walk.
- Women who get chickenpox during pregnancy can pass the infection to the developing baby. Newborns are at risk for severe infection.
- Most common complications are secondary skin infections which when left untreated lead to pneumonia and septicemia.
Prevention
- Coughing and sneezing should be kept covered and the use of any cloth or towels should be limited only to the child and not to be shared by others.
- Always maintain hand hygiene by washing hands often and after attending to a child with chickenpox.
- Refrain from sending the child to school or a gathering where the child may come into contact with other children so as to avoid the spread of the infection.
- Because chickenpox is airborne and very contagious before the rash even appears, it is difficult to avoid.
- A vaccine to prevent chickenpox is part of a child's routine immunization schedule.
- The vaccine usually prevents the chickenpox disease completely or makes the illness very mild.
- Talk to your health care provider if you think your child might be at high risk for complications and might have been exposed. Immediate preventive measures may be important. Giving the vaccine early after exposure may still reduce the severity of the disease.
Sources
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001592.htm Template:WH Template:WS