Chickenpox Risks, Symptoms, And Treatment

What Is Chickenpox?

Chickenpox is a viral infection caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV) characterized by a red rash occurring all over the body. Although VZV is common among children usually under the age of 12 years old, anyone at any age can get chickenpox if immunity to it is not present. A person has immunity to VZV is they've had it before, or if the person has been vaccinated against it. Immunity is present if a blood test shows antibodies against the varicella virus.

What Are The Risks?

Anyone who has never had chickenpox before is at risk for developing this disease. Pregnant women who have no history of varicella, and their unborn babies are particularly vulnerable for coming down with it. There have been cases of infants born with chickenpox because the mother contracted this disease up to three weeks before giving birth.

After the initial infection has healed, the virus lies dormant in the nervous system for years, to reappear again if the immune system has become weakened by an underlying condition, such as cancer or HIV/AIDS. The virus may reactivate causing painful blisters that erupt, leaking a clear fluid that crusts over then heals. When the blisters are crusted over, the person is no longer contagious.

Varicella is passed via person to person contact. A person who has had chickenpox before is immune to getting it again, although getting it more than once has been known to occur. People who have never had varicella before is at great risk for development of the disease. In addition to this, if you are exposed to someone with an active shingles infection, you can get chickenpox if you have no prior history of having this condition.

Symptoms:

• Fever


• Abdominal pain


• Sore throat


• Headache


• Itching


• Red rash


• Blisters

Treatment for chickenpox:

• Antibiotics to prevent secondary bacterial infection


• Antivirals such as acyclovir


• Analgesics for pain


• Cool compresses

It should be noted that antibiotics do nothing against a virus. If they did there wouldn't an HIV/AIDS problem. Antibiotics are usful only agains bacterial infections, while antivirals work by inhibiting the life cycle of the virus to prevent it from replicating.

Prevention:

The best way to prevent getting chickenpox is to get immunized. If you have never had chickenpox, it is highly advised to contact your health care professional to arrange to get the chickenpox vaccine as soon as possible. Also, avoid people who have an active chickenpox infection present, especially if you are pregnant and have never had chickenpox before.

Complications:

• Fever that is present longer than 4 days or rises above 102° Fahrenheit (38.8° Celsius)


• Severe cough or breathing difficulty


• An rash that leaks pus (thick, discolored fluid) or becomes red, warm, swollen, or sore


• Severe headache


• Unusually drowsy or has trouble waking up


• Inability to look at bright lights


• Has difficulty walking


• Confusion


• Nausea/vomiting


• Stiff neck

If you think you or your child may be developing chickenpox, make a call to your health care physician if symptoms become severe to avoid complications of this disease.

by Barb Hicks, RN/LMT