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Chickenpox is the second most frequently reported communicable disease in the United States. It is an acute infectious childhhod disease causesd by the herpes varicella zoster virus. The incubation period is 14 to 21 days and in many cases the only symptom is the skin rash itself. Chickenpox is a common childhood disease, although adults who have never had chickenpox can contract the disease, as well. A person can only have chickenpox once. Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. This is the same virus that causes shingles. You can't get shingles unless you have had the chickenpox. Herpes zoster or shingles is a local manifestation of recurrent infection with the chickenpox virus. With shingles, vesicles erupt on the skin along a nerve, often along the chest wall. Shingles is extremely painful along the nerve it effects. The condition occurs primarily in older adults.
Chickenpox is a highly contagious, itchy, uncomfortable infection that is spread through droplets from the nose and throat of the infected person. It shows up about 10 to 20 days after exposure to the virus and ususally lasts about 4 days to a week. The rash is superficial and appears first on the chest, abdomen and back, gradually extending to other parts of the body. The rash goes through a series of stages, beginning as a red bump, making a blister then erupting with fluid and then making a scab. There may be an elevation of temperature, the extent of which may be closely related to the severity of the case as every case is different in severity. Headaches, loss of appetite, fatigue, fever, aches, irritability begin a day or two before the rash appears.
Symptoms include:
-itchy rash consisting of red raised blisters that crust up
-fever
-cold symptoms, aches and pains
-fatigue
-irritability
Possible complications include scarring, pneumonia and encephalitis. Tylenol should be used for fever and aches. Never use aspirin, it can lead to Reye's syndrome. Soothe rashes with Calamine lotion and Aveeno oatmeal bath. Cut nails short and you may have to put socks on the hands to keep a small child from scratching the sores.
If you have not had chickenpox stay away from those who have it. Especially because as an adult getting chickenpox can be much worse. A chickenpox vaccination is available and is the primary reason for a decrease in the cases of chickenpox.
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