Chickenpox

What is Chickenpox?

Chickenpox can be defined as a contagious illness which is characterized by itchy blisters, fevers, headache and sometimes flu-like symptoms. It is especially among children who are under two years of age. While it may be a lot less common among infants, older children and adults, it is typically much more severe when it does. It is also often extremely suffer in those who have low immune systems and pregnant women. It is, however, a rarity for chickenpox to be fatal. Although most people will only catch the chickenpox illness once, there are some known cases in which people have gotten it more than once - typically in both childhood and adulthood.

The Causes of Chickenpox

The cause of chickenpox is the varicella zoster virus, which is also a form of herpes (type 3). Although it is often a natural occurrence among most people, being around other people who have chickenpox often tends to trigger it, since it is a contagious illness. At the same time, there are some people who will never get chickenpox in their lives, even when they are around people who do have it.

Symptoms of Chickenpox

Chickenpox is characterized by small itchy bumps, which often turn into a larger rash. The bumps then turn into clear, puss-filled blisters. By the time that the chickenpox virus is about to leave the body, the blisters turn into dry, brown spots on the skin. Most people will experience more bumps before the first chickenpox are gone. If you should itch the bumps, you may be left with permanent scarring. You also may create more bumps when you itch the bumps. When a person gets the chickenpox, they will also often experience flu-like symptoms.

Treatment of Chickenpox

If the bumps should become infected with bacteria, your doctor will provide you with an antibiotic prescription. This is fairly common among people who itch their bumps frequently. When there are complications involved with having chickenpox, such as during pregnancy, you may be prescribed with a medicine called Acyclovir. In order to relieve the itchiness of chickenpox, calamine lotion is typically used.

Prevention of Chickenpox

The prevention of chickenpox can be done via vaccination. It is highly recommended for both infants and children over twelve years of age who have not yet gotten the chickenpox. It is important, when your child receives the shot, to make sure that you find out when it is recommended for them to get a booster. Without the booster, your child still may still end up getting chickenpox. While some people who receive the chickenpox vaccination may still contract chickenpox, they often will not experience a severe case of it. Luckily, the vaccination for chickenpox is known to be very effective in preventing the illness from happening at all. This is all the more reason for you to consider it for your child.

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