Chicken Pox Disease Information, Picture, Symptom, Vaccine, Adult Chicken Pox, Treatment, Pregnancy care and Causes, History and Virus

Information on Chicken Pox

Caused by the herpes zoster virus, which also causes shingles, this is usually a mild but highly infectious childhood disease. It tends to be much more severe in adults. Older people, those who have immune deficiency and even healthy adults may become very ill with chickenpox. They tend to feel quite restless, feverish and lose their appetite. The chicken pox rash is often very severe, covering every bit of skin. In pregnant women, the danger period for the baby is in the middle three months: injections of immunoglobulins, which contain antibodies to the chicken pox, may be given.

What causes chicken Pox?

Chicken Pox is spread by a virus transmitted in droplets of fluid, which may be coughed or sneezed out. The blisters contain live virus. The person with chicken pox is infectious from two days before the rash starts until all the scabs have been shed. The incubation period is two to three weeks. Once a person has had chicken pox, the virus remains dormant in the nerve cells and may reactivate later in a condition known as shingles (herpes zoster).

Treatment for chicken pox

Usually treatment is aimed at relieving the symptoms. Paracetamol will help if there is fever. Antihistamine tablets or syrups and soothing creams applied to the skin may relieve itching. In small children, cutting nails very short and wearing mittens overnight will help stop scratching. Those who have a depleted immune system, especially those with AIDS, may be given antiviral drugs.

Chicken Pox symptom