Chickenpox
Chickenpox is one of the classic childhood viral diseases caused by a virus called the varicella-zoster virus. Chickenpox is one of the most contagious childhood illnesses!
- Most cases occur in children younger than ten
- Children under one year of age whose mothers have had chickenpox are not very likely to catch it, but if they haven’t had it or children whose inborn immunity has already waned, can get severe chickenpox
- Adults and older adolescents usually get sicker with chickenpox than younger children do
- Vague symptoms, such as a fever, headache, tummy ache, or loss of appetite for 2-4 days before the appearance of the pox rash
- The average child develops 250-500 small, fluid-filled blisters over red spots on the skin,starting on the face, trunk, or scalp and spread from there
- After 1-2 days blisters become cloudy and then scab
- The pox often appear in the mouth, in the vagina, and on the eyelid
- The rash is itchy
- The rash is worse in children who have other skin problems, such aseczema or a recent sunburn
- Chickenpox is contagious 24-48 hrs. before rash appearance till blisters are crusted & start to fall down. usually one week after breaking out
- It can be spread by direct contact, droplet transmission, and airborne transmission
- Keep the child comfortable while his body fights the illness
- Oatmeal baths in lukewarm water provides a crusty, comforting coating on the skin
- Oral antihistamine with topical lotions such as Calamine will help to ease the itching
- Trim the fingernails short to reduce secondary infections and scarring
- Chickenpox vaccine is available. It is about 100 percent effective against moderate or severe illness, and 85 or 90 percent effective against mild chickenpox
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