Chickenpox: Signs, remedies, progression, and origins
Chickenpox, a common viral illness that causes an itchy, blister-like rash, can be more severe for certain groups of people, particularly pregnant women, newborns, infants up to 4 weeks old, and those with weakened immune systems. In these individuals, complications from chickenpox can be serious and sometimes life-threatening.
The rash of chickenpox develops into fluid-filled blisters that turn cloudy, and eventually scab. Common complications in adults and immunocompromised patients include secondary bacterial infections, pneumonia, encephalitis, cerebellar ataxia, transverse myelitis, dehydration, and systemic complications like toxic shock syndrome and bleeding. In children and teenagers, especially those taking aspirin during infection, Reye’s syndrome is a risk. Pregnant women face particular dangers, including miscarriage, congenital defects, and severe neonatal chickenpox.
One of the most concerning long-term effects of chickenpox is the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in cases of weakened immune resistance, causing shingles (herpes zoster) later in life. This condition is painful and can have its own complications.
Adults are at a higher risk for complications such as pneumonia. It is crucial to note that chickenpox is highly contagious, especially among people who are not vaccinated. To prevent the spread of the disease, it is advisable to avoid close contact with people known to have chickenpox, avoid sharing objects with them, isolate any household members with chickenpox from others, and disinfect surfaces an infected person may have touched.
The good news is that the chickenpox vaccine is available and effective at preventing the disease for most people. Varivax is given to children between 12 months and 6 years, with a first dose between 12-15 months and a second dose between 4-6 years. ProQuad, a combination vaccine that also contains vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella, is given on the same schedule but can only be given to children between 12 months and age 12.
If a person suspects they have been exposed to varicella, it is essential to consult a doctor immediately. A doctor or nurse will know whether a child or adult has chickenpox by recognising a person's tell-tale rash and asking a few questions about their symptoms. In some cases, a laboratory test can determine whether a person has had chickenpox in the past if they are not vaccinated and are unsure whether they had the illness as a child.
People who have active shingles cannot give other people shingles. However, they can infect others with chickenpox if those people have not already had the illness, are not vaccinated, or are immunocompromised. It is important to remember that prevention via vaccination and early treatment can help avoid these serious outcomes.
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Chickenpox (Varicella). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/chickenpox/about/index.html [2] National Health Service. (2021). Chickenpox. Retrieved from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chickenpox/ [3] World Health Organization. (2021). Chickenpox. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/chickenpox
- Despite its common occurrence, chickenpox can be especially severe for people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and newborns, as complications can be life-threatening in these medical-conditions.
- The rash of chickenpox, which forms fluid-filled blisters, can lead to secondary bacterial infections, pneumonia, encephalitis, cerebellar ataxia, transverse myelitis, dehydration, systemic complications like toxic shock syndrome and bleeding, and in severe cases, Reye’s syndrome in children and teenagers.
- A major long-term effect of chickenpox is the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), leading to shingles (herpes zoster) later in life, a condition associated with pain and potential complications.
- In situations where someone may have been exposed to varicella, prompt consultation with a medical professional is crucial, as they can determine whether a rash is indeed chickenpox based on its appearance and accompanying symptoms.
- The chickenpox vaccine, such as Varivax and ProQuad, is available and effective for most individuals, helping to prevent the disease and its associated health-and-wellness issues.
- To minimize the spread of chickenpox, it's advisable to avoid close contact with infected individuals, not share objects, isolate household members with chickenpox, and disinfect surfaces they may have touched.
- It is a misconception that people who have active shingles cannot give others shingles; however, they can transmit chickenpox to unvaccinated or immunocompromised individuals, emphasizing the importance of vaccination for prevention.
- For more detailed and accurate information on chickenpox, it's recommended to consult reliable sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Health Service (NHS), or the World Health Organization (WHO).
