What is Chickenpox?

Chickenpox is a common disease of childhood that’s caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It is in the herpes family and has nothing whatsoever to do with genital herpes. There are hundreds of viruses in this family; chickenpox is one of them.

Chickenpox Facts

Chickenpox is more prevalent in the early spring and winter. It is highly contagious and if your child is exposed and has never had the disease, chances are he will come down with it within approximately two weeks. There’s also an eighty percent chance that all family members who have never had chickenpox will contact the disease. The varicella-zoster virus is easily spread by spores that become airborne when the infected person coughs or sneezes, or when there is contact with the fluid that seeps from the blisters.

Who is Affected?

Chickenpox is very common in children who are under the age of fifteen. However, anyone of any culture, age or race can get chickenpox; usually only one bout of chickenpox is experienced in a lifetime, though very rarely they can appear a second time. In older people, the varicella-zoster virus can cause an episode of shingles, because the virus lies dormant in the nerve endings for years.

Chickenpox Signs and Symptoms

Chickenpox is a viral infection that’s accompanied by a red rash that is extremely itchy. The rash begins as multiple red bumps on the skin of the abdomen, face and back. Once the rash breaks out, it spreads to the ears, mouth, nose, genitals and scalp. The rash may appear to be insect bits or pimples, but then they turn into blisters that fill with a clear fluid that turns a milky color. When the blisters break, they leave sores and then form a crusty, brownish scab. These blisters can be at different stages at the same time, or the virus may progress at the same rate of speed.

Chickenpox blisters are usually between a quarter and a half inch across. The base is red and the blisters break out over a period of two to four days. Some children have only a few blisters while others are covered from head to toe. The blisters can overlap and are often more severe in children who suffer from skin disorders, such as eczema or psoriasis.

Other symptoms may be abdominal pain, fever and nausea. The child’s fever will range from 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 Celsius) to 102 degrees Fahrenheit (38.8 Celsius,) and can be at times higher. Fever and symptoms are usually milder in young children and they often have fewer blisters than adults or older children.

Complications

Most of the time chickenpox is a mild childhood illness. However, certain groups of people may suffer a more severe bout that can lead to complications. Adults, adolescents, infants and those who are immune deficient because of long term steroid use, medications taken or illness are more likely to suffer a more intense form of chickenpox. People taking chemotherapy treatment and those who suffer from HIV, diabetes, and other diseases or disorders that weaken the immune system are at high risk if they develop chickenpox.

The most common complication of chickenpox in these groups is bacterial infection, which can strike anywhere on the body that lesions appear. Bacterial infection can occur in bones, blood, joints and lungs. The varicella-zoster virus can also infect the body’s organs and cause bleeding, encephalitis (inflammation and swelling of the brain,) and viral pneumonia.

Every person who contacts chickenpox during childhood is at risk of contacting shingles as an adult. This happens when the varicella-zoster virus lies dormant in never endings near the spinal cord for years. When it becomes active again, it affects the nerves that run to the skin. Symptoms of shingles include prickling, itching, tingling and severe pain that is immediately followed by a red, bumpy rash and blisters that appear only in the area that the affected nerve runs to.

Contagious

Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease. The contagiousness begins two days before the rash breaks out and lasts until all of the blisters have scabbed over and are completely dried up. Children who have chickenpox can’t attend school until all of the scabs are scabbed and dry. This can take between a week and ten days, depending on the severity of the illness. However, scabs can still be present when the child returns to class. It’s important he get back to his daily routine as soon as the blisters are scabbed and dry.

Pregnant Women and Chickenpox

Women who are pregnant and those who have weakened immune systems should not be in contact with anyone who has chickenpox. If pregnant women who didn’t have chickenpox in childhood get the virus, especially during the first five months, the fetus is at risk for birth defects. If a woman breaks out with chickenpox within five days of delivery, or within two days after giving birth, the infant can contact the varicella-zoster virus, which is life-threatening at this stage. The virus will have definitely been passed through the blood from the mother. Within this time period the mother’s body hasn’t had time to produce antibodies and transfer them to her baby before birth.

If a pregnant woman suffered from chickenpox before she becomes pregnant, or more than a week before she gives birth, the antibodies that fight off the disease have been transferred to her baby through the placenta. The baby probably will not become contact the varicella-zoster virus because he is immune. If he does contact the virus, the case will be very mild and he probably won’t experience any adverse side effects. However, there are always those rare cases that don’t follow the norm.

Pregnant women who catch chickenpox for the first time are at increased risk for complications.

People of all ages who have never had chickenpox can contact it from a person suffering from shingles. Shingles are not contagious. Why? It’s because shingles are caused by a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus. One people who have had chickenpox can get shingles.

Incubation

Incubation is the time it takes for chickenpox to break out after exposure and it can be anywhere from ten to twenty one days. If your child breaks out with chickenpox after being exposed and his siblings have never had the disease, they can break out anytime within this time frame.

Duration

Childhood chickenpox usually lasts between seven and ten days; longer if the case is severe or suffered by adults, who generally become severely ill when an outbreak occurs.

Prevention

A varicella vaccine has been administered to children over one year and to adults since 1995. It is seventy to eight percent effective in preventing even a mild case of chickenpox and higher than ninety five percent effective in preventing severe cases. Those who contact chickenpox after being vaccinated experience only mild symptoms and get far fewer blisters than those who aren’t vaccinated.

If parents desire, their children who are between one year and eighteen months old will automatically receive the vaccine. Adolescents and adults who haven’t had chickenpox can also be vaccinated if they wish. Children between one and twelve need only one vaccination. Adults and adolescents require two in order to be protected and they must be given after a minimum time frame of one month.

Newborns that are in danger because their mothers contacted chickenpox during pregnancy can receive varicella-zoster immune globulin. This can also be administered to patients with low immune systems, including, but not limited to, those with HIV, cancer and others who are taking medications or drugs that may weaken their immune system.

If your child is healthy and has already had chickenpox, they do not need to be vaccinated. They will have protection from the varicella virus for the rest of their lives.

Home Treatment

Most cases of chickenpox can be treated successfully at home. Fever and itching are the worst side effects of chickenpox. Never give aspirin to children with chickenpox or any other viral illness. Aspirin has been linked to Reye’s syndrome, which can lead to liver damage, brain damage and death. Instead, give your child a fever relieving product such as Tempra. Adults can take Tylenol.

Itchiness

Chickenpox is extremely itchy and it’s important that your child doesn’t scratch the blisters. Bacteria under the fingernails can cause severe infection and if scabs are scratched off prematurely, scarring will occur. Here are a few tips to minimize the itch and keep your child as comfortable as possible:

• Use cold compresses on the lesions and give lukewarm baths every four hours for four to five days after the chickenpox blisters break out. Oatmeal especially for baths can be purchased at drug stores and pharmacies and works great to sooth itchy chickenpox.

• Never rub chickenpox to dry them after a bath. Pat dry with a soft towel.

• Use calamine lotion on an itchy chickenpox rash for soothing relief. Do not get it near or in the eyes.

• If your child has chickenpox lesions in his mouth, feed only soft foods, such as gelatin, pudding, soft boiled or poached eggs or lukewarm soup. Do not feed your child anything that contains acid, such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, or apple juice. Do not give your child salty foods. Acid and salt will cause the blisters to burn.

• If your child has chickenpox on his genital area, ask his pediatrician or the pharmacist to recommend a product that will sooth the area and relieve itching and pain.

• Administer Tempra, Tylenol or another product containing acetaminophen.

Call the Doctor

There are certain times that you will need to contact your child’s pediatrician or your family doctor.

• If your child’s temperature rises to 102 degrees Fahrenheit (38.8 Celsius) or lasts for more than four days.

• The child has a difficult time breathing.

• Has a hacking or barky cough that persists past the time when the blisters have disappeared.

• Experiences a severe and long lasting headache.

• Has trouble standing or walking.

• Cannot look at bright lights or experiences a severe light sensitivity.

• Has a stiff neck and/or vomits.

• Is continually drowsy.

• Cannot be awakened.

• Has a rash that oozes pus or the blisters turn yellow or greenish color.

• When the rash is swollen, red, fevered or sore.

If you’re uncertain about any aspect of your child’s suffering, call his pediatrician, your family doctor or take him to the emergency room of the local hospital. It is better to err on the safe side and get an opinion from a health care professional who is knowledgeable about chickenpox and its secondary effects.

Caring for a child with chickenpox can be a trying experience, but before you know it, your child will have returned to his normal schedule. There is one good thing about chickenpox. The chances of your child having a reoccurrence during his lifetime are next to nil.