Chickenpox historical perspective
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
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Overview
It seems that Chickenpox was first described by Razi, an Iranian physician. In mid 1500s Giovanni Filippo, described it in more details. The live attenuated vaccine for Chickenpox was introduced in 1974.
Historical Perspective
- In the late 800'’s early 900's AD, Muhammad ibn Zakariya Razi, also known as Razi, recorded some of the first known information on chickenpox and noted the differences between measles and smallpox.
- Giovanni Filippo, an Italian anatomist, described Varicella (Chickenpox) in mid 1500s.
- Richard Morton, an English physician in 1600s, described Chickenpox as a mild form of Smallpox.
- In 1767, William Heberden from England, differentiated Chickenpox from Smallpox.
- It is believed that the name, Chickenpox was selected because, this disease has no great danger so, the chicken version of the pox! The term reflects a corruption of the Old English word giccin, which meant itching.
- The live attenuated vaccine for Chickenpox developed in 1974.
Pox Parties
Acquiring chickenpox as a child produces much milder symptoms than acquiring the disease as a teenager or adult. Also, some parents are afraid of vaccines because of the debate over vaccinations causing autism. This has sparked parents to continue the tradition of "pox parties." A pox party happens when one child in the community becomes ill with chickenpox. The parents of the other children expose them to the child with chickenpox so they can be immune at a young age. The idea of these parties is a bit inaccurate. A child is most contagious during the incubation period of the chickenpox virus. This incubation period does not present with a rash. Once the child shows the typical chickenpox rash, the child is less contagious.
There has also been a recent development of chickenpox lollipops. These lollipops are laced with chickenpox and sent to children that have not yet had chickenpox. This is all done in an attempt to avoid having to use a vaccine.
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