Chickenpox overview
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
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Overview
Chickenpox is one of the most contagious infectious diseases. The affected child or adult may develop hundreds of itchy, fluid-filled blisters that burst and form crusts. Chickenpox is caused by varicella-zoster, a member of the herpes virus family. The same virus also causes shingles (herpes zoster) in adults.
Background
Chickenpox is the common name for Varicella zoster, classically one of the childhood infectious diseases caught by and survived by almost every child.
Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), also known as human herpes virus 3 (HHV-3), one of the eight herpes viruses known to affect humans. It starts with conjunctival and catarrhal symptoms and then characteristic spots appearing in two or three waves, mainly on the body and head rather than the hands and becoming itchy raw pox (pocks), small open sores which heal mostly without scarring.
Chickenpox has a 10-14 day incubation period and is highly contagious through physical contact two days before symptoms appear. Following primary infection there is usually lifelong protective immunity from further episodes of chickenpox. Recurrent chickenpox, commonly known as shingles, is fairly rare but more likely in people with compromised immune systems.
Chickenpox is rarely fatal (usually from varicella pneumonia), with pregnant women and those with a suppressed immune systems being more at risk. Pregnant women not known to be immune and who come into contact with chickenpox may need urgent treatment as the virus can cause serious problems for the baby. This is less of an issue after 20 weeks.
Later in life, viruses remaining dormant in the nerves can reactivate causing localised eruptions of shingles. This occurs particularly in people with compromised immune systems, such as the elderly, and perhaps even those suffering sunburn. Unlike chickenpox which normally fully settles, shingles may result in persisting post-herpetic neuralgia pain.
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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