Friday

Chicken Pox and Children

Chickpox is a highly infectious viral disease that causes fever and characteristic blister-like rashes. It is also known as Varicella. It is caused by the varicella zoster virus and occurs worldwide. In many communities, 90% of all children will have been infected by chickpox by the age of 12.  Chickpox is spreaded by cough, sneezes, direct skin contact, through droplets of bodily fluid or airborne airway secretions. The symptoms are a fever of up to 38.9 Deg C, lasting 4-5 days, followed by characteristic itchy rashes on the face, limbs and trunk. The rashes have pink spots and tiny fluid-filled blisters. These blisters would dry and become scabs after 5-7 days. There may be as many as 500 spots occuring in waves. Conjunctival and mouth blisters may also be present. The rashes are often the first sign of chickpox with or after a bout of fever and general fatigue.

The incubation period of chickpox is between 10-21 days and it is contagious from 2 days before the onset of the rashes till the drying and scabbing of the blisters. Most cases of chickpox are mild and do not need treatment except to relieve the ill effects of the symptoms. If the skin become infected, antibotics may be required. Sometimes, serious infections of the heart, central nervous system, liver, lungs, eyes and kidneys can occur. In people with low immunity, the virus may recur as painful shingles. It can be passed on to unborn child if the onset of the symptoms is a week before delivery, or 2 days after delivery. Hence, pregnant women would seek treatment promptly. There is no cure for chickpox. Anti-viral drug may lessen the severity and the duration. For children, the scars can affect their self-esteem especially if the face is badly scarred. Fortunately, vaccine is now available for chickpox.