A mild fever, stuffy or runny nose, sneezing cough, stomach ache and general malaise (rash of spots that look like blisters) can occur a day or two before the flat, red rash appears. This generally begins on the scalp, face and back, but can anywhere, although it is rarely seen on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet. Intensely itchy, tiny clear blisters soon follow.
Fresh red spots are usually seen next to blisters and crusts. Most children are free from chicken pox in less than two weeks.
How the disease is spread?
Chicken pox is transmitted by direct person-to-person contact. For example a person who has chicken pox can pass it to someone else by coughing or sneezing. When he coughs, sneezes, laughs, and even talks, teeny tiny drops come out of his mouth and nose. These drops are full of the chicken pox virus. If someone else breathes the drops in or gets them on her hands and touches her mouth or nose, the virus can get in her body.
Who is at risk to get the disease?
Anyone is at risk of getting chicken pox.
How can you prevent the disease?
For children over 1 year old a shot of varicella zoster immune globulin (VZIG) helps prevent chicken pox if given within 96 hours of exposure. Acylclovir is another treatment for chicken pox, it is used in healthy children who rarely get chicken pox any ways so it is not used often.
These are some treatments for the Chicken pox:
- Pain relievers
- Soak in a luke warm bath
- Oatmeal or baking soda bath
- Calamine lotion
- Do not take aspirin!
These are a few links to other reliable Health Web sites:
- Chicken pox
- NHA Direct Online-Chicken pox
Bibliography of our resources
Chicken pox. The Nemours Foundation. 10-14-03 <http://kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/sick/chicken_pox.html>.
Department of Health and Human Services, NIP: Diseases/Varicella/main page. September 23, 2003. 10-13-03 <http://www.cdc.gov/nip/diseases/varicella/>.
Kelsey Pope & Shelly Bushkofsky, Chicken pox . 10-13-03 <http://www.central.k12.ia.us/Faculty%20and%20Staff/Mrs.%20Gnagy/sophomore%20Health%20projects/Chicken%20Pox/chickenpoxpictures.html>.