Chickenpox Information

Chickenpox Information – Taken from www.nhs.ukChickenpox is a mild but highly infectious condition caused by a virus called the varicella-zoster virus (varicella is the medical name for chickenpox). It causes an itchy rash that blisters and then crusts over. How common is chickenpox?Chickenpox is most common in children under 10 years of age, although it can develop at any age. It is most common to catch chickenpox in winter and spring, particularly between March and May. Chickenpox is so common in childhood that 90% of adults who grew up in the UK are immune (resistant) to the condition because they have had it before. ShinglesAfter a chickenpox infection, the virus remains dormant (inactive) in the body's nerve tissues. At any time later in life, but usually as an adult, the virus can be reactivated and cause a different form of the virus, known as shingles. PregnancyChickenpox occurs in approximately three in every 1,000 pregnancies and can cause serious complications for both the pregnant women and her baby. It is possible to develop shingles during pregnancy, but this should not affect the baby in any way.OutlookThere is no cure for chickenpox, although there are some measures that can relieve the symptoms, such as painkillers and calamine lotion. In most people, the blisters crust up and fall off naturally within one to two weeks.Chickenpox can be a more serious infection in:

pregnant women
newborn babies
people with a weakened immune system

These people should seek medical advice as soon as they are exposed to the chickenpox virus.Chickenpox is most infectious from one to two days before the rash starts until around five days after the rash starts. Children should stay home from school and adults should stay off work until the condition is no longer infectious. After having chickenpox, it is rare to catch chickenpox for a second time (see box to the left). This is because the body develops immunity to the chickenpox virus, which stops someone from becoming re-infected. The most commonly recognised symptom of chickenpox is a red rash that covers the body. However, before developing a rash, you or your child may experience some mild flu-like symptoms. These symptoms may include:

nausea (feeling sick)
a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or over
aching, painful muscles
headache
generally feeling unwell
loss of appetite

These flu-like symptoms, especially the fever, tend to be worse in adults than in children.RashShortly after these initial symptoms, a rash starts to develop. Some people may only have a few spots, but in others it can cover the entire body. The rash normally appears in crops, and can usually be found:

behind the ears
on the face
over the scalp
under the arms
on the chest and stomach
on the arms and legs

The rash starts as small, itchy red spots. After approximately 12-14 hours, these spots develop into fluid-filled blisters, which are intensely itchy. These blisters can also form on the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet. Ulcers (open sores) may also form inside your mouth or on your genitals. After one to four days, these blisters will dry out and begin to crust over. After one to two weeks, the crusting skin will fall off naturally.

Date: 16 February 2011
Credits: www.nhs.uk