anyone give me some information on chickenpox?

Question

My son has chickenpox and i know nothing about it , when is it infectious

Answer 1

Chickenpox is a common disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which is part of the herpesvirus family. Although many people associate the word herpes with genital herpes, the herpesvirus family is made up of nearly 100 kinds of viruses, eight of which cause disease in humans. Examples of different herpesviruses are herpes simplex virus (which causes cold sores and genital herpes infections), Epstein-Barr virus (which causes infectious mononucleosis), and varicella-zoster virus (which causes chickenpox and shingles). Varicella-zoster virus spreads in the air through coughs or sneezes or through contact with fluid from inside the chickenpox blisters.

Chickenpox, which occurs most often in the late winter and early spring, is very contagious - if exposed to an infected family member, about 80% to 90% of those in a household who haven't had chickenpox will get it. However, immunization of children with the chickenpox vaccine that's now available is expected to decrease cases of the disease dramatically over the next few years.

Although it's more common in kids under the age of 15, anyone can get chickenpox. A person usually has only one episode of chickenpox in his or her lifetime. But the virus that causes chickenpox can lie dormant within the body and can cause a different type of skin eruption later in life called shingles, also referred to as herpes-zoster.



Signs and Symptoms
Chickenpox is a viral infection that causes a red, itchy rash on the skin. The chickenpox rash usually appears first on the abdomen or back and face, and then spreads to almost everywhere else on the body, including the scalp, mouth, nose, ears, and genitals.

The rash begins as multiple small, red bumps that look like pimples or insect bites. They develop into thin-walled blisters filled with clear fluid, which then becomes cloudy. The blister wall breaks, leaving open sores, which finally crust over to become dry, brown scabs. One of the most characteristic features of the chickenpox rash is that all stages of the lesions can be present at the same time.

Chickenpox blisters are about a quarter to half an inch wide, have a reddish base, and appear in bouts over 2 to 4 days. Some children have only a few blisters, whereas others have several hundred. The rash may be more extensive or severe in kids who have skin disorders such as eczema.

Some children have a fever, abdominal pain, or a vague sick feeling a day or 2 before the rash appears. These symptoms may last for a few days, and fever stays in the range of 100 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 to 38.8 degrees Celsius), although it may occasionally be higher. Younger children often have milder symptoms and fewer blisters than older children or adults.

Normally, chickenpox is a mild illness, but certain groups of people are more likely to have a more severe illness that could lead to complications. These include infants, adolescents, adults, and people with weak immune systems from either illnesses or from medications such as long-term steroid use. The most common complication of severe chickenpox illness in these groups of people is a bacterial infection that can involve many sites of the body including the skin around the blisters, bones, lungs, joints, and the blood. Other serious complications are due to the virus itself infecting the organs and include viral pneumonia, bleeding problems, and inflammation of the brain (encephalitis).

Anyone who has had chickenpox as a child is at risk for a complication later in life called shingles. After an infection, some of the varicella-zoster virus may remain inactive in nerve cells near the spinal cord. Many years later, the virus can reactivate and resurface as shingles. When it reactivates, it affects the nerve to the skin. Symptoms, such as a tingling feeling, itching, or pain followed by a rash with red bumps and blisters appear only in the area of the skin that the nerve goes to.

Contagiousness
The contagious period for chickenpox begins about 2 days before the rash appears and lasts until all the blisters are crusted over. A child with chickenpox should be kept out of school until all of the blisters have dried, which is usually about 1 week, but you don't have to wait until all the scabs fall off to let your child get back to a normal schedule.

Pregnant women, as well as people with diseases or problems with their immune system, should not be near a person with chickenpox. If a pregnant woman who hasn't had chickenpox in the past contracts it (especially before 20 weeks), the fetus is at risk for birth defects. If she develops chickenpox 5 days before to 2 days after delivery, the newborn is at risk for life-threatening varicella (the mother has transferred the virus to the baby, but she hasn't had time to produce and transfer antibodies, which fight off infection, to the baby before it's born).

If the mother had chickenpox in the past (before the pregnancy or any time more than a week before delivery), then the fetus receives antibodies through the placenta. That means the mom's immunity gets passed on to the baby through the placenta and breast milk, so it would be unlikely for the infant to get sick. But antibodies are not fail-safe; there is no 100% guarantee that a baby won't get the infection - it's just less likely. Or, the infant might have the disease, but it won't be as severe. It's also important for pregnant women to realize that they're at increased risk of chickenpox complications if they catch it for the first time while pregnant.

People who haven't had chickenpox can also catch it from someone with shingles, but they cannot catch shingles itself. Why can't a person catch shingles from someone else? It's because shingles can only develop from a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus in a person who has previously had chickenpox.

Prevention
Since 1995, a varicella vaccine has been given to children older than 12 months, as well as adults. The vaccine is about 70% to 85% effective at preventing mild infection, and more than 95% effective in preventing moderate or severe disease. People who do develop chickenpox after vaccination have much milder symptoms with fewer skin blisters and a fast recovery.

The vaccine is recommended to be routinely given to children at 12 to 18 months of age. Older children, adolescents, and adults who haven't had chickenpox should also be immunized. Whereas children 12 months to 12 years receive a single vaccine dose, adolescents and adults require two vaccine doses a minimum of 4 weeks apart. Considering that the vaccine could prevent illness and even deaths, not enough children are being vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As is the case with all immunization schedules, there are important exceptions and special circumstances. Your child's doctor will have the most current information.

There's also a second type of prevention for certain people who are at risk for severe disease and who've already been exposed to the infection. A ready-made form of immune protection called varicella-zoster immune globulin (VZIG) is given to newborns whose mothers had chickenpox at the time of delivery; high-risk patients (such as those with leukemia or immune deficiencies); and kids receiving drugs that suppress the immune system.

Healthy children who have had chickenpox do not need the vaccine - they usually have lifelong protection against the illness. However, 10% to 20% of people who've had chickenpox develop shingles later in life.

Incubation
The incubation period for chickenpox is 10 to 21 days after exposure; most cases appear in 14 to 17 days. For example, if one child in a family breaks out with chickenpox picked up at school, siblings probably will show symptoms about 2 weeks later.

Duration
Chickenpox usually lasts 7 to 10 days in children, but typically lasts longer in adults.

Professional Treatment
A virus causes chickenpox, so your child's doctor won't prescribe antibiotics (which are for bacterial infections). However, your child may require antibiotics if the sores become infected by bacteria, a common complication.

An antiviral medicine known as acyclovir may be prescribed for anyone over the age of 12, people with weakened immune systems (from diseases or medications), and those with long-term lung or skin diseases. The drug, which can make the chickenpox less severe, must be given within the first 24 hours after the rash appears. Acyclovir is not prescribed for children younger than 12 because the drug can have side effects. Your child's doctor can tell you if the medication is right for your child.

Home Treatment
Most home treatment is aimed at relieving the annoying itch of chickenpox and the accompanying fever and discomfort. However, NEVER use aspirin to reduce pain or fever in children with chickenpox or certain other viral illnesses. Using aspirin in such cases has been associated with a serious disease, called Reye syndrome, which can lead to liver failure and even death.

Some measures you can take to help your child get through this itchy, uncomfortable time:

Use wet compresses or give baths in cool or lukewarm water every 3 to 4 hours for the first few days. Oatmeal baths, available at the supermarket or pharmacy, can help to relieve itching. (Baths do not spread chickenpox.)
Pat (don't rub) the body dry.
Put calamine lotion on itchy areas (but don't use it on the face, especially near the eyes).
Give your child foods that are cold, soft, and bland because chickenpox in the mouth may make drinking or eating difficult. Try to avoid feeding your child anything that's highly acidic or especially salty, like orange juice or pretzels.
Ask your child's doctor or pharmacist about pain-relieving creams you can apply to sores in the genital area.
Give your child acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) regularly to help relieve pain from mouth blisters.
And although it's tempting, children should be discouraged from scratching. Tell your child to come to you for help when faced with the urge to scratch. In addition, trim your child's fingernails and keep them clean to help lessen the effects of scratching, including broken blisters and infection.

Call your child's doctor if you're uncertain about whether your child's problem is chickenpox, if you have a question, or if you're concerned about a possible complication. The doctor can guide you in watching for complications and in helping you choose medication to relieve your child's itching.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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Answer 4

The incubation period—the time from exposure to the chickenpox virus until you develop symptoms—is usually 14 to 16 days but can be from 10 to 21 days. The first symptoms of chickenpox infection include:

A fever of 100.4 °F(38 °C) to 103 °F(39.4 °C).
Feeling sick, tired, and sluggish.
Little or no appetite.
Headache and sore throat.
The first symptoms are usually mild in children, but they can be severe in adults. These symptoms may continue throughout the illness.

About 1 or 2 days after the first symptoms of chickenpox appear, an itchy rash develops. During a typical course of chickenpox:

Red or swollen spots or bumps appear and turn into pimplelike blisters filled with clear or cloudy fluid.
The blisters break open, often leaking fluid.
A dry crust forms over the broken blisters as they heal. Chickenpox is most contagious from 2 to 3 days before the rash develops until all the blisters have crusted over

Answer 5

way to get him innoculated. it's no biggie, just try some calamine lotion and oatmeal baths. A person with chickenpox is contagious 1-2 days before the rash appears and until all blisters have formed scabs. This may take between 5-10 days. It takes from 10-21 days after contact with an infected person for someone to develop chickenpox.

Answer 6

Check out this website for more infomation:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chickenpox

Good luck! I remember when I had chicken pox. It's definitely not fun. Make sure he doesn't pick at the scabs because it'll definitely form a scar. I know that by experience. :)

Answer 7

I had chicken pox just after christmas and it was awful so I sympathise with your son. He will be infectious until the last of the spots have 'scabbed' over. Until then, keep him away from other children, adults who have not had c.p. and most of all, do not let him near any pregnant women (it could cause abnormalities in the baby). Calomine lotion and cool baths are the best treatment.

Answer 8

Contagious until the spots scab over...

WARNING... Spots/scabs don't need to be picked to scar!!!
I have two or three scars and I NEVER picked mine... Keep a close eye on him to avoid this!!!
Calamine lotion is the best thing to ease the itching...

And hey, better for him to have it young and be immune than to get it when he is older huh??? Once you have had it, you usually cannot get it again, but as an adult you need to be careful as adults get Shingles which is far more dangerous...

Answer 9

When my son had them, the ped. said to let him do all that he did before he got them. He was not sick just had the pox. To me, the earlier the better for them. I was glad when my children got them early. My neighbour was extremely upset with me because her children got them from my son. At least they got them young. My daughter had them for a month and went through two bottles of amoxacillian. She was extremely sick. Just depends on individual case.
Put him in warm, warm, water . This will help to get the pox to come out faster; Get something for the itching and make sure he does not scratch. Some have to put gloves on so they will not scratch. If he has problems, get him to the doctor now.

Answer 10

Hello there,
Chicken pox is from the virus called varicella zoaster. This virus is also the cause of Shingles. So, whenever you had Chicken pox, the virus will be in you and there is a possibility that if the virus is triggered, you can get Shingles. Chicken pox is very contagious.

Answer 11

Chicken pox (varicella) infects an individual and then lies dormant in the nerve roots. Later in life the virus can "reawaken" and become symptomatic, this is shingles (zoster). So you had to have been exposed to chicken pox in order to develop shingles. Hope this clears up any confusion!