Why is chickenpox more dangerous in adults than in chldren?

Question

Or is it? I've heard that adults have worse symptoms than children.

Answer 1

In Children it is not uncommon to have a fever, abdominal pain, sore throat, headache, 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°–102° though in rare cases may be higher. Younger kids often have milder symptoms and fewer blisters than older children or adults.

Typically, chickenpox is a mild illness, but can affect some infants, teens, adults, and people with weak immune systems more severely. Some people can develop serious bacterial infections involving the skin, lungs, bones, joints, and the brain (encephalitis). Even kids with normal immune systems can occasionally develop complications, most commonly a skin infection near the blisters.

Though uncommon in adults it appears that part of the reason for such a harsh reaction may be the fact that as children there immune system was able to avoid the virus however some other illness has allowed the virus to invade there system so they have a weakened immune system.

In adult males it is especially harmful as the high fevers and effects associated with adult aquired chicken pox include sterility.

Sorry i had to edit this had a cat dash across the keyboard...

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Chickenpox does tend to be a more severe infection in adults than children. This is why in olden days, ( not BC just when I was young, about 100 years ago,) mums held chickenpox parties. If one child got the infection she would tell all the other mums she new and they would rush round with their children, so that they got infected when young when the disease was mild. In these PC days of course children with chickenpox are hidden away until the last scab has dropped off instead. Adults tend to get more systemic upset and sometimes very severe headache together with photophobia, just like in meningitis. This is due to virus particles around the brain. Over 25 years I never had to admit a child with chickenpox, but did admit several adults who ended up being treated with intravenous anti-viral drugs. There is thus a good argument for giving all adults with chickenpox at least an oral anti-viral. This is unfortunately seldom done in the UK, though it is almost universal in the States. The other problem is that America and most of the European countries, chickenpox has been added to the MMR, making it MMRC. This has not happened in the UK mainly because of the irrational fear off the MMR that already exists and the worry that adding it would reduce the uptake still further. In terms of your work, there is no exclusion of chickenpox contacts, so unless you do actually get the infection it is not a valid reason for you to stay off work. Your partner has to stay off until he has recovered.

Answer 4

It's true, regarding the statements you've made.

Chicken pox is a viral illness that causes clear blisters on the skin that then drain and scab and are quit itchy. Symptoms also include fever and malaise.

Chicken pox in adults has a higher risk of complications including pneumonia and rarely death. Women in their reproductive years are at particular risk because catching chicken pox during pregnancy is not only dangerous for mom but can cause birth defects in the developing fetus. Teachers, day care workers and health care workers are at much higher risk of being exposed to chicken pox.

Immunity to chicken pox as an adult is an important issue since chicken pox is much more severe in grown ups than in kids. If you've still have not contracted or is unaware whether or not you have chickenpox before, it's best to go to the doctor to get immune asap!

Answer 5

You know, Im not real sure why adult cases tend to be worse. It's possible that they dont take the proper care and treatment and rest seriously enough as a parent does over a child.
An adult may try to recover too quickly. Children are able to get by with very high temps as opposed to adults with the same high temperature may experience seizures and other complications due to the high fever. The pox may enter into the mouth throat sinuses and in the male may get them up into his 'u no what' and do enough damage to cause sterility.
Where an adult female does not have her eggs associated with the urinary tract, the adult male
has such a worry. Im unsure, Im only speculating.

Answer 6

I think its because when you're a child, it's kinda like you body expects you to get stuff. You built up tolerences. But, when you're an adult, your body has kinda let its gaurd down. So then, when something new comes along, it panics, more or less. It doesn't expect anything knew. Its used to the same old colds and junk you used to have. That's why I think children should be allowed to get stung and eat dirt and stuff, at least once. Cause when they grow up and it happens for the first time, all hell breaks loose.

Answer 7

I don't know precisely why, but I once heard that chickenpox - like other one-time diseases - is more painful to adults than children. my mumps -for one - wasn't very painful but my parents said it's more painful in adults. Take note; I'm only 11 years old and when I had mumps I was about 8 to 9 years old.

Answer 8

Depending on the average adults health it would be more dangerous to us then to children, Children are still growing and if they are pretty much in good health then there is a chance to help them where as an adult if they are ill with something then it becomes a life threating issue.

Answer 9

I always thought chickenpox were "on you" not "in you"!
Chickenpox ITCH.
Adults have big fingernails and can scratch harder. It's usually the resulting infection from scratching that makes things worse for adults.
If you ITCH from having Chicken Pox, Preparation-H works great!!

Answer 10

Yes much worse in adults. I had spots every where even in my mouth eyes and other places that I can't mention here. The upper respiratory congestion was hell.The itch was maddening I was down for two weeks. And looked awful for weeks longer till all the scabs fell off. Avoid it if you possibly can!!!! I had actual chicken pox not shingles as an adult.