they don't really come from chickens right? so why do they call it "chicken" pox?
2007-01-09 16:51:22 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
When chicken pox was first described, it was noted that the pox lesions looked more like they were placed upon the skin rather than being a part of the skin themselves. In fact, people long ago felt they looked like chick peas placed upon the skin. The Latin word for chick peas is cicer which is the original word that chicken pox got its name.
So you see, chicken pox has nothing to do with chickens, but the red bumps you have on your body were once thought to look like the vegetable called chick peas. I hope you feel better soon.
2007-01-09 17:53:59 · answer #1 · answered by Misti 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
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2016-05-13 22:16:45 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is some debate over the origin of the name chicken pox. In 1730, Fuller speculated that it "might be so called from the smallness of the specks, which looked as though a child had been picked with the bills of chickens." However, most now believe that the disease got its name because of the resemblance of the chicken pox blisters to chickpeas, a small tan-colored vegetable related to beans and peas. You may also be interested to know that the word "pox" was used in England at around that time to mean "curse." Some probably thought that chicken pox (and smallpox) was a curse on those who got it.
Chickenpox is an acute, systemic, usually childhood infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus (human herpesvirus type 3). It usually begins with mild constitutional symptoms that are followed shortly by skin lesions appearing in crops and characterized by macules, papules, vesicles, and crusting. Patients at risk of severe neurologic or other systemic complications (eg, pneumonia) include adults, newborns, and patients who are immunocompromised or have certain underlying medical conditions. Diagnosis is clinical. Those at risk of severe complications receive postexposure prophylaxis with immune globulins, and, if disease develops, treatment with antiviral drugs (eg, valacyclovir, famciclovir, acyclovir). Vaccination provides effective prevention.
Please see the web pages for more details on Chickenpox.
2007-01-09 17:24:11 · answer #3 · answered by gangadharan nair 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The reason is uncertain. There was a time when it was though to be a mild version of small pox, yet harmless and therefore a 'chicken' pox.
The lesions appear as if pecked by chickens.
The lesions are about the size of chick peas.
Possibly from the old English word 'giccin' meaning itching.
Any or all of those and probably more!
2007-01-09 17:05:26 · answer #4 · answered by Zombie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well in the middle ages it was called chicken pox to separate it from the much more severe small-pox.It has nothing to do with the farmyard fowl
Even in these times people referred to as chicken,or chicken hearted.was to question thier courage
So chickenpox was a weak strain of the much more deadly smallpox
2007-01-09 17:09:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Believe it or not, it has to do with chick peas.
Read below.
2007-01-09 16:59:46 · answer #6 · answered by Brian L 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋