Chicken pox

One of the most common diseases of childhood is chicken pox. This disease is caused by a virus. Although most patients contract it between the ages of 2 and 6, chicken pox can strike at any age. Chicken pox is a fairly mild illness in children. It can be very serious in adults, however. It is also extremely serious in people with certain diseases such as leukemia or AIDS because their immune systems are weak and therefore they cannot fight off the disease.

How chicken pox is spread

Chicken pox is highly contagious, meaning that it can spread very easily. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, tiny particles of the virus are released into the air. The disease can be spread when an uninfected person inhales these particles. The virus particles can also be on the clothing or bedding of an infected patient. If an uninfected person touches the clothing or bedding he or she can become infected with the disease.

Symptoms

The first symptoms, or signs of the disease, are very general and resemble those of the flu. These include a slight fever, runny nose, and mild cough. The patient will not feel very hungry and may also have headaches and feel very tired.

Roughly two weeks after being exposed to the virus, red spots appear on the face and body. These spots are filled with fluid, and they itch terribly. Eventually the spots form scabs, which soon fall off.

Treatment

People with chicken pox should try not to scratch the spots. Scratching can cause the spots to leave deep scars. The itching can be relieved by using medications such as calamine lotion, which has a soothing effect. In addition to using calamine lotion, patients may wish to bathe the pox spots and sores with cool water. It is important to keep the spots clean so that they do not become further infected with other harmful germs. Bed rest is important.

It is extremely important to never use aspirin or aspirin-containing products to treat the headaches and body aches that accompany chicken pox. Using aspirin to treat chicken pox has been connected to the development of a severe disease called Reye syndrome. This syndrome can cause liver and brain damage, and even death.

A case of chicken pox generally lasts from a week to ten days overall. Because the disease is so contagious, it is important for the patient to remain confined to bed until the scabs have fallen off. Complications are rare but can occur in some cases. In some instances, the virus becomes dormant. This means that it remains in the body but no longer causes the symptoms of chicken pox. In these cases, it is possible for the virus to become re-activated in adulthood, when it causes a related disease called shingles. Scientists developed a chicken pox vaccine, or substance that protects people from getting the disease, in the late 20th century.