Chicken pox is a highly contagious disease caused by the virus named “Varicella Zoster”. Recent studies show that more than 80 percent of those affected with chicken pox virus we aged less than 10. Out of these a meager 10 percent belonged to 5 to 9 year age group. This percentage is however relative to the fact that it reduces every year, thanks to the chicken pox vaccine also called the Varicella Vaccine that is readily available these days.
People want their children to lead a healthy life and thus chicken pox vaccine seems to be their only relief from this viral infection. It is also known that the infection is at its peak during the winters and the spring time. The most common form of transmitting this virus is through saliva exchange, coughing and sneezing without covering your mouth etc. Also towels, clothes, sheets, anything that comes in contact with the infected area or the body leaves the traces of the virus which then get transmitted to normal health human beings.
Transmission of the virus has a lot to do with the immunity of a person. As it is visible from the statistics, young children than adults are more prone to chicken pox. This is due to the weak immunity among children. It is not that adults do not contract chicken pox, but it has a different name with slightly different effects, Shingles. The disease starts with rash and red spots covering almost all parts of the body. The spots take shape of blisters at a later stage and finally turn into scabs. This process is usually over in 5 to 10 days depending on the precautions and safeguards taken for chicken pox infection. The dry scabs formed often leave scars on the skin if they are scratched and also increase the chances of others contacting chicken pox from the same.
It is a high probability among people in US who have had chicken pox in their early years to get shingles later in their lives. More than 600,000 people are affected from shingles every year and this number is increasing at a steady rate. Shingles, also known as Herpes Zoster is also due to weak immune system in some adults. Those who undergo a treatment for AIDS comprising protease inhibitors are highly exposed to shingles. Close to 15% of people who suffer from Hodgkin’s disease, cancerous growths like lymphomas and undergo chemotherapy sessions are at great risk of getting shingles.
Immunosuppressant drugs namely Chlorambucil, Cyclosporine, cladribine, azathioprine (Imuran), Cyclophosphamide etc. also contribute to the list. The list continues to include all those drugs that are used to treat systematic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis and Crohn’s disease. For those whose immune system is responsive to these viruses and have been properly vaccinated with Varicella vaccine stand a chance to be safe from the disease.
Who is more prone to contacting Chicken pox?
Chicken pox is a highly contagious disease caused by the virus named “Varicella Zoster”. Recent studies show that more than 80 percent of those affected with chicken pox virus we aged less than 10. Out of these a meager 10 percent belonged to 5 to 9 year age group. This percentage is however relative to the fact that it reduces every year, thanks to the chicken pox vaccine also called the Varicella Vaccine that is readily available these days.
People want their children to lead a healthy life and thus chicken pox vaccine seems to be their only relief from this viral infection. It is also known that the infection is at its peak during the winters and the spring time. The most common form of transmitting this virus is through saliva exchange, coughing and sneezing without covering your mouth etc. Also towels, clothes, sheets, anything that comes in contact with the infected area or the body leaves the traces of the virus which then get transmitted to normal health human beings.
Transmission of the virus has a lot to do with the immunity of a person. As it is visible from the statistics, young children than adults are more prone to chicken pox. This is due to the weak immunity among children. It is not that adults do not contract chicken pox, but it has a different name with slightly different effects, Shingles. The disease starts with rash and red spots covering almost all parts of the body. The spots take shape of blisters at a later stage and finally turn into scabs. This process is usually over in 5 to 10 days depending on the precautions and safeguards taken for chicken pox infection. The dry scabs formed often leave scars on the skin if they are scratched and also increase the chances of others contacting chicken pox from the same.
It is a high probability among people in US who have had chicken pox in their early years to get shingles later in their lives. More than 600,000 people are affected from shingles every year and this number is increasing at a steady rate. Shingles, also known as Herpes Zoster is also due to weak immune system in some adults. Those who undergo a treatment for AIDS comprising protease inhibitors are highly exposed to shingles. Close to 15% of people who suffer from Hodgkin’s disease, cancerous growths like lymphomas and undergo chemotherapy sessions are at great risk of getting shingles. Immunosuppressant drugs namely Chlorambucil, Cyclosporine, cladribine, azathioprine (Imuran), Cyclophosphamide etc. also contribute to the list. The list continues to include all those drugs that are used to treat systematic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis and Crohn’s disease. For those whose immune system is responsive to these viruses and have been properly vaccinated with Varicella vaccine stand a chance to be safe from the disease.
How to prevent the spreading of chicken pox?
A burning question in people’s mind- What is chicken Pox? Are there any methods to prevent it from spreading and infecting other people?This article will guide you through the nuances of chicken pox its related symptoms and prevention methods.
Every parent is conscious for their child’s well being and health. We want to give our child the best possible care from all detrimental things, be it any object or infection. Chicken pox is a viral infection caused by the virus named Varicella Zoster. It is highly contagious and very common with young children. In adults the same disease takes the form of Shingles and is equally fatal. Chicken pox virus is usually active in mostly winters and springs, however doe to its contagious nature, it can spread rapidly among children who have low immunity from infections.
Chicken pox causes rash all over the body with small blisters which might leave a scar if scratched. Some other symptoms of chicken Pox include fever, fatigue, blisters and rash on face neck and back, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, Headache, nausea, loss of appetite, cough and throat irritation etc. It is a very common illness and more than 90% of all the people contract this virus at some or the other stage of their life. It is also known that once you contract this virus, it is highly unlikely to hit you again as the body develops ant-bodies against this virus when it gets attacked for the first time. Chicken pox can prove fatal in children with undermined immune systems, pregnant women and newborns.
Prevention of Chicken Pox
The first step towards prevention of chicken is to keep minimal contact with those who are infected and better if they remain out of the general public places. The spread of this deadly infection can be stopped by isolating the infected person in a cold dark room where the virus varicella Zoster cannot thrive. The virus is active in humid condition. As they say prevention is better than cure, get yourself and your family vaccinated from certified doctor for skin diseases or check with your dermatologist.
Sanitizing your hands before and after all the activities is a good practice. When there is an occurrence of chicken pox, skin surface can be disinfected by ethanol and dilute bleach solution or even heat treatment.
Chicken Pox Scar Treatment
Chicken pox is one of the most contagious viral diseases that cause rashes and blisters all over your body. These blisters take the form of small itchy bumps which leave ugly scars on healing. The intensity of scars and marks may also be dependent on your skin type. Children of the age group of 2 to 10 years are more prone to contracting the chicken pox virus, varicella Zoster due to their weak immunity system. The chicken pox is common in adults as well, and it is fatal to a large extent in people with heart ailments and pregnant ladies.
Chicken pox scars is a burning issue these days amongst the teens and adolescents. These little indentations are primarily concentrated on the face, chest and neck. There can be categorized from mild to severe scars depending on the intensity. As scars are spread over a large region, surgical treatment becomes obsolete to remove each scar. Severe chicken pox scars may require treatment from a certified dermatologist and surgeons. The first step in chicken pox scar treatment involves laser scar treatment or microdermabrasion. Both the aforementioned methods are quite potent in terms of removing small scars caused due to acne and chicken pox. This procedure can be repeated over again to get the desired results and a glowing natural skin.
Be prepared to take a vacation from your normal routine as microdermabrasion methods cause redness of skin and itchiness over the treated part for quite a few days after treatment.
Another effective method used by doctors if the former treatments do not yield ideal results is filler treatments. Cosmetic gels are injected in your scars that enhance healing effects and promote new collagen growth. Another effectual alternative is the silicon products that work on your scars like a charm. There are cosmetic silicon based gels and creams the help in eliminating ugly scars. However, they should only be used under proper supervision and expert discretion.
It is highly unlikely to have a complete removal of scars; nonetheless, these methods lighten the scars and make them far from being noticeable. For people who want natural methods of scar removal, Vitamin E oil and sandalwood oil are the paramount option.
Home remedies for Chicken Pox
One of the most contagious diseases, Chicken Pox has certainly become an area of concern. The disease not only afflicts children, but also adults who have low immunity. The root cause of this viral infection is Varicella Zoster virus. Nevertheless, with the advancement in technology and development of varicella vaccine, the disease has been brought under control but has not been completely eliminated. The maximum cases reported involve children aged from 10 months to 10 years.
Some of the primary symptoms of chicken pox are fever, rashes, blisters on face and body, itching, fatigue and loss appetite. While people diagnosed from chicken pox can categorically be administered medication, it takes a long time to ascertain that it is really chicken pox due to late visibility of symptoms. Some of the home remedies you can administer to alleviate the symptoms to a great extent are:
Itching is expected when you have chicken pox rash, however you need to control the itching to avoid bacterial infection to set in. the following home remedies can reduce your ordeal.
Take 2 teaspoons apiece of marigold flowers and witch hazel leaves. Leave them overnight in a cup of water and then use the same water on blisters. Chances are you’ll forget about itch for considerable time.
Another home remedy to stop itching is to make the person with chicken pox sit in a bath tub filled with cool water and a piece of ginger added to that. A 30 minute session is enough for medicinal effects of ginger to show results.
Take a glass of fresh water and add half teaspoon of baking soda. Make use of a soft cloth or a sponge to gently dab the affected areas with the mixture. Let the mixture dry, the powder covering the rash helps ease itching naturally.
Children oblivious of the fact that scratching the rashes may leave permanent scars on their body can leave many parents in a fix. Use natural honey to cover those rashes to avoid ugly scars and lighten the already present marks.
An additional home medication to make scars disappear is dabbing Vitamin E oil on the scabs.
A cure for chicken pox is not always obligatory. If the patient is secluded from the normal environment in a cold room, the infection may vanish inside a week. Temperate places make it even harder to control itchiness and let the virus thrive in humid conditions.
Chicken pox is one of the most common viral contagions that by and large infect children in the age group of 12 months to 10 years. The virus responsible for causing this highly contagious disease is known as ‘Varicella Zoster’. As a responsible parent, it is your duty to safeguard your child from any such ailment by eliminating the foundation itself. Here in this article we will discuss about the symptoms of chicken pox that are hardly visible in the initial period of communicating the disease.
The chicken pox virus is highly active during the winter and the spring period. When you are afflicted by chicken pox, your body reacts in a different manner exhibiting diverse symptoms. The intensity of your body’s response is determined by the condition of your immune system. As children have relatively weaker immune system than most adults, their body is more susceptible to contracting the chicken pox virus. If you happen to notice the below mentioned symptoms, it is highly advisable to check with your doctor to get proper medication and treatments.
A few of these symptoms include:
- Skin irritation (skin rashes, blisters primarily on face, back and chest, red spots)
- Mild fever with weakness
- Experiencing fatigue and malaise
- Headache and nauseated feeling
- Loss of appetite and queasiness
- Severe throat irritation and Cough
- Diarrhea or constipation and urinary difficulties
- Eye irritation and sensitivity to light also known as photophobia
- Itchiness all over the body and Inflamed Lymph Nodes
- Joint pains, lesions and delirium
- Nasal discharge and impaired breathing
- Muscle pain especially backache
- Sudden weight loss or weight gain
Although individual symptoms do not indicate Chicken pox, nevertheless if you witness any of 3–4 symptoms simultaneously, it is definitely a matter of concern. The reason that most cases go undetected until signs are majorly visible is because these symptoms appear 2-3 weeks after coming in contact with chicken pox virus. It is good to be informed of the numerous symptoms that are not really prominent in the early stages of contacting Chicken Pox. After all prevention is always better than cure.