Editorial News Month Subscribe us Feedback
FeaturesFashionBeautyArt & CultureLifestyleEntertainmentHoroscopeHealthSpot lightMarket Roundup
 
See page 1 2 > >
 
 
 
For the past few weeks, one is again observing new cases of chickenpox in town, one of the most common diseases in children who are between two to eight years of age. Chickenpox is a mild, but highly infectious disease that most children contract at some point. It spreads between March and May and its symptoms emerge after 10-21 days. This is called the ‘incubation period’. You are infectious from about two days before the rash appears until roughly five days after. Therefore, you, or your child, should stay at home until all the blisters have fully crusted over, and this usually happens five to seven days after the first blister appears. After the last blister has burst and crusted over, you are no longer infectious.
Chickenpox spreads through tiny droplets of saliva and nasal mucus released by sneezes and coughs of an infected person. The virus is already in these droplets, which is why it spreads so fast. Once you have had chickenpox, you will very rarely get it for a second time. This is because your body develops immunity to the virus, which stops you from becoming reinfected.
Symptoms
Chickenpox causes a red, itchy rash on the skin that 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 becomes cloudy. The blister wall breaks, leaving open sores, which finally crust over to become dry, brown scabs.
Some kids have a fever, abdominal pain, sore throat, headache, or a vague sick feeling a day or two before the rash appears. These symptoms may last for a few days, and fever stays in the range of 100°–102° Fahrenheit (37.7°–38.8° Celsius), though in rare cases it may be higher. Younger kids often have milder symptoms and fewer blisters than older children or adults.
Contagiousness
Chickenpox is contagious from about two 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 blisters have dried, usually about one week.

  
 
 
 
Prevention
Doctors recommend that kids receive the chickenpox vaccine when they are 12 to 15 months old and a booster shot at the age of four to six years old. The vaccine is about 70% to 85% effective at preventing mild infection, and more than 95% effective in preventing moderate to severe forms of the infection.
Dealing with the Never use aspirin to reduce pain or fever in children with chickenpox because aspirin has been associated with the serious disease called Reye syndrome, which can lead to liver failure and even death.
As much as possible, discourage kids from scratching. This can be difficult for them, so consider putting mittens or socks on your child’s hands to prevent scratching during sleep. In addition, trim fingernails and keep them clean to help lessen the effects of scratching, including broken blisters and infection.
Most chickenpox infections require no special medical treatment. But sometimes, there are problems.
Call the doctor if your child:
* Has fever that lasts for more than four days or rises above 102° Fahrenheit (38.8° Celsius)
* Has a severe cough or trouble breathing
* Has an area of rash that leaks pus (thick, discoloured fluid) or becomes red, warm, swollen, or sore
* Has a severe headache
* Is unusually drowsy or has trouble waking up
* Has trouble looking at bright lights
* Has difficulty walking
* Seems confused
* Seems very ill or is vomiting
* Has a stiff neck
Chickenpox and pregnancy
If you get chickenpox while you are pregnant it may be more severe. There is also a slightly higher risk that you’ll develop pneumonia.
See your GP urgently if you think you have chickenpox when you are pregnant, or within seven days of giving birth.
Pregnant women with chickenpox can be treated with antiviral medication. This needs to be started within 24 hours of the rash appearing, however. It is usually prescribed to mothers who are more than 20 weeks pregnant. It doesn’t cure the illness, but makes it less severe.