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    Chicken Pox (Varicella) 2

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    Cherrie Angcao
    Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus and causes a distinctive rash and flu-like symptoms. It is highly contagious and spreads through airborne particles or direct contact with sores. Symptoms include fever and a red rash that develops into itchy blisters. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms with acetaminophen, antihistamines, calamine lotion, and in some cases antiviral medication. A vaccine requiring two doses has proven highly effective in preventing chickenpox.

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    Chicken Pox (Varicella) 2

    Uploaded by

    Cherrie Angcao
    178 views18 pages
    Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus and causes a distinctive rash and flu-like symptoms. It is highly contagious and spreads through airborne particles or direct contact with sores. Symptoms include fever and a red rash that develops into itchy blisters. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms with acetaminophen, antihistamines, calamine lotion, and in some cases antiviral medication. A vaccine requiring two doses has proven highly effective in preventing chickenpox.

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    Chicken Pox ( Varicella)2

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    Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus and causes a distinctive rash and flu-like symptoms. It is highly contagious and spreads through airborne particles or direct contact with sores. Symptoms include fever and a red rash that develops into itchy blisters. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms with acetaminophen, antihistamines, calamine lotion, and in some cases antiviral medication. A vaccine requiring two doses has proven highly effective in preventing chickenpox.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    178 views18 pages

    Chicken Pox (Varicella) 2

    Uploaded by

    Cherrie Angcao
    Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus and causes a distinctive rash and flu-like symptoms. It is highly contagious and spreads through airborne particles or direct contact with sores. Symptoms include fever and a red rash that develops into itchy blisters. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms with acetaminophen, antihistamines, calamine lotion, and in some cases antiviral medication. A vaccine requiring two doses has proven highly effective in preventing chickenpox.

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    CHICKEN POX ( Varicella)

    CHICKEN POX ( Varicella)


    What is chickenpox?
    Chickenpox is a common childhood skin
    disease caused by a viral infection.

    Chickenpox is a very infectious disease


    caused by one of a group of herpes
    viruses. It causes a distinctive rash and
    mild flu-like symptoms. 
    What causes chickenpox?
    The virus involved is called
    the varicella-zoster virus.
    How does chickenpox spread?
    Chickenpox is very highly contagious.
    It is easily passed between members of
    families and workmates through airborne
    particles, droplets in exhaled air, and
    fluid from the blisters or sores.
    It also can be transmitted indirectly by
    contact with articles of clothing and
    other items exposed to fresh drainage
    from open sores.
    How does chickenpox spread?
    Patients are contagious up to five
    days (more commonly, one to two
    days) before and five days after the
    rash appears.

    When all of the sores have crusted


    over, the person is usually no longer
    contagious.
    What are the symptoms and signs?

    Symptoms tend to appear 14 to 16


    days after the initial exposure but can
    occur anytime from 10 days up to 21
    days after contact with the virus.

    Chickenpox is characterized by
    ◦ one to two days of mild fever up to 102 F,
    ◦ general weakness, and
    ◦ a rash, often the first sign of the disease.
    What are chickenpox symptoms and
    signs?
    The rash of chickenpox develops in crops
    with raised red spots arriving first,
    progressing to blisters that burst, forming
    open sores, before crusting over.

    This process usually starts on the scalp, then


    the trunk (its area of greatest concentration),
    and finally the arms and legs.

    The rash is typically very itchy (pruritic).


    What are treatment options for
    chickenpox?
    Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be used to
    decrease the fevers and aches often
    associated with the initial presentation of
    the viral infection.
    ◦ Children should never be given acetylsalicylic
    acid (Aspirin) or aspirin-containing cold
    medications because of the risks for
    developing Reye's syndrome (a severe
    acquired metabolic disease associated with
    liver and brain dysfunction and death).
    What are treatment options for
    chickenpox?
    Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or other
    antihistamines can be helpful in
    controlling the itching.

    To soothe your itchy spots, you can use


    calamine lotion. You can also try putting
    bicarbonate of soda in your bath to relieve
    itchiness.
    Reminders:
    It is important to keep nails trimmed in
    order to minimize injury due to scratching
    and to control the risks for secondary
    bacterial infections.

    Wear loose cotton clothing to keep the


    skin cool and reduce itching.
    What are treatment options for
    chickenpox?
    Lastly, in some cases of
    chickenpox, acyclovir (Zovirax) can be
    prescribed.
    ◦ Acyclovir is an antiviral medication which has
    been used to shorten the duration of the infection.
    ◦ This medication has only been shown to be
    affective if started within one to two days of onset
    of the rash associated with chickenpox.
    ◦ Most commonly, this treatment is reserved for
    patients with other diagnoses which put them at
    risk for severe disease (severe skin diseases,
    immunodeficiency).
    Can chickenpox be prevented
    with a vaccine?
    Most people develop lifetime immunity to
    chickenpox after the first occurrence and
    never experience it again.

    But the virus can sometimes resurface


    later in life as shingles (zoster).
    Can chickenpox be prevented
    with a vaccine?
    The vaccination requires only two shots.
    ◦ The first vaccination is given at about 1 year of
    age, and the second (booster) is given at 4 years
    of age.
    ◦ If an older person has not had chickenpox, the
    shot may be given at any time.
    ◦ There have been few significant adverse reactions
    to the chickenpox vaccine.
    ◦ Vaccination has been associated with a 90%
    decrease in the incidence of chickenpox and
    significantly lower complication rates in those
    who do develop the symptoms.

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