Chicken Pox And Your Child

What is ChickenPox?

Chickenpox is a very common viral infection that affects almost every person in their life. Most people get it under the age of 15, but anyone can contract it. Usually you can contract it only one time in your life, but occasionally the virus that causes chickenpox can crop up again in the form of shingles, another much more serious manifestion of the virus.

What causes ChickenPox?

Chickenpox is caused by exposure to the Varicella-Zoster virus, spreading through coughing and sneezing or through contact with fluid from inside the chickenpox blisters.

What Are the Symptoms of ChickenPox?

The symptoms of chickenpox are a red, irritating, itchy rash on the skin. It usually crops up first on the abdomen, back, or face and then spreads all over the body. The rash starts as red itchy bumps that look like an insect bite or sting and then turn into fluid-filled blisters. They then eventually break open into open sores and then finally start to heal over, leaving dried-out brownish-looking scabs that will fade over time, but possibly will leave scars. The sores usually appear over the period of 2-4 days and can be more severe if your child has any kind of skin disorder. Some children can contract a fever as well as abdominal pain. Younger children usually have milder symptoms and/or less blisters.

How Is ChickenPox Treated?

As a rule, chickenpox will takes its course and usually no treatment is prescribed, although antibiotics may be needed if the sores on your child are infected by bacteria. There is also a vaccine present for children, although it is only for children 12 mos. or older. It is around 70 - 80% effective in blocking mild infection and 95% or more effective in blocking severe infection. Children who have received the vaccine and still contract the disease afford less severe symptoms and a speedier recovery.

Is ChickenPox Contagious?

Chickenpox is extremely contagious and it is contagious from about 2 days before the rash begins until all the rash has dried up.

Pregnant women are at extreme risk and should be kept away from children who have contracted the virus. If a pregnant woman, who has never contracted the virus before, contracts the disease, the baby inside could be born with defects. If she has had the disease before, the natural immunity should be passed onto the baby through the mother's breast milk, but there is no guarantee that the baby will not contract the disease. Basically, the anyone infected from the virus should be isolated for about 2 weeks or until the blisters scab over, although its not necessary to keep your child isolated until the scabs fall off.