Chicken pox in young children.Preventing chicken pox

Chicken pox is a serious and highly contagious disease that can occur in children and adults. Although there is a vaccine available, chickenpox still sometimes occurs in vaccinated persons. Here is some information about the causes, symptoms and treatments of chicken pox. With Chicken Pox there are red spots and blisters, and an itchy rash all over the child's body. This usually causes the discomfort during this process. The chickenpox vaccine helps prevent them, although it is still possible to get the chickenpox after getting it. A person usually only gets the chickenpox once in their life. It usually isn't too serious in persons with good immune systems. It can be more threatening in sicker individuals or persons with chronic illnesses. Causes of Chicken Pox The varicella-zoster virus is what causes chickenpox. A highly contagious disease, it is easily spread in a number of ways. One can spread the illness by coughing, sneezing, sharing your meal or drink, and by touching fluid excreted out of a chickenpox blister. The easiest time to spread chickenpox is two to three days before it appears on the skin until the pox have all scabbed up. Symptoms There are many symptoms associated with the chickenpox. The first couple noticeable symptoms are fever, sore throat, and a headache. Also, your child might be very tired or may not eat as much, they may have a stomachache or it might seem as though they just have a normal cold. Sometimes chickenpox occurs without any symptoms at all. After all of the blisters have scabbed over it is safe for you child to go back to school. This usually takes about 10 days. Treatment Most chickenpox treatment is done at home. For healthy people this would include: taking baths in oatmeal to lessen itching, a lot of resting, and taking medicine prescribed by a doctor. For unhealthy people they would need immunoglobulin treatment or antiviral medications. The chickenpox can be harsh on pregnant women. If there are other children in the house it is more than likely they will contract the virus too because of close contact. Try and keep other children and adults as far away from the sick person as possible to reduce likelihood of contracting the illness. You can prevent the chicken pox by getting the vaccine while you are a child. It is recommended that you get two doses. In rare cases after getting the vaccine some have still gotten the chicken pox, and some have gotten it twice. Exposing your children to chicken pox is not the ideal thing to do. Some parents have exposed their child to it when they were younger because they have been told it is safer to get as a child, but this is not always true. Chickenpox in younger children has been linked to many other serious problems.