Varicella Zoster (Chicken Pox)
Chickenpox is a highly infectious disease, caused by the virus Varicella Zoster. It mainly affects children, and vaccination currently is only offered to patients at high risk on the NHS.
What is ChickenPox?
- Chickenpox virus is spread from person to person and often goes round classes and schools- transmitted perosn to person
- The virus is most infectious 1-2 days before the rash occurs and for around 5 days after (or until the rash crusts over).
- Chickenpox has an incubation period of 2-3 weeks.
- The child has to be isolated at home and therefore it is difficult for working parents.
Symptoms
- vesicular rash - which is very itchy and can be widespread affecting the face, trunk, arms and legs.
- fever - although this is for the first few days only
Complications - rare in children
- Secondary bacterial infection of the skin - local or systemic. Group A streptococcal infection
- Neurological complications such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain).
Other rarer complications - more likely if immunocompromised.
- Pneumonia
- Encephalitis
- Chickenpox in Pregnancy is serious disease for the mother and baby.
Prevention
- As the disease is very contagious, if you are vulnerable to severe infection or have never had Chickenpox, then vaccination should be considered.
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