Chickenpox - Causes, Risk, Prevention and Treatment

What is Chickenpox?

Chickenpox, also called varicella, is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It's a viral illness that affects the skin and mucous membrane all over the body, though it typically affects only one part of the body at a time.

Chickenpox can be especially painful to people with any type of immune disorder because they are unable to fight off the infection like others. Symptoms usually begin 3-4 days after exposure and can last for 10 days, though it typically resolves itself without treatment within 7-10 days.

Serologic tests are usually used to confirm that someone has chickenpox or not, but there is no specific treatment for chickenpox once symptoms have started to show up.

What Causes Chickenpox?

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. The varicella-zoster virus is a member of the herpes family of viruses and was formerly called herpes zoster. This virus causes chickenpox in healthy people and shingles in adults. The varicella-zoster virus can also linger in your body, which could lead to chickenpox later on in life because it never actually goes away.

Who is at Risk of Chickenpox?

Anyone can have chickenpox, but some people are at a higher risk of getting it. Chickenpox is typically more severe in people with a weakened immune system. People who have a weakened immune system might have missed or had inadequate vaccinations, they may have been exposed to someone else with chickenpox while travelling, or they have a serious illness, such as cancer or HIV/AIDS.

Treatment of Chickenpox

The preferred treatment for chickenpox is an antiviral medication known as acyclovir. Acyclovir helps the body fight off the virus and speed recovery.

The medication is safe, but it can cause side effects such as nausea or headaches. Acyclovir can be taken in pill form or applied to the skin if you're able to take oral medication.

One of the best ways to treat chickenpox is to simply allow it to pass on its own and not give your immune system any additional work to do. Chickenpox will run its course and eventually disappear without any additional treatment.

Preventing Chickenpox

Because chickenpox can be so uncomfortable, there are several ways you can take care of yourself to avoid catching it in the first place. The best way to prevent getting chickenpox is to get vaccinated against the disease. While there is no vaccine for shingles, which can cause pain and disability, Chickenpox is a very mild disease that often goes away without any treatment at all. So if you need your child vaccinated for Chickenpox make sure they are up-to-date on their vaccinations before they start school this year!

The best way to prevent chickenpox is the childhood vaccination (varicella-zoster). The vaccination consists of two doses (typically given when you are 12-15 months old and 4-6 years old. Some children under 4 years old may also need the vaccine, especially if they have a weakened immune system.

There is a single vaccination for adults who never had chickenpox in childhood. The adult vaccination must be done two to four weeks apart and should be repeated every 10 years. If you have been vaccinated against chickenpox in the past but your doctor suspects you have been exposed to someone who has chickenpox or been exposed to infected blood, you should receive a booster vaccination to make sure you are protected against it.

Frequently Asked Questions on Chickenpox

How is Chickenpox Transmitted?

Chickenpox is transmitted through direct contact with the fluid in blisters. The virus can live on objects for several hours so it is even possible to get infected if you touch an object that has fluid from the blisters on it. The good news is that people who have had chickenpox are considered immune to the virus for life.

What are the Symptoms of Chickenpox?

The initial symptoms of chickenpox include fever, fatigue, and loss of appetite. After a few days, small red bumps will appear all over your body. These bumps will eventually fill with fluid and become small blisters filled with a white fluid, which will eventually crust over and scab over. The scabs are very itchy and will be sore to the touch. You may feel pain at the site of the blisters or feel that your skin is burning when it is irritated.

How to Prevent Chickenpox?

Chickenpox is a very contagious disease. The virus is spread through direct contact with fluid from infected lesions. It can also be spread to other people by air droplets in large areas of coughing, sneezing, or proximity among people with active lesions or via contaminated surfaces, such as bedding or toys that have come in contact with saliva during an outbreak of chickenpox.