Varicella
By: Jaiden Baliga
Symptoms
The Varicella Virus comes with a painful dose of rashes and cysts, though they are small they can itch and possibly bleed. This is accompanied by fatigue, fever, and a tendency to avoid food. It also leads to shingles later in life.
Causes
The Varicella Virus is caused by the varicella zoster virus, also known as the strain human herpesvirus 3. It is spread by contact either a sick person, or coming into a space where an infected person has respirators.
Immune cells
T cells are used to kill Varicella. Their job is to kill everything that is not a human cell, so killing this virus with T cells is the way to go. The virus finds immunities to T cells for that reason.
Replication
The virus replicates by the lytic cycle. It breaches the cell membrane, replicates inside the cell, and finally ruptures the cell and the viruses spread.
Treatment
There is no known cure for the chicken pox, but the symptoms can be eased. Taking painkillers will reduce itching and headache, and staying hydrated will keep the fever down. Otherwise, the only way to treat the virus is by letting it go through the system.
Prevention
There is no vaccine for the Varicella virus, but there are ways to avoid it. First off, one should obviously not touch a person with it, unless they have already built an immunity to chickenpox. Infected should wear a mask to decrease the spread of germs by air, and get lots of bed rest.