Chickenpox
A Vaccine Preventable Disease
Identification and Definition
History of Chickenpox
Signs and Symptoms of Chickenpox
- high fever
- tiredness
- loss of appetite
- headache
The rash then appears, turning into itchy, fluid-filled blisters eventually turning into scabs (usually a week). Rashes usually first appear on the face, chest, and back then to the rest of the body.
Transmission of Chickenpox
Complications of Chickenpox
- infants
- adolescents
- adults
- pregnant women
- individuals with weakened immune systems due to illness or medications including - individuals with HIV/AIDS or cancer, who have had a transplant, on chemotherapy, immunosuppressive medications, or long-term use of steroids
Immunocompromised Individuals have a high risk of developing visceral dissemination - varicella-zoster virus infection of internal organs - resulting in pneumonia, hepatitis, encephalitis, and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. Usually have an atypical rash but with more lesions which lasts longer.
Children with HIV or AIDS usually have an atypical rash with new crops of lesions for the duration of weeks or maybe even months. They can develop chronic infection with new lesions appearing for more than a month.
Varicella in adults with HIV or AIDS is uncommon since they have already had the varicella disease allowing them to be varicella-zoster virus seropositive.
Pregnant women have an increased risk for developing pneumonia and may also die from the virus. If she gets the virus during the first or second trimester, the baby has a very small risk - .04% to 2% - of being born with congenital varicella syndrome. If the rash develops 5 days before or 2 days after birth, the newborn is at risk for neonatal varicella.
Serious complications from chickenpox include:
- dehydration
- pneumonia
- bleeding problems
- infection or inflammation of the brain
- bacterial infections of the skin and soft tissues in children - including Group A streptococcal infections
- blood stream infections
- toxic shock syndrome
- bone and joint infections
Recommended Control Measures For Chickenpox
Day 2 of chickenpox
Day 3 of chickenpox
Day 7 of chickenpox
References
http://www.cdc.gov/chickenpox/about/complications.html
http://www.cdc.gov/chickenpox/hcp/high-risk.html
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/varicella.html#reactions
https://lopezfamilynow.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/oh-no-its-chicken-pox-progression-of-the-virus/