Chickenpox is a contagious disease that spreads through breathing, coughing, sneezing, contact with patients, or sharing items. This disease is caused by the varicella virus and spreads easily, especially in schools, daycare centers, or general communities. It can occur throughout the year but tends to outbreak more during the winter season.
Symptoms of Chickenpox in Children
Typically, chickenpox has an incubation period of about 10-21 days, averaging 14-16 days after exposure to a contagious patient. Patients can spread the virus from 48 hours before the rash appears until all the rashes have dried and formed scabs.
Indicative Symptoms of Chickenpox
Patients may have a low or high fever for about 1-2 days, along with headaches, body aches, and muscle pain. After the fever, small red spots appear, which then turn into clear blisters. The number of blisters increases gradually, starting on the torso and spreading to the neck, face, scalp, arms, legs, and can spread all over the body, including mucous membranes such as inside the mouth, throat, or eyes. Over time, the clear blisters become cloudy, enlarge, and can easily rupture or shrink to form scabs. After recovery, some virus remains hidden in nerve ganglia, which can later cause shingles when the body is weak or the immune system is compromised.
Treatment for Chickenpox
- Treatment is mostly symptomatic since this disease is caused by a viral infection, so antibiotics are not necessary unless there is a secondary bacterial infection.
- If there is a fever, sponge the body and take paracetamol to reduce fever. Aspirin should be avoided as it may cause complications.
- If there is itching on the skin, apply anti-itch lotion such as calamine lotion or take antihistamines to relieve itching.
- Patients should keep their nails short and avoid scratching or picking at itchy blisters to prevent secondary bacterial infections.
- Patients should be isolated from others until the contagious period is over, and personal items such as clothes, cups, spoons, and bowls should be kept separate to prevent spreading the virus.
- Pregnant women, immunocompromised patients, or those with complications should see a doctor.
Complications of Chickenpox
Complications are often found in newborns, adults, or immunocompromised individuals. Common and severe complications include bacterial skin infections, bloodstream infections, thrombocytopenia, pneumonia, and encephalitis.
Chickenpox Vaccine
- It is recommended to vaccinate against chickenpox starting at 1 year of age.
- Young children receive the first dose between 1 and 1.5 years old, and the second dose between 4-6 years old.
- Older children and adults should receive 2 doses, 2 months apart.
Vaccinating with 2 doses increases the effectiveness of disease prevention and helps reduce the severity of the disease.
Precautions for Chickenpox Vaccination
- Do not vaccinate pregnant women or those planning pregnancy within at least 3 months. Therefore, contraception should be used after vaccination.
- Do not vaccinate individuals allergic to neomycin.
- Do not vaccinate breastfeeding mothers.
Although the ‘chickenpox vaccine’ is 94-99% effective in preventing the disease, vaccinated individuals can still get the disease, but symptoms will be less severe. Vaccination can start from 1 year of age onwards.
