The world's local bank
HEALTHNET
Chickenpox
Uncle visited his nephew John today. Aged 7, John is a lovely little boy. He was having fun with neighbor's children when uncle came. However, uncle suspected those children got chickenpox as there were small blisters on their skin upon close observation. Sometimes they would scratch it. After mentioned with aunt, he just came to know that she knew very little about pediatric diseases, not to mention the contagiousness of chickenpox. She thought having fun with them should not cause any problems. Uncle was not happy with her recklessness on children's health. He had once contracted "Herpes Zooster" and therefore knew how serious the problem was. He was worried that John would be infected, and urged aunt to take children to the doctor for a thorough checkup.
- Highly contagious and not a "children only" disease
- More risky for adults with chickenpox
- Proper skin care and treating complications
- Scratching causes infection and scars
- Vaccination for prevention
Source: Quality HealthCare - Specialist in paediatrics
Highly contagious and not a "children only" disease
Chickenpox is a highly contagious, and primarily airborne disease that can be transmitted through patient's airborne droplets, vomit, as well as fluid from the blisters.
Chickenpox is mostly contracted during childhood which brings wrong perception that it is a childhood disease. Chickenpox infection provides life-long immunity. An adult will contract the disease if they are in contact with chickenpox. And so parents who have no previous history of chickenpox may be infected if their children have chickenpox.
More risky for adults with chickenpox
The patient usually presents with one-day history of fever and red rash on body. The rash will become blisters which burst and crust afterwards. By that time, the patient is not infectious anymore.
The complications of chickenpox include secondary bacterial skin infection, pneumonia, diarrhea, vomit and dehydration. In rare cases, brain infection is possible and fatal. The complication is less common in children than in adult.
Proper skin care and treating complications
Patients usually do not require special treatment if there is no complication.
However, there are some points deserve attention:
1. Preventive measures
Children always cannot help scratching the itchy blisters on skin. This will cause secondary bacterial infection. The skin becomes red, swollen and painful. The child will develop fever again. Some children will have cough, shortness of breath and fatigue. Parents should seek medical help if the children have any sign or symptom of complications.
The most important tips on care is to prevent patients from scratching. Doctor sometimes will prescribe antipruritic to prevent the children from scratching and skin lesion. Good personal hygiene is also important. Patients should gently wash their bodies during shower to avoid breaking the blisters, and gently dry with a towel to avoid scrubbing.
2. Treating the complications
As mentioned earlier, patients may develop complications. Parents should bring children to the doctor if they have diarrhea, vomit and poor feeding. More attention should be given to adults with chickenpox as they have higher risk in developing complications. Doctors may prescribe antiviral drug to adult patients in order to lower the risk of complications.
3. Avoid transmission
Patients are already contagious right before the red rash appears on skin. They are not infectious once the blisters crust. To avoid outbreak of chickenpox, patients should make sure that all blisters are crusted before getting back to school or work.
Scratching causes infection and scars
To avoid scar formation, the best way is to prevent secondary bacterial skin infection.
Proper skincare and stop scratching will help to avoid scars. Try to keep infection to the lowest possibility, there will be slimmer chance to get the scar. Applying antipruritic helps to stop scratching.
Vaccination for prevention
Vaccination is a way for prevention. It is not compulsory vaccine in Hong Kong yet. However, many parents are increasingly getting their children vaccinated against chickenpox to prevent disease and its complication.
After vaccination, it is normal to have fever for some of the children. And very few of them may still develop chickenpox later in life but is less extensive and severe.
After the chickenpox infection resolved, varicella zoster virus will become latent inside nerve cells and may reactivate in the form of herpes zoster. Herpes zoster, also referred as "Shingles", is from the same virus of chickenpox. For details of herpes zoster, please refer to "Previous Stories".
Source: Quality HealthCare - Specialist in paediatrics
