Chickenpox

CHICKENPOX

Chickenpox. The red rash that develops from chickenpox, also known as varicella-zoster, blisters and eventually scabs over. It is highly transmissible by body contact and bodily secretions. A vaccine can help you avoid getting chickenpox. An itchy, blister-like skin rash is the result of the virus known as chickenpox. Varicella-zoster is caused by a virus. This spreads easily. But now that there is a vaccine to prevent it, it is far less common. Although adults can also contract chickenpox, children are most at risk for contracting it. Before the first chickenpox vaccine was made available in 1995, practically everyone had chickenpox as a toddler or young child.

CHICKENPOX

The rate of chickenpox, however, has decreased by about 90% since the late 1990s. As part of their regular immunization plan, the majority of youngsters today receive a vaccine against it. You cannot contract chickenpox from another person once you have had it. You can contract chickenpox at any age if you are not immunized. It is preferable to contract it as a child or to avoid contracting it by getting vaccinated, as adults who contract the illness can become quite ill.

Symptoms

The signs are obvious. Medical professionals can frequently determine whether your child has chickenpox by looking at their skin. The following is the typical sequence in which symptoms appear:
low-grade fever.
feeling worn out.
Headache.
a stomachache that prevents you from eating.
An extremely irritating skin rash that resembles several tiny blisters.
bumps that are filled with what appears to be milky water.
Scabs following blister rupture.
blotchy-looking skin.

Causes

The cause of chickenpox is a virus. A person can spread a virus to another person by touching the rash or by transferring the virus through body contact, such as coughing or sneezing.

Treatment

Apply a cool, damp cloth to the rash.
Keep your kid calm.
Your child should be discouraged from scratching. To prevent them from scratching, trim their fingernails.
Apply an antihistamine lotion to the rash. You may get these creams at the pharmacy. Seek advice from the pharmacist if you are unsure what to purchase.
Give your youngster an antihistamine that is available over-the-counter (OTC). OTC antihistamines include cetirizine and diphenhydramine.
Every day, give your child a refreshing shower or bath. Another option is to bathe your youngster with oats. Avoid rubbing them with the towel when you’re wiping them off. Pat your youngster dry instead.
To avoid dehydration, make sure your child is getting enough water and other fluids.

Prevention

Indeed, a vaccine exists to prevent it. The pediatrician will administer it to your youngster in two doses.
Your youngster should receive one dosage between the ages of 12 and 15 months if they are younger than 13. Between the ages of 4 and 6, the second dose is administered. The vaccine is typically administered to children as part of a combination vaccination that also guards against rubella, mumps, and measles. It may also function as a stand-alone vaccination.
The vaccination should also be administered to adults who have never had it. You should receive two doses of the vaccination at least 28 days apart if you are 13 years of age or older and have never received it.
The effectiveness of vaccination in preventing it is around 90%. At least 91 million cases of chickenpox have been avoided since 1995 because to the vaccination.

Summary

Until 1995, when a vaccine was developed, this has caused thousands of hospitalizations and fatalities annually. Over 90% of children may avoid this once-common childhood infection thanks to the chickenpox vaccine. Even as an adult, if you do not receive the vaccination, you can still contract chickenpox.