In most cases, chicken pox is relatively harmless. It tends to give a deceptive perception where one would often think vaccination or treatment is not necessary. Chickenpox vaccination is available to children from age of one.

How does one get infected with chicken pox?

Chicken pox is caused by a highly contagious virus known as varicella-zoster. It spread easily through droplets from an infected individual when he or she sneezes. You may not realise you have caught the chicken pox virus until two to three weeks later. Chicken pox virus requires 10 to 21 days incubation period after exposure.

Even before the rashes start to appear, an infected individual can spread the virus to surrounding people two days before chicken pox rashes are seen developing.

An infected invidual who appears to have recovered from chickenpox recently may still be infectious until all the scabs resulting from dried up fluid filled vesicles are completely dried.

Symptoms

A person who is infected by Chickenpox develops fever, cough and runny nose. Followed closely by rashes that turns into vesicles filled with fluid in a couple of days. The fluid filled vesicles spread throughout the entire body including the scalp and mouth.

Complications

Rarely does chicken pox takes a turn for the worst. In such cases, complications due to chicken pox usually starts with infection of the lesions which causes it to produce pus. A recurring fever may be triggered.

Haemorrhagic varicella is a condition when bleeding into the lesions occur. The virus compromises the body’s immune system of an individual. It makes him/her more susceptible to bacteria which causes infections. There is a risk where bacteria enters the bloodstream and infects other organs in their body. This in turn gives rise to a condition where the individual experiences widespread bleeding. Fatality resulting from widespread bleeding may occur.

The lungs, for instance, when exposed to the virus might risk developing pneumonia. In some cases, “empyema” occurs when the lung cavity may be infected to the extend of producing pus.

The virus may affect the brain by the widespread infection resulting in encephalitis or cebellar ataxia. Encephalitis symptoms include fever, headache and photophobia with weakness and seizures. Cebellar ataxia causes the individual to have problems balancing in an upright position.

Treatment

Barring any complications, most children requires only calamine lotion to relieve the itch. Fever medication will also be administered to bring temperature under control.

For individuals who belongs to the high risk category, they are advised to consult their doctor immediately. They will be prescribed acyclovir, an oral drug to contain possible infection during the course of chickenpox rashes. In some severe cases, chickenpox patients may be admitted to the hospital for observation where intravenous acyclovir, administered by injection, is needed.