"Chickenpox"

I have had a reality check this past week with a serious bout of chickenpox, which has given me a reminder of just how painful and severe  they can be. After a few visits with my doctor this past week i  have realised just how serious chickenpox can be

Which started me thinking if this event has been so traumatic for me as an adult i can only imagine how a young child must feel, they must feel frightened and not understand why they are in pain or why they want to scratch themselves too pieces. I do believe at times like this, alot of reassuring, loving, affection and of course nursing care goes along way ( even as an adult it help)

I thought this information might come in handy for some mum's.

What is Chickenpox?

Chickenpox (varicella) is a mild disease, but is highly contagious and in adults it may result in severe illness.  It is caused by a virus that can also cause shingles (herpes zoster). Recovery occurs naturally, because a virus cannot be killed by drugs. Chickenpox affects mainly children under the age of 10.

What are the symptoms?

General

Children are not very sick,  but are usually lethargic and have a mild fever. Adults have an influenza- like illness.

The rash

The pocks come out in crops over 3-4 days. At first they resemble red pimples, but in a few hours these form blisters that look like drops of water. The blisters are very fragile and soon burst to leave open sores, which then form a scab and become dry. They can become very itchy.

The site of the rash

The pocks are concentrated on the trunk and the head, but spread to the limbs. Do not be alarmed if they appear in or on the month, eyes, scalp, or personal areas.

How Infectious is Chickenpox?

The disease is very infectious and can spread by droplets from the nose and month or by direct contact with the "raw pocks". Patients are infectious for 24 hours before the pocks erupt and remain so until all the pocks are covered by scabs and no new ones appear. The incubation period is about 12-21 days, and so the disease appears about 2 weeks after exposure to an infected person.

Scarring

Most people worry about this, but usually the spots do not scar unless they become infected.

Exclusion from school

Children should be kept home for 7 days or until all the pocks are dried and covered by scabs. At home it would be sensible to expose other children to the infected person so that the illness can be contracted before adulthood, but take care not to expose people with immune deficiency disorders to the child.

Do hope this helps, will follow up with chickenpox treatment.

Regards Janice