What is Chickenpox?
Chickenpox is an infectious disease characterised by an itchy red rash that appears all over the body, eventually forming small, fluid-filled blisters. These blisters then turn into scabs. The disease is often accompanied by fever, fatigue, headache, and loss of appetite. Chickenpox is usually mild and lasts 5 to 10 days, but it can cause severe complications in adults, infants, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems [1, 2, 3].
What Causes Chickenpox?
Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It spreads very quickly from one person to another through direct contact with the rash or through the air when a person with chickenpox coughs or sneezes. The virus is contagious to those around you for one to two days before your blisters appear and remains contagious until all blisters have crusted over. The virus can spread through saliva, coughing, sneezing, and contact with fluid from the blisters [2, 3].
Symptoms of Chicken pox
Chickenpox is characterized by several symptoms. As previously discussed, the most recognisable symptom is an itchy rash that develops into fluid-filled blisters, eventually forming crusts and healing [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7].
Before the rash appears, you may experience fever, headache, tiredness, and loss of appetite. These symptoms typically start a day or two before the rash appears.
The rash often starts on the face, chest, and back and then spreads to the rest of the body. The rash goes through several stages: starting as small red dots, progressing to small bumps, then to blisters and pustules, and eventually forming scabs [3, 5, 7].
The rash can sometimes cover the whole body, and blisters may form in the throat and eyes. They may also form in tissue that lines the inside of the urethra, anus, and vagina [2].
As the disease progresses, more red spots may appear, leading to 250 to 500 blisters [5]. The rash lasts 5 to 10 days [1, 2, 5].
In rare cases, chickenpox can cause serious complications such as neurological involvement, including postinfectious cerebellar ataxia, meningoencephalitis, Reye syndrome, myelitis, optic neuritis, stroke, Guillain-Barré syndrome, seventh cranial nerve palsy, and Ramsay-Hunt syndrome [8, 7, 9, 10].
Differentiating between bug bites and chickenpox
Skin irritations from chickenpox can be easily mistaken for various bug bites, making it difficult to tell if it's a mosquito bite or chickenpox, a flea bite or chickenpox, or another insect bite or chickenpox.
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Treatment for Chickenpox
Treatment for chickenpox focuses on relieving symptoms and reducing the risk of complications. The general approach to managing chickenpox involves symptomatic relief and preventive measures to avoid spreading the infection [7, 7].
One of the first steps in managing chickenpox is ensuring the infected individual stays at home while they are infectious. This helps prevent the spread of the virus to others. Keeping nails short and wearing gloves can also help prevent scratching and reduce the risk of secondary infections [7].
Over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines like Benadryl can help reduce itching. Topical calamine lotion may relieve pruritus, and daily cleansing with warm water can help avoid secondary bacterial infection. Acetaminophen may reduce fever, but aspirin should be avoided as it may cause Reye syndrome [11, 7].
In some instances, a doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication like acyclovir. This medication may reduce the severity of the infection if taken within a few days of contact with someone who has the condition. Antiviral treatment is particularly advised for adults, including pregnant women and individuals with weakened immune systems, as these groups are more prone to complications [7, 7].
A doctor may recommend a bland diet, local anaesthetics, cold food, hydration, and oral hygiene for chickenpox inside the mouth. These measures can help limit irritation and discomfort, numb any discomfort, fight off dehydration, and prevent a secondary bacterial infection [11].
In conclusion, while there is no cure for the varicella-zoster virus that causes chickenpox, the symptoms can be managed effectively with home care and medical treatments. Always consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice.