Chickenpox symptoms typically present as hundreds of fluid-filled blisters that are very itchy and can appear anywhere on the body. Chickenpox (a.k.a.Varicella) is a highly contagious viral disease and though this has long been considered a childhood disease, the same virus (herpes zoster) can cause a condition called shingles in an adult.
Chickenpox Symptoms And Causes
The typical child will present with signs of general illness a day or two before breaking out in the itchy, fluid-filled blisters typically associated with the chickenpox. These early symptoms may include a fever, headache, stomach upset or ache, or loss of appetite. During this one to two day period the child is contagious to others.
Within a couple of days, a child will break out in hundreds of small, itchy red spots and blisters. These blisters typically appear on the face, trunk or scalp first before spreading to other areas of the body. The blisters change over the next few days to form a crusty scab as new blisters continue to form, springing up in groups for a few more days. Blisters can form in the mouth, vagina and on the eyelids.
Chickenpox is caused by an infection of the Herpes zoster virus through direct contact with the fluid from a chickenpox blister or airborne particles from an infected person's cough or sneeze. After exposure to the virus, it will commonly take between 10 to 21 days for the pox to appear.
Chickenpox Diagnosis And Treatment
This viral infection is typically diagnosed through the observation of the aforementioned symptoms. If there is any question about the diagnosis, the presence of the illness can be confirmed by a physician using blood tests or a test of the blisters.
Treatment may involve simply waiting for the virus to run its course, which typically happens within 2 weeks. After exposure to the virus it will remain dormant or asleep in the person's body for a lifetime. However, the virus can re-emerge in adulthood resulting in shingles.
A child should avoid any contact with other children until the pox have crusted over and dried completely.
To help soothe itching a person can use cool compresses, calamine lotions or topical anesthetic ointments, or an oatmeal bath in lukewarm water. An oral antihistamine may also help ease the intense itching associated with this illness.
A medical doctor may use antiviral medications for those with additional risk factors such as older (adult or teen) patients or those with complicating conditions (i.e. eczema, lung conditions, weakened immune systems)
Excess heat and sweating should be avoided and the child should be discourage from scratching. Acetaminophen may be used to decrease fever and discomfort. Avoid aspirin entirely when dealing with a viral infection such as chickenpox.
The introduction of the chickenpox vaccine has made classic chickenpox in children less common. Those with the vaccine may still get a mild version of the illness and will be contagious to others.
Scarring is not common unless the pox became infected from scratching.
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