Chicken pic pox varicella virus

The symptoms may be more severe in newborns, persons with weakened immune systems, and adults. Serious problems can occur and may include pneumonia bacterial and viral , brain infection encephalitis , and kidney problems. Many people are not aware that before a vaccine was available, approximately 10, persons were hospitalized, and to died, as a result of chickenpox in the U.

If you have been in contact with someone with chickenpox or shingles, or if you have a rash-associated illness that might be chickenpox or shingles, discuss your situation with your healthcare provider. Blood tests may be done to see if you have become infected with the virus or have had the disease in the past. If you are pregnant and not immune and have been exposed to chickenpox or shingles, call your healthcare provider immediately. Your provider may choose to treat you with a medication called varicella-zoster immune globulin VZIG , but in order for this medication to be most helpful, it needs to be given as soon as possible after your exposure to varicella.

Yes, make sure all your vaccines are up to date, especially if you are planning a pregnancy. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and those you love. If you are not immune, you should be vaccinated.

You will receive two doses of varicella chickenpox vaccine one month apart. You should avoid becoming pregnant for at least one month after the last vaccination. Varicella vaccine should not be given to pregnant women. If you are pregnant, have your healthcare provider give you the varicella vaccine after your baby is delivered. This article shows chickenpox in its various stages to give you a sense of how the rash will progress.

This guide can help you to know when you're least likely to pass on the virus. There is a vaccine to prevent chickenpox. Once you have the infection, though, there is no cure. It has to run its course. The virus spreads easily from person to person. Chickenpox is largely a childhood disease, but anyone who hasn't had it before or hasn't been vaccinated is at risk. The virus is mainly spread by touching or breathing in viral particles from open blisters.

It can also be passed through tiny droplets of saliva as an infected person talks or breathes. This is why chickenpox sweeps quickly through schools where children are in close contact. Chickenpox is not life-threatening, but serious complications sometimes occur. Adults newly infected with chickenpox are more likely to have a severe case. A healthcare provider can prescribe antiviral drugs to keep the illness from becoming severe.

These drugs can also shorten the illness. Once a VZV infection occurs, the virus remains in your body for the rest of your life. In later years, it may suddenly reactivate, causing shingles herpes zoster virus. The first stage of chickenpox is called the prodromal phase. It often causes these symptoms:. The prodromal phase begins four to six days after exposure. In this stage, the virus moves from the respiratory tract or eyes to the lymph nodes. From there, the virus spreads to the bloodstream.

That's when it triggers the first flu-like symptoms. This is referred to as primary viremia. Even before the outward signs of the disease show up, nasal secretions, saliva, and even teardrops are extremely infectious to anyone who comes into contact with them.

This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing. Secondary viremia is also called the blister stage. It starts as early as 10 days after exposure. This is the stage where the virus shows up on the outer layer of skin, known as the epidermis. It spreads through tiny blood vessels that span the skin. The infection causes fluid-filled blisters known as vesicles. People often describe the rash as a "dew drop on a rose petal.

During this phase, people often have a low-grade fever. It can usually be treated with Tylenol acetaminophen. Aspirin should never be given to children with a viral infection.

It may trigger a potentially life-threatening reaction known as Reye's syndrome. Even before blisters appear on the skin, they can break out in the mouth.

This condition is called enathem. The sores often look like tiny grains of white sand inside a red ring. Chickenpox enathem can be very painful. They make it hard to eat. You can try a topical oral analgesic pain reliever. You can also opt for soft, bland, or cooling foods such as ice pops, milkshakes, or smoothies. Avoid spicy or acidic foods like tomatoes or citrus.

Chickenpox blisters spread quickly. The rash starts as tiny red dots on the face, scalp, torso, and upper arms and legs. Within 10 to 12 hours, blisters cover the whole body. Many of the vesicles join together into larger, cloudy blisters.

The itching can be intense. In some cases, an oral antihistamine may be prescribed to relieve itching and aid with sleep. Chickenpox can spread to parts of the body that are not usually affected by infections. The palms, soles, scalp, eyelids, anus, and genitals can all be involved. Treatment options are limited. In most cases, treatment isn't necessary.

Some healthcare providers may prescribe an oral antiviral drug called Zovirax acyclovir to people with weakened immune systems. This medication may lower the risk of complications. It's sometimes prescribed for pregnant mothers to avoid fetal harm.

As the infection grows, the immune battle can lead to pus in the blisters. Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus VZV.

The virus spreads easily from people with chickenpox to others who have never had the disease or never been vaccinated. The virus spreads mainly through close contact with someone who has chickenpox.

A person with chickenpox is considered contagious beginning 1 to 2 days before rash onset until all the chickenpox lesions have crusted scabbed. Vaccinated people who get chickenpox may develop lesions that do not crust. These people are considered contagious until no new lesions have appeared for 24 hours. CDC strongly recommends against hosting or participating in these events.

Chickenpox can be serious and can lead to severe complications and death, even in healthy children. So it is not worth taking the chance of exposing your child to someone with the disease. The best way to protect infants and children against chickenpox is to get them vaccinated.

The varicella-zoster virus also causes shingles.