Chicken pox
Description:
Acute infectious disease of sudden onset with slight fever, mild constitutional symptoms and eruptions which are macula-papular for a few hours, vesicular for 3-4 days and leaves granular scabs. Lessons are more on covered than on exposed parts of the body and may appear on scalp and mucous membrane of upper respiratory tract.
Etiologic Agent:
Human (alpha) herpesvirus 3 (varicella-zoster virus), a member of the Herpesvirus group.
Mode of Transmission:
Direct contact or droplet spread. Indirect through articles freshly soiled by discharges of infected persons. One of the most readily communicable of diseases, especially in the early stages of eruption.
Incubation Period:
2-3 weeks, commonly 13 to 17 days.
Prevention:
We live in modern times when a former childhood disease like Chicken pox, can now be prevented with the Chicken pox vaccine called Varivax which was developed about a decade ago and added to the immunization schedule in 2007.
Scientists with the CDC believe that this vaccine is the best way to prevent a person from getting Chicken pox. These experts estimate that Varivax provides almost total protection from Chicken pox for up to 90% of children who would in another time had perhaps developed a very awful case of this disease.
This Chickenpox vaccine is suggested for:
All young children Children living in the US normally receive 2 doses, the 1st between ages of 12 to 15 months and the 2nd between ages of 4 to 6 years.
Older children unvaccinated Children between 7 and 12 years of age who have not been vaccinated need to receive 2 doses of this vaccine, with at least 3 months between doses. Children 13 years and older who have not been given the vaccine should receive 2 doses at least 4 weeks apart.
Adults unvaccinated who never had Chickenpox and are in a field which has a high risk of exposure – This includes teachers, healthcare workers, military personnel, childcare workers, adults with young children and women of childbearing age. This involves 2 doses 4 to 8 weeks apart.
This vaccine has not been approved for:
Studies have shown that this vaccine is a very effective and safe way to prevent Chicken pox.
Acute infectious disease of sudden onset with slight fever, mild constitutional symptoms and eruptions which are macula-papular for a few hours, vesicular for 3-4 days and leaves granular scabs. Lessons are more on covered than on exposed parts of the body and may appear on scalp and mucous membrane of upper respiratory tract.
Etiologic Agent:
Human (alpha) herpesvirus 3 (varicella-zoster virus), a member of the Herpesvirus group.
Mode of Transmission:
Direct contact or droplet spread. Indirect through articles freshly soiled by discharges of infected persons. One of the most readily communicable of diseases, especially in the early stages of eruption.
Incubation Period:
2-3 weeks, commonly 13 to 17 days.
Prevention:
We live in modern times when a former childhood disease like Chicken pox, can now be prevented with the Chicken pox vaccine called Varivax which was developed about a decade ago and added to the immunization schedule in 2007.
Scientists with the CDC believe that this vaccine is the best way to prevent a person from getting Chicken pox. These experts estimate that Varivax provides almost total protection from Chicken pox for up to 90% of children who would in another time had perhaps developed a very awful case of this disease.
This Chickenpox vaccine is suggested for:
All young children Children living in the US normally receive 2 doses, the 1st between ages of 12 to 15 months and the 2nd between ages of 4 to 6 years.
Older children unvaccinated Children between 7 and 12 years of age who have not been vaccinated need to receive 2 doses of this vaccine, with at least 3 months between doses. Children 13 years and older who have not been given the vaccine should receive 2 doses at least 4 weeks apart.
Adults unvaccinated who never had Chickenpox and are in a field which has a high risk of exposure – This includes teachers, healthcare workers, military personnel, childcare workers, adults with young children and women of childbearing age. This involves 2 doses 4 to 8 weeks apart.
This vaccine has not been approved for:
- Women who are pregnant
- People who have a weak immune system such as those with HIV or those needing to take medication for immune suppressing.
- People with an allergy to the antibiotic neomycin or to gelatin
Studies have shown that this vaccine is a very effective and safe way to prevent Chicken pox.
