Chicken pox used to be a common disease in children. Most people think of chicken pox as a mild disease and consider the itchy bumps the worst symptom. However, in some cases serious problems occur, and the patient might need to go to the hospital; very rarely, some people even die from chicken pox. Fortunately, scientists developed a vaccine to prevent chicken pox.
Cause
A virus called varicella-zoster causes chicken pox. Usually you cannot get chicken pox more than once, because you become immune: the first exposure teaches your body to recognize the varicella-zoster virus, and you make proteins called antibodies that eliminate the virus before it makes you sick if you are exposed a second time. However, in very rare cases, immunity fails and a person could have a milder case of chicken pox a second time, says the Mayo Clinic. The varicella-zoster virus can also hide in the body for years after chicken pox, and then flare up to cause a painful disease called shingles in adults.
Symptoms
The characteristic sign of chicken pox is a red, very itchy rash similar to the appearance of bug bites. The rash often starts on the face, chest and back but it can spread all over the body and even into the mouth. The bumps give way to liquid-filled blisters that eventually scab over. Other symptoms that can occur before or with the rash include headache, fever, loss of appetite and irritability. Symptoms start about 11 to 15 days after infection with the virus, says the Merck Manual.
Spread
Varicella zoster is contagious. It spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes, releasing virus-containing droplets into the air. Infected people often spread the virus unknowingly, because the virus is contagious up to 48 hours before the rash appears, according to the Merck Manual. The sick person can spread the virus until all of the skin spots crust over.
Treatment
Because of the risk of a serious complication called Reye's syndrome, people with chicken pox should never take aspirin. Usually people with chicken pox do not need any medical treatment. To soothe the itching, you can try cool compresses or cool baths with baking soda or uncooked oatmeal added to the water.
Vaccine
According to the Merck Manual, before 1995, when the chicken pox vaccine was introduced, 90 percent of children got chicken pox before the age of 15. The Mayo Clinic says that this amounted to 4 million cases per year. Now that children are routinely vaccinated, cases of chicken pox have decreased by 70%.
