Valtrex, an antiviral drug, is prescribed for children and adults over the age of 12 who suffer from the symptoms of herpes. It may also be prescribed to treat chicken pox in children who over the age of 2. Effective as it may be in relieving the...
A rash that is red, bumpy and itchy can result from any number of conditions. According to the National Institutes of Health, rashes are symptoms of other conditions and can occur immediately after exposure or not appear for days. It's best to...
The herpes viruses are the leading cause of human viral disease, after cold and flu viruses. Herpes simplex 1 and 2 cause cold sores and genital herpes, while the Varicella Zoster strain causes chicken pox in children and shingles in adults....
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults over the age of 60 should get the shingles vaccine to protect themselves from reactivation of the chickenpox, or varicella-zoster, virus. Shingles is a painful, viral skin...
Chicken pox belongs to the herpes family of viruses and is often considered a childhood disease. In fact, before the chicken pox vaccine was released in the 1990s, almost 4 million children a year experienced the disease, according to the Mayo...
A rash is defined as a non-specific sign of a skin condition that usually involves reddening and itching. It may be a flat plaque, a swollen patch or may consist of a number of small red spots. The rash may present as non-itching scales. A number...
Meningitis is inflammation of an area between two of the three membranes--known as the meninges--covering the brain and spinal cord. Possible causes of meningitis include bacteria, fungi and parasites, but when a virus causes the condition doctors...
There are several types of rashes that can develop on the back of your child's hands, but atopic eczema, contact dermatitis or chicken pox is likely the cause of your child's mysterious rash. These conditions are treated differently, so it's...
Viruses are parasites that cannot reproduce on their own. They recognize specific molecules on the surface of target cells and bind to them. After entering the cells, viruses take off their protein coat'a process called un-coating'to release the...
According to DrPaul.com, chicken pox is a highly contagious disease that is caused by the varicella zoster virus. The virus can spread through fine droplets of moisture such as the saliva produced when sneezing or coughing. It could also be...
Extremely itching skin--also known as pruritus--is a common problem in the elderly and it can also be a maddening one. Anyone who has suffered the temporary itching of an insect bite should sympathize with older people whose skin constantly itches...
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...
While chicken pox is more common in children, adults can get it too. It is caused by a virus called varicella-zoster and it is easily transmitted from person to person. In healthy individuals, chicken pox is usually not serious. However, even...
Your infant's face rash may disturb you as a parent--you want your baby's beautiful face to remain clear and unmarred. In most cases, face rashes in babies are short-lived and resolve themselves without treatment. Rashes are common but do not all...
Varicella is commonly known as chicken pox, and varicella pneumonia is a rare, but serious complication of this infection. According to the "European Respiratory Journal," varicella pneumonia more commonly affects adults with chicken pox, rather...
Chicken pox, a condition caused by the varicella-zoster virus, is a common childhood disease. PubMed Health reports that itchy blisters are the most common symptom associated with this condition. In most cases, chicken pox occurs in children under...
Valacyclovir, sold under the brand name Valtrex, is a medication that treats herpes (viral infection that causes chicken pox or shingles) in children and adults, states Drugs.com. Tell your doctor whether you suffer from autoimmune disorders such...
Contagious diseases quickly spread between individuals and can easily devastate an entire population. Sometimes, respiratory droplets are to blame for passing on the disease. For example, a person can sneeze, cough, laugh or talk and spray...
Chicken pox is a highly infectious disease in children and adults caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Most patients with chicken pox are under age 10. A vaccine is available to prevent chickenpox. It is administered at 12 to 15 months of age and...
Chicken pox is a well-known childhood disease caused by the varicella zoster virus. Most children who have chicken pox recover quickly, without any lasting effects. However, in rare cases, there are complications to chicken pox. To try to prevent...
Herpes is the name of a group of viruses. All herpes viruses cause painful blisters. Herpes simplex is the herpes virus that causes cold sores of the mouth and genital herpes. Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease. Genital herpes...
It may be simple to cure back pain caused by traumatic injuries at home, but more difficult to solve the mystery of chronic pain. Sore, inflamed joints and muscles will respond to home treatment in the short term. An underlying cause such as a...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chicken pox is a highly contagious disease that once caused about four million cases per year in the United States, mainly in children, until the introduction of an effective...
Fever blisters, also known as cold sores, are painful, fluid-filled blisters on the lips caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1. Unfortunately, there is no cure for fever blisters, but you can reduce the duration and discomfort of the infection...
The weepy blisters that accompany chicken pox can be painful, especially if they're located on the delicate mucous membranes in your child's mouth, nose or genital areas. If your child has a compromised immune system from another disorder, it's...
All herpes viruses cause painful blisters that lead to open sores. Depending on the type of herpes virus, these lesions can occur on different areas of the body. Two types of herpes, herpes simplex virus type1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type...
Shingles and chicken pox are caused by the same varicella zoster virus. The resulting presentation of sores depends heavily on the age of the infected person. Shingles are more common in people between 60 and 80 years of age, while chicken pox is...
Aside from the infamous chicken pox rash, other symptoms such as fever, stomachache, headache and a dry cough typically last for three days before the rash breaks out but may last throughout the course of the disease.
Viral illness is the most common cause of a sudden rash on your infant's skin, according to Dr. Sears, an associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine. Several viral illnesses can cause a rash accompanied by a...
