What do you need to know about:

CHICKENPOX
Chickenpox
It is a contagious viral disease
characterized by the appearance of
itchy rash or spots that look like
blisters on the body, accompanied
by flu-like symptoms.
Severity factor
It may be severe in infants, adults, and people with
impaired immune system.
Mode of transmission
It is usually spread by breathing in droplets that are
coughed, sneezed, or exhaled by an infected person. An
infected person can spread it to others before he or she
even shows any symptoms of the disease. The
contagious period begins about 2 days before the rash
appears and continues until new sores stop appearing.
Once all the sores have turned to scabs, the contagious
period is over.
Incubation period
After exposure, it can take 10 to 21 days before
symptoms appear.
Reye’s syndrome
Children and teenagers should not take aspirin because
it may be linked to Reye’s syndrome, a dangerous
condition of the liver and brain. It is uncommon but it
occurs more often in children who have been treated
with aspirin.
What you can do with the sores
1. Have a cool bath every 3 to 4 hours.
2. Add an oatmeal bath product or baking soda (about a
half cup) to tub water to relieve itchiness.
3. Keep fingernails trimmed short.
4. Wash hands often to prevent spread of infection.
5. Apply calamine lotion on itchy areas.
Symptoms
• Cold or flu-like symptoms
• Abdominal pain
• Headache
• General feeling of illness
• Fever that goes higher in the first few days after the rash appears
• Rashes come as small, itchy, red bumps and spots on the face,
scalp, shoulder, chest and back. It may also appear inside the
mouth, on the eyelids, and in the genital area.
o Early bumps are usually flat, red marks with clear central
blisters
o These blisters dissolve and become dry crusts or scabs that fall
off within two weeks
o Some people may have just few bumps and spots while others
may be covered on their entire bodies
Complications
• Herpes zoster or shingles is the reactivation of virus in some
adults but this is actually rare
• For pregnant women who get infected a few days before delivery,
her newborn baby can get a severe form of the disease
• Cellulitis- A serious bacterial infection affecting the skin, which
becomes red, swollen and unusually warm
• Viral pneumonia-An infection of the lungs caused by viruses, with
symptoms such as fever, cough and shortness of breath
• Encephalitis-A viral infection of the brain with symptoms such as
fever, mental confusion, forgetfulness, tiredness and stiff neck.
What you can do
1. Increase oral cold fluids.
2. Take paracetamol every 4-6 hours to reduce fever.
3. Have a soft, bland diet to relive mouth ulcers. Do not eat salty
food, citrus fruits, and juices.
4. Apply petroleum-based ointment on painful or itchy pox in the
genital area.
5. Use antibacterial soap if sores seem to be infected
When it is safe to return to
school or work?
When the fever is gone and all sores are crusted, the contagious
period is over. If other people suspect exposure to the disease,
advise them to watch out for spots about 2 weeks from date of
exposure.
Reference:
HealthGuide 13th Edition

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