Chickenpox is caused by a virus called varicella zoster. Once a person is exposed to the virus, it takes between 2 and 3 weeks before the symptoms appear. Most infections occur between the ages of 5-10 years and usually strike in late winter or spring. Before 1995 when a vaccine for chickenpox became available in the United States about 4 million Americans, mostly children, contracted chickenpox each year. You've probably heard that chickenpox are itchy. The illness spreads through the air, by direct contact with someone with chickenpox, and by breathing infected droplets. But the good news is that chickenpox is a common illness for kids and most people get better by just resting like you do with a cold or the flu. Kids who do get it, if they got the shot, often get less severe cases, which means they get better quicker. Chickenpox is very dangerous for people with immune system problems like leukemia, or for people who are taking drugs that weaken the immune system (such as steroids).

Chickenpox was once considered a rite of passage for most children. The red, itchy rash is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is part of a group of viruses called herpesviruses. Because chickenpox is so contagious, 90% of a patient's family also will develop the illness if they live in the same house and are not already immune. About one of every 100 children infected with chickenpox will develop a severe lung infection (pneumonia), an infection of the brain (encephalitis), or a problem with the liver. Adolescents and adults who develop chickenpox are also at high risk of developing serious complications. After a person has chickenpox, the virus typically lives silently in the nervous system of the body for the rest of a person's life. It may reactivate (come to life again) at any time when the body's immune defenses are weakened by stress or illness (such as cancer or HIV infection) or by medications that weaken the immune system. Reactivation of the virus causes a condition called shingles, a painful blistering skin rash that typically occurs on the face, chest or back, in the same area where one or two of the body's sensory nerves travel.

Causes of Chicken Pox

The common Causes of Chicken Pox :

Herpes Zoster Virus
Poor immune system
Inhaling airborne droplets
Persistent wrong feeding of children:
Contact with broken chickenpox blisters

Symptoms of Chicken Pox

Some Symptoms of Chicken Pox :

Fever.
Decreased appetite
Weakness.
Fatigue.
Mild headache.
Abdominal pain or loss of appetite.
Low-grade fever.
Rash on the upper chest or back.
Cough or runny nose
Itchy rash on the trunk, face, under the armpits, on the upper arms and legs, and inside the mouth

Treatment of Chicken Pox

Antibiotics for treating bacterial infections.
Bedrest.
Increased fluid intake (to prevent dehydration).
Calamine lotion (to relieve itching).
Antiviral drugs (for severe cases) .
Cool baths with baking soda or Aveeno (to relieve itching) .
Acetaminophen for fever (DO NOT GIVE ASPIRIN).

Bowel & Stomach Diseases

Appendicitis
Barett's Oesophagus
Coeliac Disease
Crohn's Disease

Heart Problems

Angina
Aortic Aneurysm
Aortic Regurgitation
Aortic Stenosis
Arrhythmias
Atrial Fibrillation

Infectious Diseases

Bacterial Vaginosis
Bird Flu
Boils
Cellulitis
Chicken Pox
Cystitis

Skin Disorders

Acne
Alopecia Areata
Baldness

Women Diseases

Abnormal Periods
Atropic Vaginitis
Breast Cancer
Breast Pain
Cervical Cancer

Liver & Kidney Diseases

Cholecystitis
Cirrhosis
Fatty Liver Disease
Kidney Cancer
Liver Cancer

Mental Health

Anorexia Nervosa
Bipolar Affective Disorder
Bulimia Nervosa
Dementia
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Schizophrenia

Disclaimer : All information on www.family-health-guide.org is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, please consult your doctor.