ChickenpoxChickenpox By: Patrick Flores, Period 2By: Patrick Flores, Period 2

Most people think that chickenpox will only have Most people think that chickenpox will only have minor effects on the body, but can the symptoms minor effects on the body, but can the symptoms of it severely injure the body?of it severely injure the body?

What is it?What is it?

Chickenpox is a contagious disease caused by Chickenpox is a contagious disease caused by infection with varicella zoster virus (VZV).infection with varicella zoster virus (VZV).

Chickenpox can spread easily from one person Chickenpox can spread easily from one person to the other from either coughs or sneezes.to the other from either coughs or sneezes.

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SymptomsSymptoms

The symptoms of chickenpox include muscle The symptoms of chickenpox include muscle pain, itching, nausea, fever, sore throat, or pain pain, itching, nausea, fever, sore throat, or pain in both ears.in both ears.

Symptoms of chickenpox begin with an itchy Symptoms of chickenpox begin with an itchy rash that can spread through the entire body.rash that can spread through the entire body.

The rash starts as red spots, but progress to The rash starts as red spots, but progress to fluid-filled blisters that will drain and scab open.fluid-filled blisters that will drain and scab open.

BlistersBlisters

Chickenpox blisters are usually less than a Chickenpox blisters are usually less than a quarter of an inch wide, have a reddish base, quarter of an inch wide, have a reddish base, appear in 2 to 4 days.appear in 2 to 4 days.

The rash may be more extensive to children The rash may be more extensive to children with other disorders such as eczema.with other disorders such as eczema.

The blister wall will soon break and will leave The blister wall will soon break and will leave open spores, which then crust up to make open spores, which then crust up to make brown scabs.brown scabs.

ShinglesShingles

After a chickenpox infection, the virus After a chickenpox infection, the virus remains dormant in the body’s nerve remains dormant in the body’s nerve tissues.tissues.

The immune system keeps the virus at The immune system keeps the virus at bay, but the virus and can be reactivated bay, but the virus and can be reactivated later in life.later in life.

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Infection in PregnancyInfection in Pregnancy

For pregnant women, previous infections For pregnant women, previous infections are transferred via the placenta to the are transferred via the placenta to the fetus.fetus.

Women immune to chickenpox do not Women immune to chickenpox do not need to worry about themselves or their need to worry about themselves or their infant during pregnancy.infant during pregnancy.

Hygiene MeasuresHygiene Measures

The spread of chickenpox can be The spread of chickenpox can be prevented by isolating infected prevented by isolating infected individuals.individuals.

The chickenpox is susceptible to The chickenpox is susceptible to disinfectants, such as chlorine bleach, disinfectants, such as chlorine bleach, heat and detergents.heat and detergents.

Treatment Treatment

Varicella treatment mainly consists of easing Varicella treatment mainly consists of easing the symptoms, for there is no absolute cure for the symptoms, for there is no absolute cure for the condition.the condition.

Some treatments are available to relieve the Some treatments are available to relieve the symptoms while the immune system clears the symptoms while the immune system clears the virus from the body.virus from the body.

To relieve the symptoms of chickenpox, most To relieve the symptoms of chickenpox, most people commonly use anti-itching creams and people commonly use anti-itching creams and lotions.lotions.

Chickenpox is usually a mild illness, but can Chickenpox is usually a mild illness, but can affect some infants, teens, adults, and people affect some infants, teens, adults, and people with weak immune systems more severely.with weak immune systems more severely.

Some people can develop serious infections in Some people can develop serious infections in the skin, lungs, bones, joints, and brain.the skin, lungs, bones, joints, and brain.

Anyone who has had chickenpox as a child is Anyone who has had chickenpox as a child is at a risk of developing shingles, and 20% of at a risk of developing shingles, and 20% of patients do.patients do.

BibliographyBibliography

KidsHealth.org – Chicken Pox: KidsHealth.org – Chicken Pox: http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/skin/chicken_pox.htmlhttp://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/skin/chicken_pox.html

Wikipedia – Chicken Pox: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChickenpoxWikipedia – Chicken Pox: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chickenpox YouTube – Symptoms of Chickenpox: YouTube – Symptoms of Chickenpox:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VejdeAqm6Dchttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VejdeAqm6Dc Wikipedia – Chicken Pox photo: Wikipedia – Chicken Pox photo:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Varicehttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Varicela_Aranzales.jpg/230px-Varicela_Aranzales.jpgla_Aranzales.jpg/230px-Varicela_Aranzales.jpg

Wikipedia – Chicken Pox photo: Wikipedia – Chicken Pox photo: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Checkhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Checkenpox_Adult_back.jpg/220px-Checkenpox_Adult_back.jpgenpox_Adult_back.jpg/220px-Checkenpox_Adult_back.jpg