Chicken Pox

As you a child you probably had to deal with the itching and pain of chicken pox. Most adults have had the chicken pox and are immune to the virus, as you can only get this particular virus once in your life. These days there are more and more children being vaccinated for chicken pox, this will reduce their chances of having this annoying and many time painful virus.

What is chicken pox exactly? Chicken pox is an illness that generally begins with conjuctival symptoms and then spots begin to appear in waves, these spots are mainly on the face and body and are rarely found on the hands. These spots become itchy and raw pockmarks, or crater shaped scars, with small open sores. These sores will heal with minimal scaring.

Is chicken pox contagious? Yes this illness is highly contagious and can be spread through droplets from the nasopharynx of all ill individuals. This can also be spread through direct contact with the open sores. With each case of chicken pox there is a ten to twenty-one day incubation period.

Are there ways to prevent chicken pox? The only known way to prevent chicken pox is to be vaccinated. This vaccination has been available since mid-1990s. Although this vaccine will help prevent this virus it is not to be considered as lifelong protection, you must be vaccinated again five years after the initial vaccination. Also, this vaccination is to be given to children, as they are the most susceptible to contracting this virus. Furthermore, children are not the only ones who can get chicken pox; many adults have never had the virus as children and are still able to contract the virus.

How can you treat chicken pox? There is no evidence supporting the use of calamine lotion as a treatment. Although, this will help in the reduction of itching, the only known treatment is to let nature run its course. An important thing to remember is to maintain good hygiene and keep the skin clean a free of bacteria build up, thus preventing secondary bacterial infection.

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