Chicken Pox
By Dr. Brown
Springtime is chicken pox season, although it can occur throughout the year. Chicken pox, known as Varicella is a viral infection spread by respiratory droplets and by direct contact like coughing, sneezing, drooling, or touching open sores. The rash begins about one day after the patient is contagious as small, flat red circles about the same color and size as a pencil eraser, most often on the face and chest. Within hours of beginning, most red circles develop a clear filled yellow topped blister. Over the next 2-4 days, each blister pops, becomes moist and oozes, then becomes dried and crusty. New crops appear over the next several days. When all lesions are dried and crusty, the patient is no longer contagious. This is usually 7-8 days after the rash appeared. Therefore the patient is contagious from one day before the rash began until 7-8 days after the rash began. The patient may return to school, daycare, or work after this time. Because Chicken pox is so contagious the patient should be kept at home so as not to spread the virus to others, especially immuno-compromised patients in public places who may not be known to you. See Dangers to Others below.
The Incubation period for Chicken Pox is 10-21 days from the time of exposure to a contagious patient until the rash appears on the exposed individual. If you have had Chicken Pox before, you do not get it twice and you can not spread it to others.
Other symptoms of Chicken Pox may include fever, runny nose,ear infections, coughs and rarely pneumonia or severe rash or meningitis. Chicken Pox may occur on any part of the skin including the eye, mouth, vaginal area, or penis.
The itch associated with Chicken Pox peaks around the 4 th day. There are several strategies to make your child more comfortable. When the skin is warmed it will look and itch worse.
Things to Avoid:
Avoid hot baths. It is okay to bathe as usual, but luke warm water and short duration is kinder to the skin which is so inflamed. Because the rash can be quite itchy, scratching can lead to contamination with bacteria casuing a secondary infection called impetigo. To prevent this impetigo, use a deodorant soap (antibacterial) such as Dial, Coast, Safeguard, Irish Spring, etc. Fever may occur, cusing further discomfort - use a product like acetaminophen or ibuprofen (aspirin should NOT be used). Any increase in the skin temperature past normal will make the itch worse - do not over dress. Long sleeves and pants may help prevent direct scratching. Getting hot and sweaty may worsen the itch.
Things to Do:
Drink plenty of liquids. If sores are in the mouth, try ice cream, Popsicles, Jello or cold apple or grape juice. Trim the finger nails and file the sharp edges to prevent scratching. Wash hands more often and use a deodorant soap to kill bacteria on the hands. It is okay to use lotions like Caladryl or Benadryl. Do not use in eyes, mouth, vaginal, or penile areas. Oral Benadryl can be used to diminish itching. See our Office's Doctor's Dosing Chart for doses and frequencies. Most patients do not require this level of anti -itch medicine. When used it may only be needed on the 3-4 th day into illness when the itch is at it's worst.
When to call the doctor :
Persistent ear pain, cough.
Rash that is clearly much worse in intensity, purple or draining pus. Symptoms of Reye's Syndrome like lethargy, coma, belligerent behavior, fighting, convulsions or severe vomiting.
Dangers to others :
In addition to being highly contagious to other healthy people, the Chicken Pox can be life threatening to those who already suffer from diseases that affect their immune system. Stay way from those with immune problems such as cancer, leukemia, or some one with AIDS. Because exposure can be deadly to them, do not go to public places such as parks, stores, theaters or on airplanes. If you are aware of an exposure to someone who is immuno-comprimised, notify them IMMEDIATELY. That call could save their life.
Shingles:
Rarely Chicken Pox reactivates as Shingles. Shingles is a reawakening of the original Chicken Pox infection which has been dormant in the body. This may be decades later. It often is started by a large stress to the body such as serious infection or illness. Shingles is a rash that consisting of painful blisters on only one half of the body. They are often on the rib areas or on one side of the face. Shingles (known as Herpes-Zoster) is a contagious disease just like the original infection of Chicken Pox described above.
A Shot for Chicken Pox:
A vaccine for Chicken Pox has been around since 1995. As of July, 2003 in Illinois, there is state law to enter preschool or schools children must have proof of disease or date of vaccination for Chicken Pox. Generally this is now given around one year of age.
Springtime is chicken pox season, although it can occur throughout the year. Chicken pox, known as Varicella is a viral infection spread by respiratory droplets and by direct contact like coughing, sneezing, drooling, or touching open sores. The rash begins about one day after the patient is contagious as small, flat red circles about the same color and size as a pencil eraser, most often on the face and chest. Within hours of beginning, most red circles develop a clear filled yellow topped blister. Over the next 2-4 days, each blister pops, becomes moist and oozes, then becomes dried and crusty. New crops appear over the next several days. When all lesions are dried and crusty, the patient is no longer contagious. This is usually 7-8 days after the rash appeared. Therefore the patient is contagious from one day before the rash began until 7-8 days after the rash began. The patient may return to school, daycare, or work after this time. Because Chicken pox is so contagious the patient should be kept at home so as not to spread the virus to others, especially immuno-compromised patients in public places who may not be known to you. See Dangers to Others below.
The Incubation period for Chicken Pox is 10-21 days from the time of exposure to a contagious patient until the rash appears on the exposed individual. If you have had Chicken Pox before, you do not get it twice and you can not spread it to others.
Other symptoms of Chicken Pox may include fever, runny nose,ear infections, coughs and rarely pneumonia or severe rash or meningitis. Chicken Pox may occur on any part of the skin including the eye, mouth, vaginal area, or penis.
The itch associated with Chicken Pox peaks around the 4 th day. There are several strategies to make your child more comfortable. When the skin is warmed it will look and itch worse.
Things to Avoid:
Avoid hot baths. It is okay to bathe as usual, but luke warm water and short duration is kinder to the skin which is so inflamed. Because the rash can be quite itchy, scratching can lead to contamination with bacteria casuing a secondary infection called impetigo. To prevent this impetigo, use a deodorant soap (antibacterial) such as Dial, Coast, Safeguard, Irish Spring, etc. Fever may occur, cusing further discomfort - use a product like acetaminophen or ibuprofen (aspirin should NOT be used). Any increase in the skin temperature past normal will make the itch worse - do not over dress. Long sleeves and pants may help prevent direct scratching. Getting hot and sweaty may worsen the itch.
Things to Do:
Drink plenty of liquids. If sores are in the mouth, try ice cream, Popsicles, Jello or cold apple or grape juice. Trim the finger nails and file the sharp edges to prevent scratching. Wash hands more often and use a deodorant soap to kill bacteria on the hands. It is okay to use lotions like Caladryl or Benadryl. Do not use in eyes, mouth, vaginal, or penile areas. Oral Benadryl can be used to diminish itching. See our Office's Doctor's Dosing Chart for doses and frequencies. Most patients do not require this level of anti -itch medicine. When used it may only be needed on the 3-4 th day into illness when the itch is at it's worst.
When to call the doctor :
Persistent ear pain, cough.
Rash that is clearly much worse in intensity, purple or draining pus. Symptoms of Reye's Syndrome like lethargy, coma, belligerent behavior, fighting, convulsions or severe vomiting.
Dangers to others :
In addition to being highly contagious to other healthy people, the Chicken Pox can be life threatening to those who already suffer from diseases that affect their immune system. Stay way from those with immune problems such as cancer, leukemia, or some one with AIDS. Because exposure can be deadly to them, do not go to public places such as parks, stores, theaters or on airplanes. If you are aware of an exposure to someone who is immuno-comprimised, notify them IMMEDIATELY. That call could save their life.
Shingles:
Rarely Chicken Pox reactivates as Shingles. Shingles is a reawakening of the original Chicken Pox infection which has been dormant in the body. This may be decades later. It often is started by a large stress to the body such as serious infection or illness. Shingles is a rash that consisting of painful blisters on only one half of the body. They are often on the rib areas or on one side of the face. Shingles (known as Herpes-Zoster) is a contagious disease just like the original infection of Chicken Pox described above.
A Shot for Chicken Pox:
A vaccine for Chicken Pox has been around since 1995. As of July, 2003 in Illinois, there is state law to enter preschool or schools children must have proof of disease or date of vaccination for Chicken Pox. Generally this is now given around one year of age.