Chickenpox
What is chickenpox?
Chickenpox is a highly infectious disease, which mostly affects children. It is generally a mild disease, which does not last long in healthy children, but may cause serious illness or death in people who have lowered immunity. Adults who develop chickenpox generally become unwell and may have more serious complications such as pneumonia.What causes chickenpox?
Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. The same virus also causes herpes zoster (shingles). This virus is present in large numbers in and behind the nose, and is spread from child to child by sneezing and coughing. It takes 2 to 3 weeks for the symptoms to appear after infection with the virus.What are the symptoms of chickenpox?
Initially, the child (or adult) may have cold-like symptoms, including a fever, headache, backache and loss of appetite. This is quickly followed by an itchy, red and pimply rash, which soon develops into blister-like sores. The rash normally starts on the chest and back and then the face and scalp, and later spreads to other parts of the body. After a day or 2 the blisters form a crust or a scab and this peels off in 5 to 20 days. During this time the person experiences mild to severe itching. Some children develop only a few of the sores and others have them all over their bodies — including their vagina, mouth and up their nose.Treatment of chickenpox
For some children, the rash may be no more than a passing inconvenience, but for others it can be very unpleasant. Treatment is therefore aimed at controlling the symptoms.Asking your child not to scratch will probably fall on deaf ears, however it is worth trying to distract them as much as you can. Cut their fingernails very short and make sure that their hands and fingernails are kept clean. If the rash or sores are very itchy, bathe the child in a warm (but not too hot) bath with half a cup of baking soda. Your pharmacist or doctor will also be able to recommend some anti-itch preparations if your child is distressed. Calamine lotion can also be useful.
Paracetamol (but not aspirin) should be given as directed to reduce the fever and ease headaches. Ask your child to drink plenty of clear fluids (juice, lemonade or ice blocks). Don't worry if they don't eat much while they are sick — this will be fine for a day or 2.
As chickenpox is caused by a virus, no antibiotics will be prescribed, however, they may be offered if your child develops a bacterial infection as a result of having chickenpox.
Antiviral medicine can be used to treat people with complicated or severe chickenpox, or those with lowered immunity.
Preventing infection
Vaccines for the prevention of chickenpox are available in Australia. Chickenpox vaccine is recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for all children at 18 months. An additional dose may be given to children under 14 years to increase protection, but this second dose is currently not funded on the National Immunisation Program Schedule.Vaccination is also recommended for adolescents aged 14 years and over and adults who have not had chickenpox or who have not had chickenpox vaccine previously. Two doses of vaccine are required in adolescents and adults for adequate protection.
Chickenpox is most infectious from 2 days before the rash is present until after scabs have formed on the sores — this takes about 7 days. Do not send your child to school or pre-school during this time. The NHMRC recommend until at least 5 days after the spots first appear AND until all the blisters have dried.
For children who have not really been sick with chickenpox this can be a bit annoying. Remember, however, for some children and adults, chickenpox can be a very serious illness.
Last Reviewed: 16 July 2008
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