Chickenpox

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Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus, a member of the herpes family. Very few people escape chickenpox. It spreads quickly. Coughing and sneezing even laughing and talking spread the illness.

A person who is coming down with chickenpox is contagious for one or two days before any symptoms show. Anyone who has not had the disease before and who comes in contact with an infected individual during this period will almost certainly catch it. A person is contagious from a few days before symptoms develop until all of the blisters are dry and have formed scabs.

The most intimate and more frequent the exposure to chickenpox, the more severe the case will be. This fact has very important implications, especially within families. People in different stages of the disease should minimize their exposure to each other. With minimal exposure, the next person to become ill is likely to have a less severe case of chickenpox, with less discomfort.

Chickenpox typically begins with a headache, fatigue, achiness, loss of appetite, and fever, much like any other viral illness. A day or two after these early symptoms, a rash of flat, red, splotchy dots erupts, usually beginning on the chest, stomach, and back, and spreading a day or so later to the extremities, neck, face, and scalp.

The red dots of the rash soon come together to form clusters of tiny pimples, which then progress to small, delicate, clear blisters. Some people develop 3 lesions; some develop 300. Once the rash erupts, expect new crops of blisters over the next three to five days. Scabs which are the last phase of the pox form five to six days after the blisters develop. These scabs last for one to two weeks before falling off, exposing tender, freshly healed skin.

Over the course of the disease, the rash shows signs of all the different phases of chickenpox, with some areas that are splotchy and red, some areas of new blisters, areas that are splotchy and red, some areas of new blisters, areas where sores are crusting over and scabbing, and areas of healing. From eruption through healing, each and every pock is very, very itchy. It is the extreme itchiness of chickenpox that causes the greatest torment.

Although most common in childhood, chickenpox can be contracted at any age. Because infected adults tend to feel much sicker and more miserable with this disease than youngsters do, it's probably best to have it as a child. Once you have had chickenpox, it is highly unlikely that you will ever suffer through it again.

Preventive measures for chickenpox

If you know you have been exposed to chickenpox, you may receive preventive treatment with varicella-zoster immune globulin (VZIG). This is normally used in people with impaired immune function, such as people with HIV and individuals undergoing cancer chemotherapy, after a known exposure to the virus. It is not mixed with other therapeutic measures, and is not used prior to exposure.
A vaccine that protects against chickenpox is available. As with any vaccine, some people experience negative reactions to it. The most common include fever, rash, irritation at the site of the injection, upper respiratory illness, cough, aches, and fatigue.

Treatment for chickenpox : This section provides information about various chickenpox treatment.
Chickenpox diet : It gives information and guidelines to choose your sample diet to eliminate chickenpox.
Chickenpox nutritions and supplements : This section provides comprehensive list of nutritional supplements for chickenpox.
Herbal treatment for chickenpox : This section focuses on various traditional herbal treatments used to cure chickenpox.
Chickenpox acupressure treatment: This section provides various acupressure points on the body to treat chickenpox.
Chickenpox homeopathy treatment: It provides information about homeopathic medicines required for curing chickenpox.

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