Prevention for chickenpox is now available

 

Chickenpox can be prevented by immunisation. Talk to your doctor if you'd like more information.

 

\Vhat are the symptoms of chickenpox?
Chickenpox is characterised by an itchy rash of small, red bumps on the face and trunk that spreads rapidly to other parts of the body. The red bumps quickly become small blisters that crust over. Successive crops of blisters develop over two to four days, with most being crusted over within six days of the rash first appearing. Individuals affected may feel very sick and have fever lasting three to five days. These symptoms are generally more severe and longer lasting in adults than in children.

 

Does chickenpox have any serious complications?

Usually there are no serious complications, but on occasions chickenpox can cause pneumonia and brain damage. However, very rarely do these complications lead to death. Complications are more likelyin adults and those with poor immunity, such as people on chemotherapy or with AIDS. The risk of complications is 9 to 25 fold higher in adults than in children.

 

Also, chickenpox may cause stillbirths and birth defects in babies born to women infected during pregnancy. A recent Australian survey found that nearly one in four pregnant women aged 14 to 24 years had little or no immunity to chickenpox.

 

What Causes Chickenpox?

A virus called varicella-zoster causes chickenpox.

 

How do you catch chickenpox?

The virus is spread easily from person to person, usually by airborne droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or by contact with the fluid from a chickenpox sore. People with chickenpox are infectious for about two days before the onset of the rash and until the final sore has crusted over.

 

Who gets chickenpox?

While most people get chickenpox as children, a recent survey found that about one in four of those who got chickenpox were aged 15 years or older. Adults who work with young children (in healthcare, education or childcare) are likely to have a higher exposure to chickenpox. About 9 out of 10 people who are exposed to the virus develop chickenpox if they have no immunity. It is very rare for an individual to develop chickenpox more than once in a lifetime.

 

Howis chickenpox treated?

Wet compresses help the itch, and anti-itch products such as Pinetarsol' or Solugel' are sometimes recommended. Keeping children's fingernails short or covering their hands with cotton gloves lowers the risk of the sores becorning infected and scarring due to scratching. Paracmmiol (e.g. Panadol) can help the fever. Aspirin should be avoided in children with chickenpox.

 

Important Note

 

People with chickenpox are infectious and may be excluded from childcare, school or work for five to six days or until the final sore has crusted over.

 

Does chickenpox have any other consequences?

Yes, after infection the chickenpox virus stays in the body for life and may cause 'shingles' (also called herpes-zoster) later in life. Shingles is a very painful blistering skin rash. It can occur at any age but is most common after 50. You cannot catch shingles, but an adult with shingles can spread the virus and cause chickenpox in a susceptible person.

 

Can chickenpox be preventcd?

Yes, chickenpox can be prevented by immunisation talk to your doctor if you would like more inforrnation.

 

Source: Pharmaceutical Society

 

 

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