Chickenpox

What is Chickenpox?

Chickenpox is a common childhood infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It usually occurs in children under the age of 10. It can occur anytime in the year, but is most common in the winter and spring.

Once infected, the virus lives within the body, and can “re-activate” later in adulthood causing the condition shingles.

What are the symptoms?

The chickenpox rash is easily recognisable. However, before it appears, your child may experience viral-like symptoms including:

• Fever

• Nausea

• Lack of appetite

• Aching muscles

The rash, which soon covers the body, usually starts as small itchy red spots which develop into fluid-filled blisters. They can be intensely itchy. These break open and crust over, forming dry brown sores which fall off after two weeks.

If possible, children should be discouraged from picking them off as they may become infected.

For most healthy children the illness is mild, but the itchy rash is intensely irritating.

How is it spread?

The chickenpox virus is highly contagious, infecting up to 90% of people who come into contact with it. It is spread between people through the air by coughing and sneezing.

The typical chickenpox rash is also infectious early on in the disease. The fluid filled blisters contain the virus which can be spread to people either by direct contact or by touching items such as clothing or bedding.

It is also possible to become infected by touching the rash of someone who has shingles.

Prevention and treatment

Although there is a chickenpox vaccine, it is not routinely given in the UK. However, children of close contacts of people with weakened immune systems, who are at higher risk of serious illness as a result of chickenpox or shingles, can be vaccinated.

Treatment involves making your child as comfortable as possible:

• Liquid paracetamol can be used to treat muscle pain and fever

• Keep fingernails short to reduce scratching (mitts at night may help) and possible scarring

• Keep your child cool, not cold

• Use calamine lotion to help soothe and cool the skin

Children with chickenpox are infectious for 1-2 days before the rash appears, and until the rash crusts over. During this time they need to be kept off school.

The virus can cause more serious illness in people with weakened immune systems and in pregnant women.

This article was published on Wed 4 November 2009