Chickenpox: definition, symptoms, causes, treatment

Definition

What is chicken pox?

Chicken pox (chicken pox) is a skin disease caused by a viral infection that causes fluid-filled itchy bouncy skin all over the body and face. The infection can also attack the mucous membranes (mucous membranes), such as in the mouth.

Viruses usually attack in childhood. However, it is possible for someone to develop this disease in adulthood. What's more, chicken pox that occurs in adults can cause serious symptoms and complications, especially if they have never had chickenpox before.

After recovering from chickenpox, the virus that causes it can survive in the body in an inactive state. From time to time, this virus can wake up again to infect and trigger shingles (shingles) called shingles. Shingles can lead to serious complications of chickenpox.

How common is this disease?

Chicken pox is a very common contagious disease. This disease can occur at any age. However, most cases of chickenpox occur in children under 15 years of age.

People with weak immune systems are more at risk of developing this disease, such as babies, pregnant women, and the elderly.

This disease usually appears once in a lifetime. Very few people get chickenpox twice in their life.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of chickenpox?

Actually, the appearance of the symptoms of chickenpox that is experienced by each person can be different. However, usually the first symptoms that will be felt are fatigue and discomfort in the body for one to two days.

Then, an itchy rash starts to appear on the body, face, scalp, and under the armpits. Sometimes a rash will also appear in the mouth.

Later the rash will turn into bouncy or itchy spots filled with fluid that can blister and dry out, forming a scab in 5-10 days.

Reporting from the Mayo Clinic, the resilience that appears varies, it can be only in a small amount, it can also be in a large number of up to 500.

In general, you will go through three main phases of the disease after the rash appears, namely:

Appearance of pink or red bumps (papules) for several days.
The appearance of small, fluid-filled blisters that form about a day before bursting.
A scale build-up and scab covers the damaged blister.

Usually, new lumps will continue to appear all over the body for several days until they finally stop.

In severe cases, the rash can cover the entire body and resilience can appear in the throat, eyes, mucous membranes of the urethra, anus, to the vagina.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult a doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

When the symptoms of chickenpox begin to appear, you should immediately consult a doctor or your child. The doctor will prescribe medication to reduce the severity and relieve the symptoms that you or your child is suffering from.

In addition, consult your doctor again if you or your child experience various symptoms such as:

Rash that spreads to one or both eyes.
The rash becomes more sensitive to the touch and feels hot. This could be a sign of a bacterial infection.
Dizziness, dazedness, fast heart rate, shortness of breath, stiff neck, shaking until fever more than 39.4 ° C.
Have a family history of a weak immune system.

If you have other questions, consult your doctor to get complete information about your health problems.

Cause

What causes chicken pox?

The main cause of this condition is varicella-zoster which is a herpes virus. The virus can pass from an infected person to a healthy person two days before the blisters appear. The virus will remain contagious until all the blisters are dry. Usually this virus can spread through:

Saliva
Cough
Sneezing
Contact with fluid from the blister

You are at risk of transmitting the disease from 2 days before the rash appears to 6 days after the boil forms. The virus remains contagious until all of these burst blisters have hardened.

Risk factors

What increases my risk of getting chickenpox?

Anyone who has never been exposed to or contracted the virus is at very risk of getting chickenpox. However, the risk increases in:

People who have had skin contact with a patient with chickenpox.
Children under 12 years of age.
People who smoke.
Pregnant women who have never been infected.
People who haven't received the chickenpox vaccine.
Adults living with children.
Work in a school or childcare center where the virus is particularly vulnerable to spreading.
Have a weak immune system due to certain diseases or drugs.

Exposure to the virus through previous active infections or vaccinations reduces the risk of catching this disease.

Diagnosis

How is the test done to diagnose chickenpox?

The spots caused by chickenpox are different from other types of rash so the diagnosis is easy to determine. The doctor will take a medical history and look at the rash to make a diagnosis.

After that, the doctor will sometimes also carry out further tests to confirm the diagnosis. The examinations include:

PCR for detection of varicella virus in skin lesions.
A culture test for the blister fluid from the smallpox spots, but this examination is rarely done because it can take a long time.
Serological test, to determine the reaction of antibodies (IgM and IgG) to chickenpox.

Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are the drug options for chickenpox?

Chickenpox in children usually does not need special medicine because it can heal on its own. However, doctors usually prescribe the following types of chickenpox medication to help relieve symptoms such as:

Pain relievers.

Medications such as paracetamol are often prescribed to help relieve fever and mild pain.

However, medicines containing aspirin should not be given to children because it can cause a condition called Reye's syndrome, in which the brain and liver function are suddenly damaged.

Antihistamines.

One of them is diphenhydramine (Benadryl) which is given to reduce itching. Usually the drug can be in the form of a topical cream or oral medicine.

Antiviral drugs.

In people who are at high risk for complications, doctors will give herpes drugs in the form of antivirals to shorten viral infections.

Usually those who are prone to complications are pregnant women, babies under six months, and people with weak immune systems. One of the drugs given is acyclovir (Zovirax, Sitavig).

Vaccinations

In certain cases, doctors usually ask you to do the vaccine after being exposed to this virus. Because in addition to preventing disease, chickenpox vaccine can also reduce the severity of symptoms.

Home remedies

What are the home remedies for chickenpox?

Chickenpox is a disease self-limiting disease, meaning that the disease can heal by itself. Therefore, doctors' treatment only helps to shorten and relieve symptoms.

However, you should also make various lifestyle changes to help relieve the symptoms of this disease. The following are various taboos on chickenpox and natural methods for relieving symptoms, namely:

Don't scratch the blister

Scratching the itchy area will worsen the blister and slow healing. If you are worried about scratching your skin while you sleep, trim your nails and wear gloves so you don't cut your skin when you scratch it.

Apply calamine

Calamine contains various substances that can soothe the skin, one of which is zinc oxide. Use this lotion to help reduce annoying itching. Do not use around the eyes.

Drink lots of water

Water can be a natural remedy for chickenpox because this disease has the risk of causing dehydration.

Drinking lots of water can help prevent health problems caused by dehydration. In addition, when properly hydrated, the body can perform various tasks, including restoring conditions.

Eat soft foods

If blisters appear around the mouth, choose foods with a soft and soft texture to avoid pain when biting food.

Take a proper shower

When you shower, use lukewarm water, don't use hot water. Limit the time to no more than 15 minutes.

In addition, choose body cleansers that are made specifically for sensitive skin or formulated for the skin of newborns. Use soap gently without scrubbing too hard.

Prevention

How to prevent chickenpox?

The best way to prevent chickenpox is by doing a vaccine. The vaccine provides comprehensive protection from the varicella zoster virus that is given. When the vaccine does not provide complete protection, the severity of chickenpox can still be reduced.

No need to worry, the chickenpox vaccine is safe for children and adults. Since this vaccine became available, there have been many studies proving that it is safe and effective.

The side effects are quite mild. Redness, soreness, and sometimes a small lump at the injection site are common effects.

Generally vaccines are recommended for:

Children

Children 12 months to 12 years of age are required to receive 2 doses of the vaccine. Vaccines are usually given when children are 12 to 15 months and 4 to 6 years of age.

This vaccine can also be combined with measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). But in effect, in some children this combination can increase the risk of fever and seizures.

Adults at risk

Adults who are not vaccinated and who have never had chickenpox are at high risk of developing the disease. Especially if you work in a child care or health service.

Usually a doctor or health worker will give two doses of the vaccine. Not all at once, vaccines will be given separately for 4 to 8 weeks.

If you forget you've ever had a vaccine or have had chickenpox, your doctor will do a blood test. Blood tests help determine your immunity.