Chicken Pox

By: Gabriele Gonsalves

 What is Chicken Pox?
Chicken pox (also known as Varicella) is very contagious and is
caused by an infection with varicella zoster virus (VZV). Chicken
pox is nothing to worry about when your young but it gets more
severe when you get older. After you have chicken pox the virus still
stays in you. Later on this can cause you to get shingles. Chicken
pox is mostly common in young children under the age of 12.
 History
Back in the medieval times the word “pox” ment curse. People were
thought to believe that chicken pox was from black magic to cursed
children. Old medical history books say that Giovanni Filippo from
Italy was the first doctor to explain Chicken pox. This was between
the year 1510 and 1580. After this discovery Doctor Richard Morton
thought that chicken pox was a less severe version of smallpox.
This discovery happened in the 1600. William Heberden decided
that chicken pox and small pox are two completely
differentillnesses.

Giovanni Filippo William Heberden Smallpox

 Etiology
Chicken pox can leave pox marks. This is when you scratch a chicken
pox while it’s a blister. Chicken pox produce pus that exit the body
when the blisters empty. The pus does not harm the body in
anyway. If you are healthy chicken pox are not harmful to the body
unless you have a serious infection or disease.
 Transmission
Chicken pox are transmitted from human to
human. Chicken pox is airborne (passed
on by coughs or sneezes) and could also be
transmitted by direct contact with one
of the rashes. After the infection you
get lifelong protection of ever getting
the chicken pox again. But this doesn’t
protect you from getting shingles.
 Symptoms
Symptoms of chicken pox are red, itchy spots
(look like blisters) that are all over your body.
Also you will get flu like symptoms. When
infected with the chicken pox you should stay
home. It is very contagious and can spread very
easily. The symptoms should go away on there
own. The chicken pox usually shows up on the stomach, back, and
face. The chicken pox then spreads to the scalp, mouth, nose,
ears, and genitals. Chicken pox have various stages. They first
start out as small red rashes, then they turn into blisters, they then
burst and the sore becomes open. Then they crust over. Kids that
have skin disorders may have it more severe.
 Preventions
Doctors recommend that kids should get the chicken pox. Having the
chicken pox gives the child lifelong protection from the illness. But
some doctors recommend kids to get the chicken pox vaccination.
You get this shot when you are 12-15 months old and then you get
a booster shot when your 4-6 years old. The shot is only 70% to
85% effective on the mild infection, but it is 95% effective on the
moderate infection.
 Treatments and cures
Chicken pox is a virus so you can’t get antibiotics, but you can get
antibiotics for the sores if they become infected. Dealing with
discomfort is hard but there are many ways to deal with it. Having a
bath with oatmeal or lukewarm water every 3-4 hours for the first
couple days. Using lotion to soothe the itchy spots. Eating cold,
bland, soft food so that you don’t irritate the pox in your mouth.
Don’t eat/drink any high acidic food/drinks (example; orange juice,
pretzels). For the pain or a fever NEVER use aspirin. Aspirin can
cause serious diseases like Reye syndrome (this can lead to liver
failure or even death).
This is chicken pox in the
mouth. It makes you very
uncomfortable and may
swell.
 Bibliography
1.http://www.accesskent.com/Health/HealthDepartment/CD_Epid/images/chicken
pox.jpg
2. http://poli.unime.it/medicina/images/ingrassia.jpg
3.http://www.hmc.org.qa/heartviews/VOL7NO3/images/image_heat_view7_N3/Wil
liam%20Heberden.jpg
4. http://www.liberalstreetfighter.com/ee/images/uploads/cough.gif
5. http://www.natural-health.com.my/articlephoto/Content/Allergic%20Rhinitis
%20CArt1.jpg
6. http://www.pediatricdoc.com/images/lg/vaccination-shot-immunization.jpg
7. http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/skin/chickenpox.html
8. http://www.cps.ca/caringforkids/immunization/ChickenpoxFacts.htm
9. http://www.faqs.org/health/Sick-V1/Chickenpox-Causes.html