A Mini-Guide to Chickenpox Infection

Chickenpox, also called varicella, is nothing new to us. It's one of the common diseases that we all have come across. The chickenpox is characterised by the itchy red blisters which appear all over the body. A varicella virus causes this condition. It often affects children and sometimes adults too. It’s rare to have the infection more than once. Since the vaccine for chickenpox was discovered in 1984, such rare cases have declined further.

 

What are the symptoms of chickenpox?

The most common symptom of chickenpox is itchy rash. The infection will have to be in your body for around 7 to 21 days before the rash, and other symptoms develop gradually. You start to be contagious to the people around you up to 48 hours before the skin rash begins to occur. The other symptoms may last for few days and include:

  • Fever
  • Loss of appetite
  • Headache

 

1 or 2 days after you experience these symptoms; the classic rash will start to develop. This rash goes through three phases before you recover. These include:

  • You produce red or pink bumps all over your body.
  • The bumps become blisters filled with fluid which leaks.
  • The bumps become crusty, scab over, and start to heal.
  • The bumps on the body will not all are in the same phase at the same time. New bumps will constantly appear throughout your infection. The rash may be extremely itchy, especially before it scabs over with a crust.

 

Until all the blisters on the body have entirely scabbed over, you stay contagious. These crusty and scabbed areas eventually fall off. It takes 7 to 14 days to disappear altogether.

 

What causes chickenpox?

The chickenpox infection is caused by Varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Most chickenpox cases occur through contact with an infected person. The virus is contagious to those around you for 1 to 2 days before your blisters appear. Varicella-zoster virus remains contagious until all blisters have crusted over. The virus can spread through:

  • Saliva
  • Coughing
  • Sneezing
  • Contact with fluid from the blisters

 

How to treat the chickenpox?

Most people diagnosed with chickenpox will be directed to manage their symptoms carefully. They should wait for the virus to pass through their system. Parents are advised to keep children out of school and daycare to prevent the spread of the virus. Infected adults should also to stay home. Your private doctor may prescribe topical ointments or antihistamine medications, or you may buy these over the counter to help relieve itching. You can also soothe your itching skin by:

  • Applying unscented lotion
  • Taking lukewarm baths
  • Wearing lightweight, soft clothing

Get all the required medicines for chickenpox from reputed online chemists offering a wide variety of pharmaceuticals in the UK. You get all the prescribed drugs online and will get delivered right at your doorstep.