this,ladies and gentlemen, is how i look like right now. (except that im not in my PJs, im not holding onto a teddybear and im a girl). im only in my second day of chicken pox and already im hurting everywhere. it's not itching yet, but it will be soon .. anyway, i've found some information on the internet and hope it will help those who have/will have chicken pox in the future:
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Chicken pox is caused by a virus called varicella zoster. Newborns and adults may experience more severe symptoms then children. The duration may vary from 10-21 days. The intensity also varies.
The virus is transmitted by air as well as through touch. It can be passed through exposure to cough or sneeze of an affected person. Chickenpox normally starts and finishes in about two weeks but people with weak immune systems or newborns can have very serious complications, if infected prenatally there is a risk of birth defects.
Symptoms
The symptoms for chickenpox do not appear until the infectious stage has begun.
Within a day or two of getting the virus, pimple like eruptions appear on the body. These look like blisters and are filled with fluid. These blisters form scabs which later fall off.
During this period itching can be very annoying but scratching these blisters can lead to infection and scarring.
Other symptoms include slight fever, weakness, loss of appetite and mild headache.
Transmission
Chicken pox is one of the most readily communicable diseases. It can be spread from person to person by direct contact with fluid from the blisters or with secretions from the respiratory tract or by handling an infected person's clothing or bedding. Airborne transmission is possible through sneezing and coughing. Susceptibility to chicken pox is universal among those not previously infected. The greatest number of cases occur in the winter and early spring.
Risks
Children usually do not develop complications. Those at increased risk for complications (generally pneumonia or bacterial infection of lesions) are *Immunocompromised persons
Infants younger than 1 year of age, adolescents and adults
Newborns whose mothers had chicken pox around the time of delivery
Premature infants whose mothers have not had chicken pox.
Approximately one in every 400 persons who get chicken pox requires hospitalization. There are about 90 deaths a year from chickenpox in the United States.
Treatment
- If a person develops chickenpox, some medication can be given to the child under the guidance of the doctor. Do not give aspirin to young children; it may cause Reye syndrome. Calamine lotion and antihistamines can help reduce itching.
- Until all the scabs fall off, the patient should be kept in a well ventilated room.
- Nails should be cut off to prevent scratching, infections and scars.
Cotton gloves can be worn and itching can be reduced by applying talcum powder.
Plenty of vegetable and fruit juices should be given in the beginning especially lemon juice.
- Lukewarm water bath with neem leaves added can relieve itching.
Cook 2 cups of oatmeal in 2 liters of water for 15 minutes in a cotton bag and swish it around in a tub. The water should then be applied a ll over the scalds to relieve itching.
- A glass of water with baking soda in it should be sponged and let to dry. This will prevent itching and scratching.
Cook green peas in water and wash the itching skin with this water.
1/2 cup of cider vinegar added to a bath of warm water relieves irritation of the skin.
- Application of Vitamin E oil has healing effect and fades the marks.
Tea prepared from any herb like marigold, basil and chamomile to which cinnamon, lemon and honey has been added, has sedative effect and should be sipped very slowly several times a day.
- Boiled coriander and carrot should be taken once a day
( information from :http://www.copperwiki.org/index.php/Chicken_pox )
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i will probably blog more later.
Labels: chickenpox, random
