Chickenpox

By: Clayton Honaker

What is Chickenpox (Information)

Chickenpox is a highly communicable viral disease most commonly affecting children, characterized by slight fever and the eruption of a rash

Statistics
An estimated 4 million cases occur each year. Every year there are approximately 5,000-9,000 hospitalizations and 100 deaths from chickenpox in the United States

Facts
A vaccine was first developed by Michiaki Takahashi in 1974 It has been available in the US since 1995 to inoculate against the disease. Chickenpox is believed to have been first described (discovered) by Giovanni Filippo during the 1500s in Italy.

Symptoms and Prevention

Symptoms
Fever, sore throat,headache, drowsiness, loss of appetite, rash(stages of rash:boiling, blistering, bursting, drying, and crusting over)

Prevention
The best way to prevent the chickenpox virus is to get the vaccine. Also to try your best to avoid people with chickenpox.

Causes
Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, a member of the herpesvirus family. The same virus also causes shingles in adults. You may get chickenpox from touching the fluids from a chickenpox blister, or if someone with the disease coughs or sneezes near you (it is highly contagious).

Who is at Risk
Anyone can get chickenpox but you are at a higher risk of getting the virus if you haven't had chickenpox, haven't been vaccinated for chicken pox, work in or attend a school or child care facility, or live with children.

Treatment

Medication used
Calamine lotion to reduce the burn, warm baths and daily cleaning of skin to reduce the risk of a secondary infection, and aspirin can be used to reduce the fever.

Cure
Currently there is not a cure for chicken pox, but there is however a vaccine that you can get to greatly reduce the chance of getting the virus. Some countries require the varicella vaccination or an exemption before entering elementary school. Protection from one dose is not lifelong and a second dose is necessary five years after the initial immunization, this is currently part of the routine immunization U.S.

Other Infectious Diseases

Botulism Bubonic plague Cholera Enterobiasis Epidemic Typhus Food Poisoning Glanders Hepatitis A,B,C,D,E Kawasaki Leprosy Malaria Measles Mumps Pneumonia Rabies Smallpox Shingles West Nile Fever Yellow Fever Tuberculosis

Interesting Facts/Images


Chickenpox is caused by the varicella zoster virus. It is usually mild but may be severe in infants, adults, and people with an impaired immune

system
Chickenpox is highly contagious The virus spreads from person to person by direct/indirect contact