Chickenpox (Varicella) symptoms and treatment

What is Chickenpox?

Chickenpox is a highly contagious and infectious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). It causes rashes with small, fluid-filled blisters that are itchy. If a person has never experienced chickenpox then they are prone to be at high risk.

Once you experienced chickenpox and are vaccinated against it then you won’t get infected again in your life. Adults who get chickenpox can get quite unwell, so getting it as a child or getting vaccinated is best.

A chickenpox-infected child can infect other children. Almost every child gets chickenpox, but only a few have major consequences. Chickenpox is rare nowadays due to early childhood vaccination.

Signs and symptoms of chickenpox

Chicken pox symptoms and signs are easy to spot. A medical practitioner can often tell if a child has chickenpox by looking at their skin.  Chickenpox causes an itchy blister rash that appears within 10 to 21 days. Exposure to the virus lasts about five to ten days.

Chicken pox symptoms usually appear in this order:

• Fever
• Tiredness
• Headache
• A stomach ache that lasts a day or two.
• A rash that is itchy and resembles a swarm of small blisters.

The chickenpox rash goes through three stages once it appears:

• Papules (raised pink or red bumps) that appear over several days
• Vesicles are small fluid-filled blisters that form in about a day and then break and leak.
• Crusts and scabs form over the broken blisters, taking several days to heal.

In healthy children, the disease is usually mild. In extreme cases, chicken pox rash forms in the throat, eyes, and mucous membranes of the urethra and also in the anus and vagina.

Causes

The varicella-zoster virus is the main infectious agent for chickenpox. It is also known as varicella or zoster virus, or human herpesvirus 3.  Chickenpox is contagious and can be transmitted in a variety of ways:

• By inhaling water droplets containing the chickenpox virus
• By coming into contact with a chickenpox rash.
• From the womb of a pregnant woman to the fetus

In these cases, only people who never had chickenpox or have not been vaccinated are at risk. Having the disease or being vaccinated usually provides lifelong immunity.

Most people get chickenpox from intimate contact with an infectious person. Chickenpox can be spread one to two days before the rash appears.

Diagnosis

Call your doctor if you get an unexplained rash, especially if you have a cold or fever. You may have one of several viruses or diseases. Notify your doctor if you are pregnant and have had chickenpox.

Your doctor may be able to diagnose it by looking at your or your child’s blisters. If the blisters are caused by a virus, a lab test can identify the virus and confirm the infection.

How long does Chickenpox Rash last?

It usually takes 10 to 21 days after being exposed to develop a rash or other chicken pox symptoms.

It causes an itchy rash that lasts 5 to 10 days before the blisters turn into scabs (a dry, rough protective crust around the rash). The majority of scabs heal within 20 days of the onset of a chicken pox rash.

It is possible to infect someone with chickenpox up to two days before the rash shows.

The chickenpox symptoms resolve in two to three weeks. But the virus itself remains in the body for the rest of a person’s life. The virus, for the most part, remains dormant stage, or inert.

Yet, the dormant virus can reactivate, causing shingles and chicken pox symptoms. Vaccinating against chickenpox can lower the risk in older persons.

Risk factors 

Unvaccinated people are more prone to catch chickenpox. Vaccination is critical for those who work with children or in schools.

Most persons who have had chickenpox or been immunized are immune. Some people catch chickenpox more than once, but this is rare. Immunized people have fewer blisters, less fever, or no fever if they get chickenpox symptoms.

Complications

Chickenpox is usually a minor illness. However, it can be dangerous and lead to complications such as

• Dehydration
• Pneumonia
• Brain inflammation (encephalitis)
• Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) 
• Children and teenagers who take aspirin during chickenpox develop Reye’s syndrome.
• Blood clotting or healing problems
• Infections of the skin, soft tissues, bones, joints, or bloodstream
• Liver Problems
• Death

Chickenpox treatment 

Most patients should manage their chicken pox symptoms until the illness has gone. People should stay at home and avoid virus transmission. Adults with the virus must also stay home and should avoid direct contact with other people.

Your doctor may give antihistamines or topical ointments to relieve itching. To relieve itchy skin, try the following

• bathing in lukewarm water
• unscented lotion use
• soft and light clothing

Your doctor may prescribe antiviral drugs if you have viral disorders or if you are at risk. Teenagers, seniors, and others with medical issues are at increased risk. It does not cure chickenpox. Slowing viral activity reduces symptoms that will help your immune system to recover faster.

Prevention 

Vaccination is the greatest approach to avoiding chickenpox. All people who never had chickenpox should get its vaccine.

For effective protection, two doses of the chickenpox vaccine are required. The majority of people who get the vaccine never get chickenpox. 

Vaccination after exposure but before symptoms can help prevent or lessen symptoms.

Is chickenpox contagious in adults?

A child’s body produces antibodies to fight the virus. Antibodies fight viruses and help the body to heal. Adults have these antibodies throughout their life. Adults who battle the infection have antibodies.

Persons who had chickenpox before rarely experience it again. The sickness caused by reactivating the chickenpox virus in adults is called “shingles.” Shingles can spread to people who have never had chickenpox. 

Conclusion

Chickenpox is a highly contagious and infectious disease that usually infects children and adults who never had it. The best way to prevent chickenpox is to get vaccinated against it and to take care not to come in contact with an infected person. There is a very low possibility of chickenpox infection if you already had it and are vaccinated against it. Still, always consult your healthcare professional if you or your child have the above-mentioned symptoms.

You can get free teleconsultation from our expert doctors on our online pharmacy – Truemeds or you can also download our Truemeds app. You can avail of branded as well as generic medicines by uploading your prescription on Truemeds. When placing an order for medicines online, you may save more money by selecting alternative or generic medicine advised by Truemed’s expert doctors. You can also save up to 72% on your purchase and get free home delivery pan India.

Disclaimer: The information given in this article is true to our best knowledge, still, we will recommend that you should consult your healthcare professional before using any medication mentioned in this article.

Frequently asked questions

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The NHS website – NHS