Chickenpox

Chickenpox is a common illness caused by the varicella zoster virus. It occurs mainly in autumn and winter, and it is spread through tiny droplets of saliva in the fine spray created by coughing or sneezing. It is usually a childhood illness.

The incubation period is 15-20 days. The illness starts with a mild fever lasting about three days. The rash starts, usually on the trunk, as itchy red spots which gradually form blisters. The rash then spreads to the rest of the body. The blisters break and scab over and the scabs fall off within ten days.

The fluid in the blisters is loaded with virus particles, so the sufferer is infectious from two days before the rash appears until the last spot has scabbed over.

In children, serious complications are very rare, but can include a special form of pneumonia, and brain inflammation (encephalitis).

What to do

• An otherwise healthy child with chickenpox does not need to see a doctor, unless the illness is not following its usual, mild course
• The commonest problem is bacterial infection of the skin sores. To avoid this, keep nails short to reduce damage from scratching, and soothe the rash with calamine lotion
• Do not use hydrocortisone cream in this situation

Any healthy adult with chickenpox should be seen by a doctor, and increasing illness should be taken seriously: adults are more likely than children to develop the complications, and the illness in general is nastier.

If a pregnant woman catches chickenpox, the infection can spread to the unborn baby, and this can cause serious problems. If your child has chickenpox, be sure to avoid contact with all adults who have never had it, especially pregnant women. Women who have had chickenpox protect themselves and their baby with their natural immunity, and are not at risk.

Chickenpox and shingles: the connection

Shingles is a painful rash seen usually in adults (and occasionally in children), caused by the chickenpox virus. The virus lies dormant in the spinal cord for many years after the initial chickenpox infection, and may never cause problems.

In some people (sometimes triggered by stress, illnesses or immunodeficiency) the virus reappears in a band of skin corresponding to the area supplied by the affected nerve. The rash, like chickenpox, releases virus until it has scabbed. Chickenpox can be caught from people with shingles by people who have never had it, but shingles cannot be caught from people with chickenpox.

• Read babyworld's information on homeopathic treatments for chickenpox