Varicella (Chicken Pox) Skin Disease Type

Varicella (Chicken Pox)

The rash is pruritic and most prominent on the face, scalp and trunk. It appears as multitudes of redringed papules and vesicles in varying stages of development. Crusts eventually form and slough off in 7 to 14 days. Nondermatomal distribution and lesions of varying stages distinguish primary

varicella from herpes zoster. Fever and malaise may be mild in children and much more severe in adults.

 Chickenpox (Varicella) - Cause

The varicella-zoster virus, one of the herpes viruses, causes chickenpox infection. The same virus that causes chickenpox also causes shingles (herpes zoster).

How it is spread

The chickenpox virus can spread easily from one person to another. It most often spreads through the respiratory tract, such as mucous membranes of the mouth and nose. You also can get chickenpox through the air from an infected person's sneezing or coughing. Less often, chickenpox is spread when fluid from a chickenpox blister gets on your skin.

Chickenpox (Varicella) - Symptoms

The first symptoms of chickenpox include:

• A fever of 100.4 °F (38 °C) to 103 °F (39.4 °C).
• Feeling sick, tired, and sluggish.
• Little or no appetite.
• Headache and sore throat.

The first symptoms are usually mild in children, but they can be severe in teens and adults. These symptoms may continue throughout the illness.

About 1 or 2 days after the first symptoms of chickenpox appear, an itchy rash camera.gif develops.

Chickenpox (Varicella) - Treatment Overview

Treatment for chickenpox depends on your age, your health, how long it's been since you were exposed to the virus, and your symptoms.

• A healthy child with chickenpox may need only home treatment to help relieve itching and monitor fever. For more information, see Home Treatment.
• Healthy teens and adults with chickenpox usually have more severe symptoms than children and are at higher risk for complications than healthy children. If you are older than age 12, are pregnant, or have a weak immune system, your doctor may want to give you a medicine or vaccine that helps protect you from the virus. For more information, see Medications. Home treatment measures can also help to make you more comfortable.

Source By Webmd