Early symptoms include tingling and pain. Shingles is a condition related to chickenpox. It mostly affects older adults. Learn the causes and how to avoid getting or spreading the virus that…. We'll share some tips for fading chicken pox scars, including natural products, over-the-counter options, and professional treatments.
Chickenpox parties aren't a safe idea for children because parents can't guarantee their child won't have severe health complications. There's also a…. Having chickenpox can be extremely uncomfortable at times, and managing symptoms through diet can be beneficial.
This article highlights which foods…. Researchers say the vaccine lowers the risk of children developing shingles before age Chickenpox is a viral infection that causes itching and flu-like symptoms in those affected. Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease, but there are things you can do to reduce your risk for catching and spreading the virus. Learn how to…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Chickenpox in Adults. Medically reviewed by Daniel Murrell, M.
Symptoms Pictures Recovery Risk factors Complications Treatment Chickenpox and shingles Outlook Overview Although many people think of chickenpox as a childhood disease, adults are still susceptible. Chickenpox symptoms in adults. Chickenpox recovery time. Are you at risk? Chickenpox treatment for adults.
You may need to have antiviral medicine or immunoglobulin treatment to prevent your symptoms from getting worse. It is important for children and adults with chickenpox to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Sugar-free ice lollies are a good way of getting fluids into children. They also help to soothe a sore mouth that has chickenpox spots in it. Avoid anything that may make the mouth sore, such as salty foods. Soup is easy to swallow as long as it is not too hot.
Chickenpox can be incredibly itchy, but it's important for children and adults to not scratch the spots, to avoid future scarring. One way of stopping scratching is to keep fingernails clean and short. You can also put socks over your child's hands at night to stop them scratching the rash as they sleep. If your child's skin is very itchy or sore, try using calamine lotion or cooling gels. These are available in pharmacies and are very safe to use. They have a soothing, cooling effect. A stronger medicine called chlorphenamine can also help to relieve the itching.
It's available from your pharmacist over the counter or it can be prescribed by your GP. Chlorphenamine is taken by mouth and is suitable for children over 1 year old.
If your child has a fever, or if their skin is sore and aggravated, dress them appropriately so that they don't get too hot or too cold. Loose-fitting, smooth, cotton fabrics are best and will help stop the skin from becoming sore and irritated. If your child has chickenpox, avoid sponging them down with cool water. This can make your child too cold and may make them shiver. Ideally, aciclovir needs to be started within 24 hours of the rash appearing. It does not cure chickenpox, but it makes the symptoms less severe.
You normally need to take the medicine as tablets 5 times a day for 7 days. If you are taking aciclovir, make sure you drink plenty of fluids.
Side effects are rare, but can include nausea and diarrhoea. Immunoglobulin is a solution of antibodies that is taken from healthy donors. Varicella-zoster immunoglobulin VZIG contains antibodies to the chickenpox virus. Immunoglobulin treatment is given by injection. It is not used to treat chickenpox, but to protect people who are at high risk of developing a severe chickenpox infection. This includes:. In the case of pregnant women, immunoglobulin treatment also reduces the risk of the unborn baby becoming infected.
In some cases, newborn babies may be given immunoglobulin treatment without having a blood test first. Read more about the complications of chickenpox. Complications of chickenpox are rare in healthy children.
The most common complication is where the blisters become infected with bacteria. A sign that the blisters have become infected is when the surrounding skin becomes red and sore.
If you think that your child's blisters have become infected, contact your GP as the child may need a course of antibiotics. Very rarely, chickenpox can lead to more serious complications involving the nervous system brain and spinal cord in children.
These include infections of the brain encephalitis , the protective membranes around the brain meningitis or part of the brain called the cerebellum cerebellitis. Seek medical advice as soon as possible if your child develops any of these symptoms after having chickenpox. Chickenpox can be more serious in adults than in children. Adults with the virus are more likely to be admitted into hospital. If you smoke, your risk of developing lung problems is much higher. Although it is more serious in adults, most people will still make a full recovery from the chickenpox virus.
For example, your risk of developing pneumonia is slightly higher if you're pregnant, especially if you smoke. The further you are into your pregnancy, the more serious the risk of pneumonia tends to be. If you get chickenpox while you're pregnant, there is also a small but significant risk to your unborn baby.
If you are infected with chickenpox during the first 28 weeks of your pregnancy, there is a risk that your unborn baby could develop a condition known as foetal varicella syndrome FVS. This syndrome is rare. If you are infected with chickenpox 7 days before or 7 days after giving birth, your newborn baby may develop a more serious type of chickenpox.
In a few severe cases, this type of chickenpox can be fatal. See your GP urgently if you're pregnant or have given birth in the last 7 days and you think you may have chickenpox, or if you've been exposed to someone who has chickenpox. If your immune system is weak or does not work properly, you are more susceptible to developing infections such as chickenpox.
This is because your body produces fewer antibodies to fight off the infection. Immunosuppressive medication such as steroid tablets may be used if, for example, you have an inflammatory condition such as rheumatoid arthritis , lupus or certain blood conditions.
If you have a weakened immune system, you're also more at risk of developing complications from chickenpox. These complications include:.
See your GP urgently if you have a weakened immune system and you've been exposed to the chickenpox virus. For more information, read about how to stop the spread of chickenpox. If your child has chickenpox,it is recommended that you inform their school or nursery, and keep them at home for 5 days. If you have chickenpox, stay off work and at home until you're no longer infectious, which is until the last blister has burst and crusted over. This usually happens five or six days after the rash begins.
If you or your child have recently been exposed to the chickenpox virus, you may not be able to visit friends or relatives in hospital. Telephone the ward to check first. If you or your child have chickenpox, you may not be allowed to fly until 6 days after the last spot has appeared. You and your child should be safe to fly once you're past the infectious stage and all of the blisters have crusted over. However, it's best to check the policy of your airline first.
Inform the airline as soon as chickenpox is diagnosed. It is also important to let your travel insurer know if you or your child has chickenpox. You need to make sure that you'll be covered if you have to delay or cancel your holiday, or if you need to extend your stay until your child is well enough to fly home. Chickenpox can sometimes be spread through contact with objects that have been contaminated with the virus, such as children's toys, bedding or clothing.
If someone in your household has chickenpox, you can help stop the virus spreading by wiping any objects or surfaces with a sterilising solution and making sure that any infected clothing or bedding is washed regularly. There is a chickenpox vaccine that is used to protect people who are most at risk of a serious chickenpox infection or of passing the infection on to someone who is at risk.
The vaccine is not suitable for pregnant women. Avoid getting pregnant for 3 months after having the vaccine. The vaccine is also not suitable for people with weakened immune systems. Home Illnesses and conditions Infections and poisoning Chickenpox. Chickenpox See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1.
About chickenpox 2. Symptoms of chickenpox 3. Causes of chickenpox 4. Diagnosing chickenpox 5. Treating chickenpox 6. They may need extra oxygen to help them breathe or antibiotics to treat bacterial skin or bloodstream infections. Anyone with concerns about chickenpox complications should speak with a doctor about preventive measures and treatments. A doctor can also advise about getting a chickenpox vaccination. The chickenpox virus can travel in many ways. It can spread through respiratory droplets, when a person sneezes, for example, or through to contact with blisters.
This is why the virus is so contagious. Even when a person no longer has chickenpox symptoms, the virus remains in their system. It can reactivate later and cause shingles. Shingles is a painful condition that can cause itchy, burning lesions. A person who has never had chickenpox can get shingles by coming into contact with shingles lesions.
After a person has been exposed to the chickenpox virus, it takes several days for symptoms to develop. Below, we describe how the virus gets into the body and causes symptoms:. A person with the infection can spread the virus as early as 2 days before they develop chickenpox lesions. After the virus has been in the body for about 4—6 days, it begins to replicate in the lymph nodes.
A person typically starts to develop symptoms of a viral illness about 14—16 days after their initial exposure to the chickenpox virus. Several days after a person first experiences symptoms of a viral illness, the virus disseminates through the body via the blood vessels, leading to chickenpox blisters. According to an article in the Journal of Investigative Medicine: High Impact Case Reports , most people start to see chickenpox blisters on their skin 10—21 days after the virus entered their bodies.
Usually, a person cannot pass on the infection once their lesions have crusted over and they no longer have a fever. Doctors usually give the vaccine in two doses.
A child typically receives the first vaccine when they are 12—15 months old and the second at 4—6 years of age. One vaccine, called ProQuad, contains vaccinations for measles , mumps, rubella, and chickenpox. Adults and children ages 12 years and older usually receive a chickenpox vaccine called Varivax, which only prevents chickenpox.
Adults can receive a chickenpox vaccine if they have never had chickenpox or if they were not vaccinated as children. The CDC recommend the vaccine for the following adults, in particular:. Doctors do not usually recommend that pregnant women get the chickenpox vaccine.
This is because the vaccine contains live viruses that can affect pregnancy. If a pregnant woman has a high risk of chickenpox but has never gotten it, the doctor may inject a medication that can help protect her immune system against chickenpox.
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