Chickenpox was once considered a rite of passage for most children. The red, itchy rash is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is part of a group of viruses called herpesviruses. Because chickenpox is so contagious, 90% of a patient's family also will develop the illness if they live in the same house and are not already immune. About one of every 100 children infected with chickenpox will develop a severe lung infection (pneumonia), an infection of the brain (encephalitis), or a problem with the liver. Adolescents and adults who develop chickenpox are also at high risk of developing serious complications. After a person has chickenpox, the virus typically lives silently in the nervous system of the body for the rest of a person's life. It may reactivate (come to life again) at any time when the body's immune defenses are weakened by stress or illness (such as cancer or HIV infection) or by medications that weaken the immune system. Reactivation of the virus causes a condition called shingles, a painful blistering skin rash that typically occurs on the face, chest or back, in the same area where one or two of the body's sensory nerves travel.



Causes of Chicken Pox

The common Causes of Chicken Pox :

Herpes Zoster Virus

Poor immune system

Inhaling airborne droplets

Persistent wrong feeding of children:

Contact with broken chickenpox blisters

Symptoms of Chicken Pox

Some Symptoms of Chicken Pox :

Fever.

Decreased appetite

Weakness.

Fatigue.

Mild headache.

Abdominal pain or loss of appetite.

Low-grade fever.

Rash on the upper chest or back.

Cough or runny nose

Itchy rash on the trunk, face, under the armpits, on the upper arms and legs, and inside the mouth

Treatment of Chicken Pox

Antibiotics for treating bacterial infections.

Bedrest.

Increased fluid intake (to prevent dehydration).

Calamine lotion (to relieve itching).

Antiviral drugs (for severe cases) .

Cool baths with baking soda or Aveeno (to relieve itching) .

Acetaminophen for fever (DO NOT GIVE ASPIRIN).