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    Chickenpox

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    Chickenpox is a highly contagious viral infection that causes an itchy rash. It usually affects children and people typically only get it once. While generally mild, it can be serious for pregnant women, those with weak immune systems, and newborns. The rash appears as small blisters that scab over within a few days. It spreads through direct contact with the rash or respiratory secretions. Treatment focuses on relieving itching and fever, and antivirals may be used for high-risk groups. Seeking medical care is recommended for complications like infection or pneumonia. A vaccine can prevent chickenpox.

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    Chickenpox

    Uploaded by

    wq984c2kkf
    30 views2 pages
    Chickenpox is a highly contagious viral infection that causes an itchy rash. It usually affects children and people typically only get it once. While generally mild, it can be serious for pregnant women, those with weak immune systems, and newborns. The rash appears as small blisters that scab over within a few days. It spreads through direct contact with the rash or respiratory secretions. Treatment focuses on relieving itching and fever, and antivirals may be used for high-risk groups. Seeking medical care is recommended for complications like infection or pneumonia. A vaccine can prevent chickenpox.

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    Chickenpox is a highly contagious viral infection that causes an itchy rash. It usually affects children and people typically only get it once. While generally mild, it can be serious for pregnant women, those with weak immune systems, and newborns. The rash appears as small blisters that scab over within a few days. It spreads through direct contact with the rash or respiratory secretions. Treatment focuses on relieving itching and fever, and antivirals may be used for high-risk groups. Seeking medical care is recommended for complications like infection or pneumonia. A vaccine can prevent chickenpox.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    30 views2 pages

    Chickenpox

    Uploaded by

    wq984c2kkf
    Chickenpox is a highly contagious viral infection that causes an itchy rash. It usually affects children and people typically only get it once. While generally mild, it can be serious for pregnant women, those with weak immune systems, and newborns. The rash appears as small blisters that scab over within a few days. It spreads through direct contact with the rash or respiratory secretions. Treatment focuses on relieving itching and fever, and antivirals may be used for high-risk groups. Seeking medical care is recommended for complications like infection or pneumonia. A vaccine can prevent chickenpox.

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    7/19/2020 https://www.myrxtx.

    ca/print/new/documents/MA_PI/en/viral_skin_rashes/pichickenpox

    Chickenpox—What You Need To Know


    What is chickenpox?

    Chickenpox is a common and highly contagious infection caused by a virus (varicella zoster). It usually affects
    children. People usually get chickenpox only once.

    Chickenpox can be extremely serious for some people. For example:

    Pregnant women who have not had chickenpox before (and their unborn babies)
    People with low resistance to disease (for example–people who have leukemia or diseases of the immune
    system, including HIV)

    There is a chickenpox vaccine. It can be used to protect children and adults who have not had chickenpox before.

    What are the signs of chickenpox?

    A slightly raised temperature, cough and tiredness for a few days


    An itchy rash with small blisters that dry up and form scabs in 2–4 days; the spots usually appear over a period
    of 3–5 days

    How does chickenpox spread?

    Chickenpox is spread by direct contact with the blisters (touching them) or from an infected person's cough or
    sneeze.
    People with chickenpox are infectious from 2 days before the rash appears until all the blisters have dried up
    (about 5–10 days later).
    It takes 2–3 weeks after a person is exposed to chickenpox for the spots to appear.

    What is the treatment for chickenpox?

    You can prevent chickenpox for most children and adults by getting the chickenpox vaccine. Ask your health-
    care provider for more information.
    For most healthy children, no specific treatment is needed. Follow the hints below to help relieve the itching and
    keep the child comfortable.
    Patients with low resistance to disease should begin antiviral drugs (such as acyclovir) right away. This
    treatment may also be used for adults (in whom chickenpox may be more serious and last longer) and in some
    healthy children. Ask your health-care provider for more information.

    Hints to keep comfortable:

    To stop the itching, apply calamine lotion to the blisters. A cool shower or bath can also help. Try adding an
    oatmeal bath product or half a cup of baking soda to the bath water.
    If the itching is very bad, you can use an antihistamine. Ask your health-care provider for information about
    which products are safe for the infected person.
    Keep the rash clean and dry.
    Trim fingernails to prevent scratching, which can cause skin infection.
    Wear loose clothing (cotton is good—avoid wool).
    Acetaminophen can be used to treat fever. Ibuprofen and naproxen are not recommended because of the risk of
    developing serious skin infections in children with chickenpox. Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin, ASA) is not
    recommended because of the risk of developing Reye syndrome, a serious condition.
    For mouth sores, rinse with warm water.

    https://www.myrxtx.ca/print/new/documents/MA_PI/en/viral_skin_rashes/pichickenpox 1/2
    7/19/2020 https://www.myrxtx.ca/print/new/documents/MA_PI/en/viral_skin_rashes/pichickenpox

    When should you see a health-care provider?

    See your health-care provider if:

    You are pregnant


    You see signs of a skin infection (redness, swelling, a feeling of heat in a specific area)
    You develop a severe cold or cough; some people, especially adults, may get pneumonia

    CPhA does not assume any legal liability and makes no representation or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness, reliability or usefulness
    of this information. Once printed there is no quarantee the information is up-to-date. [Printed on: 07-19-2020 05:36 PM]
    RxTx, Minor Ailments: Information for Patients © Canadian Pharmacists Association, 2020. All rights reserved

    https://www.myrxtx.ca/print/new/documents/MA_PI/en/viral_skin_rashes/pichickenpox 2/2

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