copyright Stratecision Inc., 1994

[sources:  
	The Mayo Clinic Family Health Book
	The New Illustrated Medical Encyclopedia
	The Signet/Mosby Encyclopedia
	Columbia University College of Physicians and 
		Surgeons Complete Home Medical Guide,
	]

Chicken Pox

Description:

Chickenpox is a highly contagious viral disease that
commonly affects children between the ages of five and nine.
It is usually harmless, though it may lead to more serious
complications in adults or in children with suppressed
immune systems.  Children with chickenpox should not be
treated with aspirin -- this may increase their chances of
contracting Reye's syndrome.

[Reye's syndrome - A disease of the brain and inner organs
that may follow a viral infection such as chickenpox or
influenza B.  Reye's syndrome can be fatal.]

Caused by, passed by :

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella zoster virus, which is
a member of the herpes virus family.  It is spread by
sneezing and coughing, and can also be spread by contact
with the fluid from an open chickenpox blister.  People with
chickenpox can be contagious before they show symptoms.

Symptoms, incubation, contagious period:

The symptoms of chickenpox typically appear 11 to 21 days
after infection.  These symptoms include headache, fever and
malaise, followed by an easily identified chickenpox rash.
The rash first appears as red spots on the skin.  The spots
become fluid-filled blisters within a day or two, and the
blisters quickly become pustules which break and crust over.
New rash spots appear for the first five days of the
disease, which typically lasts from one to two weeks
overall.  Once all the blisters are crusted over, the
patient is no longer considered contagious.
	
In a small number of cases the rash may also appear in a
patient's mouth and throat.  In these cases, the fever is
higher and the symptoms of the disease more severe.

In infants with the disease the rash often appears in the
crotch area.  In these cases, parents or caregivers should
apply a heavy ointment to the rash to prevent it from being
irritated by urine in the diaper.

Complications:

Chickenpox is not a serious disease in normal, healthy
children.  Parents or caregivers should try to prevent
children from scratching the rash, however, since the
pustules can become infected and form scars.  Cool, wet
compresses and baking soda baths may help the itch.  Be
sure to pat the child dry after a bath, instead of toweling
them off.

In adults and adolescents, chickenpox may occasionally lead
to pneumonia or encephalitis.  In children with suppressed
immune systems, the disease may become very serious.

[pneumonia - an inflammation of the lungs, caused by an
infection] [encephalitis - an inflammation of the brain]

In pregnant women, contracting chickenpox in the first or
second trimester poses a small risk that the child will be
born with a congenital malformation.  If a pregnant woman
contracts chickenpox within five days of delivery, the child
is likely to contract the disease.  In this case, the
newborn should be immunized immediately with
varicella-zoster immune globulin.

The virus that causes chicken pox (varicella zoster) also
causes shingles.  Anyone who has had chickenpox may develop
shingles later in life.

Immunization:

Chickenpox infection can be prevented with varicella-zoster
immune globulin (after exposure), or by inoculation with a
varicella-zoster vaccine.  Because the disease is relatively
harmless, these treatments should be reserved for those at
high risk, such as children with suppressed immune systems.
Once a person has had chickenpox, they are usually immune to
the disease for the rest of their lives.