2008 Woodie Awards
Chicken Pox
Brittany Pickett
Issue date: 12/5/05 Section: Medical Beat
- Page 1 of 1
Chicken pox, also known as the varicella-zoster virus, will infect about four million people each year. According to the Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, about 80-90 percent of children, by the time they have reached the ages of 9 and 10, have already been infected with the virus.
The virus is a disease that is spread through the air or by direct contact with someone who is already infected. Although chicken pox is primarily a childhood illness, it can strike at any age.
Incubation period for the virus is 10-21 days before symptoms appear. The period during which infected people are able to spread the disease is one to two days prior to the outbreak of the rash. Once someone has been infected with the virus, they almost always have a lifetime immunity against the disease; however, there is a chance of recurrence.
The first signs of chicken pox include a rash, general feeling of weakness and a fever.
Within a few hours or days of contracting the virus, small red spots begin to appear on the scalp, neck or upper half of the body.
Some people develop a few blisters but in most cases, the number typically reaches 250 to 500 itchy, blistery rashes. The blisters, which are fluid-filled, scab over and fall off in a few days.
Other symptoms associated with chicken pox include headaches and abdominal pain. Chicken pox typically lasts about one week.
Chicken pox is a virus, therefore, the use of antibiotics is ineffective. Aspirin or aspirin-containing products should not be used to relieve pain or fever, as there is a chance of getting Reye's syndrome. Doctors recommend the use of calamine lotion and taking oatmeal baths to ease the itching.
There is currently a vaccination for chicken pox called Varifax. The vaccine has an 85 percent rate in preventing the illness.
Brookhaven College Campus Nurse, Mildred Kelley said, "People who have not had the chicken pox should receive the vaccine."
The virus is a disease that is spread through the air or by direct contact with someone who is already infected. Although chicken pox is primarily a childhood illness, it can strike at any age.
Incubation period for the virus is 10-21 days before symptoms appear. The period during which infected people are able to spread the disease is one to two days prior to the outbreak of the rash. Once someone has been infected with the virus, they almost always have a lifetime immunity against the disease; however, there is a chance of recurrence.
The first signs of chicken pox include a rash, general feeling of weakness and a fever.
Within a few hours or days of contracting the virus, small red spots begin to appear on the scalp, neck or upper half of the body.
Some people develop a few blisters but in most cases, the number typically reaches 250 to 500 itchy, blistery rashes. The blisters, which are fluid-filled, scab over and fall off in a few days.
Other symptoms associated with chicken pox include headaches and abdominal pain. Chicken pox typically lasts about one week.
Chicken pox is a virus, therefore, the use of antibiotics is ineffective. Aspirin or aspirin-containing products should not be used to relieve pain or fever, as there is a chance of getting Reye's syndrome. Doctors recommend the use of calamine lotion and taking oatmeal baths to ease the itching.
There is currently a vaccination for chicken pox called Varifax. The vaccine has an 85 percent rate in preventing the illness.
Brookhaven College Campus Nurse, Mildred Kelley said, "People who have not had the chicken pox should receive the vaccine."
