Today is

By: Ikedi Ani-okoye.

Chicken pox introduction

Chickenpox is caused by a virus called document.write(defvaricella_zoster65)varicella zostervaricella zoster. People who get the virus often develop a rash of spots that look like blisters all over their bodies. The blisters are small and sit on an area of red skin that can be anywhere from the size of a pencil eraser to the size of a dime.

You've probably heard that chickenpox are itchy. It's true. The illness also may come along with a runny nose and cough. But the good news is that chickenpox is a common illness for kids and most people get better by just resting like you do with a cold or the flu.

Chicken pox development

hickenpox is one of the most common childhood diseases. It is a highly infectious illness, characterized by a body-wide rash that strikes about two weeks after exposure to the varicella zoster virus (a member of the herpes zoster family). The virus can be spread through infected respiratory droplets or by touching open chickenpox sores.

At first, the rash consists of small, itchy red bumps that appear on the torso. After a day or two, these bumps fill with fluid. In another day or two, the sores drain and scab over. During the first five days, however, new sores continue to appear, covering the body with a variety of bumps, fluid-filled sores, and small scabs. The condition is contagious until the last of the bumps have scabbed over.

Chicken pox symptoms

As I have said earlier, chicken pox has few symptoms. Some of them may not even be noticeable. The first signs of chicken pox set off very sudden and there are cases when the chicken pox patient will actually have no symptoms at all. A mild fever, some weakness and tiredness are the first chicken pox symptoms that you will feel, after the incubation period is over.

Soon after this signs of chicken pox, a rash will start to appear on your skin. At first only some areas of your body will be affected by these tiny, red spots. The main target of chicken pox rash are at first the chest and back. Then, just in a couple of hours it will spread all over your body. Even places like the mouth and scalp will eventually be affected by chicken pox.

CONCLUSION

For adults getting the disease is actually more dangerous than in the case of children because of the risk to develop complications such as bacterial pneumonia. To fight chicken pox doctors have researched and found a vaccine in 1995 witch they recommend to shot any child 12 months or older who hasn't already had the disease.

Having very few side effects, it is able to protect more than 95% from getting a serious case of chicken pox. The only downside is that it fails to completely immunize some 10 to 30 percent of the children, still this kids only get a very mild case of the disease.