Chickenpox Flare-up - Overview

Introduction

Chickenpox is a contagious illness caused by the Varicella zoster virus. It is most common among children and has no sex predilection. The viral infection could be benign in healthy children, and increased morbidity occurs in adults and immunocompromised individuals. Tropical and semitropical climate regions have a higher incidence of adult chickenpox than regions with temperate climates.

What Is Chickenpox?

Chickenpox, also known as varicella-zoster, is a contagious viral infection that causes skin rashes. Most people get the condition when they are young if they are not vaccinated. The illness is characterized by 250 to 500 itchy, fluid-filled red blisters that appear all over the body. Chickenpox can be extremely dangerous for people with a weakened immune system.

Can Chickenpox Occur Twice?

Typically, once one gets a chickenpox infection, they build up a lifelong immunity to the virus and do not get it more than once. But in a few rare cases, one can get it again.

These situations include:

• If one gets chickenpox when they are very young, especially younger than six months old, the disease can occur again.

• If one had a very mild or subclinical infection the first time.

• In case of an impaired immune system.

Many may even confuse reinfection with shingles, but shingles are just a flare-up of the zoster virus living inside the body.

What Is Shingles Infection?

Shingles is a viral infection caused by the same virus as chickenpox - Varicella zoster. It appears as painful rashes on the body, most often as a stripe of blisters around the torso. Once a person has chickenpox, the virus may lie dormant in the nerve tissues near the spinal cord and brain and reactivate years later as shingles. Early treatment of shingles can help shorten the infection and reduce the chances of complications. Postherpetic neuralgia is a complication of shingles and is characterized by extended shingles pain even after the blisters clear.

How Is Chickenpox Spread?

Chickenpox is highly contagious and can spread from person to person very easily. It can spread from two days before the rash and continue to spread until all the blisters are scabbed. It can spread through breathing the air an infected person exhales, coughing, or sneezing. It may also spread by direct contact with the fluid from the rash blisters or even touching items contaminated with their blister fluid or breath. If a pregnant woman is infected with chickenpox can spread the virus to the baby before birth. In addition, a mother can spread the infection to the newborn baby after birth.

How to Know if One Has Chicken Pox?

A person could be susceptible to chickenpox if they have come in direct contact with an infected person, have not been vaccinated for chickenpox, or have a very weak immune system.

The red itchy rash associated with chickenpox is recognizable and can be diagnosed easily by a trained medical professional.

Other symptoms that could be associated include:

• Malaise.

• Fatigue.

• High Fever.

• Headache.

• Stomach pain that lasts for one or two days.

• Bumps filled with milky water-like fluid.

• Blotchy skin.

• Spots that may fade away.

• Scabs once the blisters break.

• Loss of appetite.

Symptoms of chickenpox often look similar for adults and children, but adults usually suffer more severely and have prolonged high temperatures with more spots.

Testing for Chickenpox: Although testing for chickenpox is rarely required, it can help diagnose even mild cases or when one is suspected of having a second chickenpox.

Tests to diagnose chickenpox include:

• PCR (polymerase chain reaction) or DFA (direct fluorescent antibody test) of the cellular matter from unroofed vesicles.

• Culture of the fluid from the blisters.

• Testing for IgG and IgM antibody levels.

What Is the Treatment and Management for Chickenpox?

If a person catches chickenpox, drink plenty of fluids and get a lot of rest. The disease subsides on its own within two weeks.

To help with the itchy and painful blisters:

• Place a cold, moist rag on the rashes.

• Do not scratch, as it may only worsen the rashes.

• Apply antihistamine lotions to soothe the itching sensation.

• Over-the-counter antihistamines like Benadryl or Cetirizine could also be used.

• Take cold water baths, and avoid hot water baths as they may worsen the itching sensation.

• Have cold food items and a soft, bland diet to prevent mouth sores.

• Do not give Aspirin if a child gets chickenpox, as it may increase the risk of Reye’s syndrome. Reye’s syndrome is a severe illness and can cause damage to the liver and brain.

The best option to protect one from chickenpox is to get the vaccine. Once vaccinated, the chances of getting another infection, even if they come in contact with an infected person, is rare. One may even get vaccinated right after being in contact with an infected person and still be protected from the virus. However, people with a weakened immune system, pregnant women, tuberculosis patients, and sick people should not get the vaccine. Even Shingles vaccines are available for adults to avoid the flare-up of the condition.

What Are the Complications of Chickenpox?

Complications due to chickenpox are often rare but possible. Most people recover from the condition without any complications. However, severe cases can be dangerous, especially for very young babies, teenagers, immunocompromised people, and pregnant women.

Complications include:

• Encephalitis.

• Pneumonia.

• Dehydration.

• Bacterial infection of the blood, soft tissues, and skin.

• Liver diseases.

• Blood clots and healing disorders.

When to Consult a Doctor?

Consult the healthcare provider if the child:

• Has severe headache.

• If a new fever reappears after the first few days.

• Looks ill and has a high fever with many spots inside their mouth.

• If the spot becomes enlarged or very sore and has pus in them.

• Has breathing difficulty.

• Develops sores in the eyes.

Conclusion

Chickenpox is a highly contagious infection most often seen in children. The chickenpox infection usually occurs only once and is said to give life-long immunity against the virus. But there are chances of a second infection. The best option to help prevent chickenpox is to get the chickenpox vaccine. The vaccine is said to be 90 % effective in preventing the disease. When a person gets vaccinated, they protect themselves and their family members, especially those who can not get vaccinated. However, if one contracts chickenpox, the illness is self-limiting and goes away within two weeks. However, if one does contract chickenpox, the illness is self-limiting and goes away within two weeks.