Chickenpox and immunisation
What is Chickenpox?
- A contagious disease caused by Varicella Zoster Virus
- A common childhood disease characterized by fever and itchy blisters on the body
Modes of transmission
- Direct contact
- Droplets of saliva from coughs or sneezes
- Wet blisters
- Items contaminated by infected fluids
Complications
- Skin infection
- Dehydration
- Severe heardache
- Muscle aches
- Irritability
- Drowsiness
- Brain damage from encephalitis (inflammation)
- Pneumonia
- Arthritis (joint pain)
Treatment and Care
- Anti-viral medications usually most effective when taken in the first 24 hours of illness
- Avoid scratching as it can cause scarring
Prevention
- Chicken pox vaccine- Varilrix
- Children from 12 months onwards receive two doses of vaccine at least 6 weeks apart
- Similarly, adults who have yet to receive the vaccine should have 2 doses, at least 6 weeks apart
How does varilix work?
- Contains a live but weakened form of the virus that causes chickenpox, varicella-zoster.
- It works by provoking the body's immune response to this virus, without actually causing the disease.
By : Dr Chen Yiming
Family Physician, MBBS (Singapore), GDFM (NUS), GDFP Dermatology (NUS)
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