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Chickenpox and immunisation

Author: FITivate | Published date: July 8, 2021 | Category: Medical

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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