How To Prevent Chicken Pox

Chicken pox is an infection caused by Varicella Zoster virus. The Symptoms include blister like itch with fever and headache. It is an airborne disease and highly contagious. It usually lasts for five to ten days. It can be spread through cough or sneeze or through direct contact with secretions from the rash.

If you have already had chicken pox you have developed immunity to it and not likely to develop again. There are chances that chicken pox virus remain hiding in the spinal nerve cells and recur again known as herpes zoster or shingles. However, certain measures when taken can help the prevention and spread of chicken pox.

Various Methods For Prevent  Chicken Pox

Vaccine

The Varicella vaccination has to be given before the school at about one year of age. The second dose of vaccine has to be given at four years of age. If the older person has not had chickenpox, the shot may be given at anytime.

Vaccination helps in 90% decrease in the incidence of chickenpox and lower complications in those who develop the symptoms.

To See A Doctor For Certain Symptoms

It is better to see a doctor if you have symptoms such as breathing problems, weakness, drowsiness, convulsions, pains or headaches which becomes worse, unable to take fluids due to severe rash in the mouth, a severe rash which bruises or bleeds into the skin, leading to more and more unwell.

Proper Hygiene

The sufferers should frequently cut their nails or wear gloves to prevent scratching and minimize the risk of secondary infections. The condition resolves itself within a couple of weeks meanwhile personal hygiene is to be maintained.

The skin should be daily cleaned with warm water to avoid secondary bacterial infection. The virus is relatively easy to kill in the environment as they are susceptible to disinfectants, notably chlorine bleach.

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Staying Isolated

Once infected, it is better for the person to stay isolated to avoid spreading the disease to others as a preventive measure. The person with chickenpox is infectious from two days before the rash first appears until all the spots are crusted over. The infectious stage lasts only for a week or two. In some cases the spots become infected by bacteria, and then the surrounding skin becomes red and sore.

In such cases antibiotics may be needed. People with chickenpox should not travel by air until six days after the last spot appeared. After recovering from chickenpox it is recommended for adults to take one injection of VZV immune globulin and one injection of varicella vaccine or herpes zoster vaccine.

Care For Pregnant And New Born Infants

If you are pregnant and not had chicken pox or been immunized then contact your doctor immediately as treatment can prevent chickenpox from developing.

The treatment with a product called immunoglobulin may prevent chickenpox from developing. New infants from birth to six month should be kept away from an infected person as their immune system is not developed to handle the stress.

Care To Be Taken By Health Care Provider

If you are a health care provider and have been immunized or earlier had chicken pox then you are not likely to develop. It would be better to contact your occupational health department if you feel unwell or develop a rash.

If uncertain whether you are immunized or had chicken pox then get test done to see if you are immune. If not, then avoid contact with high risk patients. Better, report to the occupational health department before patient contact. It is best to get immunized.