Communicable Disease: Chickenpox

Communicable Disease: Chickenpox

Definition and Occurrence

Chickenpox is an illness caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) (kidshealth.org). The illness is highly contagious and is generally spread through the air. When an individual sneezes or coughs, the virus travels through the air and is inhaled or ingested by others. The virus can also be spread through physical touch; normally by coming in contact with the red blisters that manifest on an individual that is infected with the virus. Chickenpox manifests in a very apparent physical form, as well as flu-like symptoms throughout the entire body. The physical symptoms appear in the form of bright red blisters. The virus creates a rash all over an individual’s body that brings about an irritating sensation leading to scratching, blisters, and permanent scarring. The rash can appear initially on the abdomen or back and face, and, more often than not, spreads to almost everywhere else on the body, including the scalp, mouth, arms, legs, and genitals (kidshealth.org). Moreover, the virus is also accompanied by headaches, sore throats, and stomach aches. The entire course of chickenpox normally lasts, on average, for a week (cdc.gov). The signal for its recession comes when the blisters dry out. Treatment for chicken is most effective in the form of a vaccine before the individual contracts the virus. The varicella vaccine is normally administered to the children between the ages of 12 and 15 months, compounded with a booster shot between the ages of 4 and 6 years old (Gould, 2014). Additionally, unless a rare case presents itself, treatment for chickenpox is geared towards easing the effects of symptoms like the rash and fever through over-the-counter antidotes and medicine (p. 56).

The chickenpox infection normally targets children under the age of 12 (Gould, 2014). By receiving the vaccination, their chance for contraction is reduced greatly or symptoms associated are much milder should the virus still be contracted. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, before the vaccine, about 4 million people would get chickenpox each year in the United States (cdc.gov). The incidence is much lower. In 2006, one does of the vaccine was administered to 89% of children 19–35 months, which then led to varicella-related morbidity and mortality to decrease 90% between 1995 and 2005 (cdc.gov). There are, however, complications that arise from rare occurrences of chickenpox. Individuals who more severe symptoms and may be at high risk for complications include:

• Infants
• Adolescents
• Adults
• Pregnant women
• People with weakened immune systems because of illness or medications (cdc.gov).

Complications including dehydration, pneumonia, bleeding problems, bone infections, and toxic shock syndrome have all been linked to the virus (Watkins, 2011). Moreover, according to the CDC, about 10,600 people were hospitalized and 100 to 150 died each year as a result of chickenpox (cdc.gov). Many of the deaths occur in unvaccinated children and adults. Additionally, a lot of the healthy adults who have died from the disease contracted it from their unvaccinated children (Watkins, 2011). Lastly, the chickenpox disease leaves adults more prone to the contraction of shingles. Both incidences are caused by the same virus. Those who have been infected by the shingles virus are prone to resurgence later in life. Roughly 9 in every 10 adults have had chickenpox. Although it can occur at any age, the resurgence of the varicella virus is most common in people who are over the age of 70 and it is estimated that around one in every four people will have at least one episode of shingles during their life (nhs.uk).