Chicken pox and secondary complications

Author: Sophiko Sturua
Co-authors: Sophiko Sturua
Keywords: chicken pox
Annotation:

Annotation Chickenpox is a worldwide widespread infectious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which belongs to the herpes virus family. The infection is transmitted by airborne droplets, which is spread by coughing and sneezing, as well as by contact with damaged skin. Chickenpox starts as a rash on the skin, initially small, 2-4mm diameter red blisters which causes itching. The rash usually appears on the chest, back, face, and then spreads to the entire body. It is accompanied by fever, fatigue, pharyngitis and headache, which usually lasts five to seven days. The disease is more severe in adults than in children. Symptoms begin 10-21 days after exposure, but the average incubation period is about two weeks. Complications of chickenpox can include: bacterial infections when the rash becomes infected with bacteria, particularly Staphylococci and Streptococci, as well as neurological disorders such as cerebral ataxia and meningoencephalitis, pneumonia and herpes. A third of adults infected with the virus are at risk of serious complications, especially those over 65 and people who are immunocompromised. The smallpox vaccine was developed in Japan in 1974 from a live attenuated varicella Oka (P-Oka) strain, which has been actively used since 1995 to prevent complications of the infection.