Things to know:

Chickenpox is a contagious infection that causes itchy rashes all over the body and leaves the person feeling feverish and tired all the time. Chickenpox is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV).

This virus causes painful rashes on the skin, and it can spread by being in direct contact with the person infected with it. Chickenpox is easily transferable through cough or sneezes or if you inhale the air droplets when around an infected person who coughs or sneezes.

Chickenpox symptoms are usually self-diagnosed aa they can be seen easily with a naked eye. Even before a doctor diagnoses it, anyone at home can easily detect by looking at the skin that he/she has chickenpox.

Below are some visible signs and symptoms of chickenpox.

• Feeling tired
• Severe headache
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Upset stomach (1-3 days max)
• Itchy rashes (small blisters)
• Spots or bumps (Liquid)
• Blotchy bumps
• A stomach ache that lasts for one or two days

1. Pink or reddish bumps, which start to break out over a period of days
2. These pink bumps turn to fluid-filled blisters that form in about one day and then break and leak
3. Once blisters break, it takes several days for the spots to heal

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which is a highly contagious virus. Though it does not leave a long-lasting effect on the body but in severe and rare cases, it can lead to death. Some deaths from chickenpox happen when the children and adults are not vaccinated, and their body is not strong enough to fight off the virus.

But deaths are now rare due to the chickenpox vaccine availability.

• Chickenpox can affect children under the age of 10
• Chickenpox can affect children and adults who have not been vaccinated
• Chickenpox can affect people who have low immunity and have low ability to fight germs
• Chickenpox can affect people who get ill frequently or are on a certain medication

There is no course of treatment for chickenpox as typically it needs no medical treatment. The doctor may prescribe certain medications just to relieve itching and pain caused due to bumps and rashes. But, the infection will wear out in its own course of time.

In certain cases, the doctor may recommend the chickenpox vaccine within a few days of being exposed to the virus to reduce the severity of the infection.

To prevent oneself from chickenpox, the best way is to get yourself vaccinated for the infection. As most people who have been vaccinated will not get chickenpox, and even if they do, their symptoms will be very mild.

Doctors recommend getting your kids vaccinated by the time they reach 6 years of age. The kids who have had chickenpox once may not require any vaccination as they are usually protected against illness.

Chickenpox vaccination isn’t approved for the following people:-

• Pregnant women
• People allergic to gelatin
• People with a weakened and low immune system