What is Chickenpox (Varicella Zoster)? Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention Methods

Chickenpox (Varicella zoster) is an acute and contagious disease. It is caused by the Varicella zoster virus (VZV), a DNA virus. This virus is a member of the Herpes virus family. The Varicella zoster virus causes chickenpox in an individual during its primary infection. Sometimes, after the initial illness, the virus may settle in the lymph nodes and remain latent in the body. In this case, at the first opportunity, it can lead to Herpes zoster (shingles) as a secondary infection in the individual.

What is Chickenpox (Varicella zoster)?

Chickenpox causes itchy, blister-like skin rashes. The virus that causes this infection is called Varicella zoster. Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease. However, it is not very common today. The reason for this is childhood vaccination practices. Although children are a more susceptible group for chickenpox, adults can also contract this disease.

Before the chickenpox vaccine was available, almost everyone carried the chickenpox virus and contracted the disease. However, with vaccination practices, the incidence of chickenpox has decreased significantly. Today, the chickenpox vaccine is part of routine vaccination programs.

Once a person has had chickenpox, they do not catch it again from another person. However, if a person has not been vaccinated, they can contract chickenpox at any age. Since adults who contract chickenpox experience the disease more severely than children and have a higher risk of complications, it is healthier to have had chickenpox during childhood or to prevent the disease by getting vaccinated.

What Are the Symptoms of Chickenpox?

Symptoms of chickenpox in adults, children, and infants may differ. However, in general, the first symptom of chickenpox is a feeling of malaise. Early-stage chickenpox, or the onset of chickenpox, refers to the few days before the rashes (chickenpox rash) appear. Some chickenpox symptoms that may be seen during this period are as follows:

Body aches,

Fever,

Feeling very tired,

Loss of appetite,

Headache, and

Chickenpox rash.

Within one or two days, the patient develops the most common symptom of chickenpox: itchy rashes. These rashes usually appear first on the face, chest, and back. The spots can sometimes spread to the rest of the body. In severe cases, these skin lesions can be seen in the patient's mouth, eyes, anus, or genitals.

There are three stages of chickenpox that describe how skin lesions appear. These stages are expressed by numbers:

Stage 1: In the first stage, the patient develops itchy, raised bumps. These bumps can be pink, red, or skin-colored. In medical literature, these lesions are called papules. Between 250 and 500 of these appear on the patient's body. During this stage, new bumps continue to appear for several days.

Stage 2: In the next stage, the second stage, these bumps turn into small, fluid-filled blisters called vesicles. Vesicles last for about a day before they burst and begin to leak.

Stage 3: In the final stage, these open sores crust over. As the patient recovers, new bumps continue to appear. Bumps, blisters, and crusts can be seen at the same time, meaning all stages can be present together. Until all spots have crusted over, the patient is a carrier of the chickenpox virus and can spread the disease to others.

Chickenpox symptoms usually last for 4 to 7 days. Since the disease can be contagious, avoiding contact with unvaccinated individuals during this process is very important to prevent the spread of the disease.

How is Chickenpox Transmitted?

Chickenpox can be transmitted through contact with the rashes or the fluid from the blisters of an infected person. The virus can also be spread by inhaling droplets if someone with chickenpox coughs or sneezes. When a person has chickenpox, contagiousness begins 1 to 2 days before the rashes appear and continues until all the patient's blisters have dried and crusted over. Symptoms of the infected person appear approximately 10 to 21 days after exposure to the virus.

The vaccine is highly protective against chickenpox. However, if an adult has not been vaccinated and has never had chickenpox in their life, there is a risk of contracting the disease. Your risk for this disease is even higher if you are around children or work in a school or daycare.

How is Chickenpox Diagnosed?

If you think you or your child may have chickenpox, you may consider visiting the nearest healthcare facility. There is no specific chickenpox test for this disease, but chickenpox produces lesions that are quite easy to distinguish visually. Therefore, in most cases, a diagnosis of chickenpox is made by a physician through the examination of the chickenpox appearance and other symptoms. Diagnosis is very important for fighting the disease. During this process, medications that help the disease pass may be needed to fight the virus or treat other health problems that may arise due to chickenpox.

You may consider reviewing the symptoms as it may be important for diagnosis. If you experience the following situations, it may be healthy to inform your physician that you have seen these symptoms:

If the rashes have reached the eyes or are seen in both eyes,

If the rashes become very hot or tender,

If you suspect that there are more serious symptoms accompanying the rash (dizziness, confusion, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, tremors, loss of ability to coordinate muscles, worsening cough, vomiting, neck stiffness, or a fever higher than 38.9 degrees Celsius),

You live with people who have never had chickenpox or have not yet received the chickenpox vaccine,

If someone close to you is pregnant or

If you live with someone who has an illness or uses medications that affect the immune system.

To make a diagnosis, visiting a doctor immediately after the onset of symptoms can speed up the diagnostic process and prevent transmissions.

How is Chickenpox Treated?

Chickenpox usually affects children. Therefore, if your child is suffering from chickenpox, you can first ensure that they get plenty of rest and fluids. Chickenpox heals on its own within one to two weeks. During this process, you can try the following to help your child itch less:

Pressing a cool, damp cloth over the rash,

Keeping your child cool,

Encouraging your child not to scratch,

Cutting the child's nails to prevent them from scratching themselves,

Applying a lotion containing antihistamines to the rash,

Giving your child a cool bath or shower every day,

Giving your child plenty of water and fluids to prevent dehydration.

If the patient has blisters in their mouth, a diet consisting of soft foods may help.

Throughout this process, you should not give your child aspirin. Aspirin can be harmful to children with a fever and therefore must be used only with a doctor's recommendation. Likewise, if a baby three months old or younger gets chickenpox, the child's healthcare provider should be notified immediately. Chickenpox is more dangerous for newborns, and therefore it is healthier for the baby to be under the supervision of a pediatrician.

The treatment for chickenpox in adults is the same as for children. However, a specialist physician may additionally recommend an antiviral medication. Adults who are at risk for severe symptoms or who already have certain medical conditions may also benefit from antiviral medications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease. Therefore, it concerns many people. There are many questions that can be asked about chickenpox. You can find the most frequently asked questions about chickenpox in the rest of the article. Chickenpox usually lasts 10 to 14 days and then disappears. For itching, one of the most troublesome symptoms of chickenpox, you can use cooling creams or gels that you can buy from the pharmacy. You can also consult your physician or pharmacist about using antihistamine medication to help with itching. Additionally, bathing in cold water at home and drying the skin without rubbing can also help with itching. Wearing loose clothing, especially after a cold shower, is also recommended for chickenpox patients. The contagiousness of chickenpox begins 2 days before the spots appear and continues until the lesions have completely crusted over. It is quite easy to see the symptoms of chickenpox. A diagnosis can be made by a family physician or in the emergency department through the lesions on the skin. However, since this disease usually affects children, applying to the pediatric department can also be considered. Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease. To protect against this disease, not being in the same room as someone who has chickenpox can be a good option. Also, since chickenpox can be transmitted through the fluid from the blisters of the skin lesions that form, it is very important to quarantine the patient. In addition to these, the varicella vaccine provides highly effective protection against the disease. Smallpox is a deadly disease that has been eradicated, meaning it no longer exists in the world. However, chickenpox is still frequently seen. Although it can lead to serious symptoms and complications, it is not as life-ending as smallpox. Furthermore, the lesions seen in both diseases are different from each other. Smallpox caused epidemics during the time it existed in the world. However, chickenpox does not cause epidemics because it is part of the childhood vaccination schedule today. In cases where vaccination is not performed, it is generally known as a childhood disease, although it can also be seen in adults.

If you have noticed symptoms of chickenpox, consult our specialist physicians without delay. Take control of the course of the disease with early diagnosis and treatment. Book an Online Appointment