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mittens to lessen scratching open the blisters

The CDC recommends inoculating your child between the ages of twelve and fifteen months, then repeating the dose when the child is between four and six years old. Most schools in the United States require children to be vaccinated before starting or entering a new school. If a child has already had chickenpox, he does not need to be vaccinated.

People who have not had chickenpox can catch it from someone who has had shingles. Those who have had chickenpox are also at a 20% risk of contracting shingles. After someone has chickenpox, the varicella virus can hibernate for years near the nerve cells around the spinal cord. Situations like emotional stress, immune deficiencies or cancer can wake up the virus-causing shingles. Shingles is caused by the herpes zoster virus, not to be confuses with the family of herpes viruses that cause venereal disease.

As in chickenpox, a rash develops when one has shingles. More likely the patient will notice other symptoms before the rash develops. They include complaints of pain and burning skin. Blisters will erupt and form a dermatomal pattern, meaning they follow nerve pathways coming out of the spinal cord. The blisters will break, crust over and eventually heal. Typically it takes three to four weeks to recover. Shingles is contagious (to those who have not have chickenpox) until all the blisters have crusted over. Shingles can be treated with antivirals including Zovirax and Valtrex. Like chickenpox, there is a vaccination for shingles, but it is mainly given to those age 60 and over.

Learn more about this author, R. M. Ziegler.
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