Chicken pox, a disease primarily of childhood, affects nearly everyone in the US at some time in their lives. Caused by the varicella zoster virus, which is related to the herpes virus, most people will have contracted it by the time they reach 10 years of age; although some will contract the illness as adults. It tends to be much more severe in adults than it is in children.

Chicken pox occurs most often in the late winter to early spring. The first symptoms often closely resemble those of the flu: fever, sore throat, tiredness or weakness, loss of appetite, sore stomach, and a general sick feeling. After a couple of days, a rash or red blisters form, usually all over the body. The blisters are very itchy, but it is important not to scratch them, as this can cause scars.

The virus is highly contagious, spreading through droplets from sneezing or coughing; or through direct contact with the blisters. This is the likely reason why chicken pox is so common. Those affected should be allowed to rest at home until the blisters scab over and they are no longer infectious.

TREATMENT

Chicken pox, though common and uncomfortable, is rarely severe. Most treatments are in the form of either home remedies to relieve the itching and discomfort associated with the blisters. This includes everything from honey, cold or soft foods (to ease pain if blisters are present inside the mouth) oatmeal baths, fruit and vegetable diet, and much more. Many people opt for over-the-counter medications such as lotions, creams and ointments, which generally work well. As for prescription medication, an antiviral drug called acyclovir is available, though rarely prescribed. (It is important to never give a child aspirin for any reason, because of the possibility of Reye syndrome, which can be fatal.)

There is also a chicken pox vaccine that can be administered at any age, though primarily in infants between 12 to 15 months. The vaccine does not guarantee that a child will not develop chicken pox, but it greatly reduces the likelihood. The vaccine will not offer protection against shingles, however.

Chicken pox is usually only dangerous in individuals with weakened immune systems, so treatment for healthy people is not really a priority except to relieve discomfort.

Usually within two weeks the blisters have healed, and the patient is no longer contagious. Most people will never get another outbreak again, as the body becomes immune to the virus.

SHINGLES

When a person becomes infected with chicken pox, the virus remains in the body for life. For most of us, this poses no problem as it remains dormant or inactive and does not cause any symptoms. Sometimes, though, the virus 're-awakens' to cause shingles- a very painful condition in which a terrible rash breaks out. The first symptoms include a burning, tingling, numbness, or pain before the actual rash. There is no cure, but treatments are similar to those for chicken pox.

While a person with shingles can infect another, the infected person will only come down with chicken pox, not shingles. Shingles itself is not contagious; meaning that someone who has already had chicken pox cannot 'catch' shingles from someone else. But if they have never had chicken pox, they can be infected by a person who has shingles- though they will get chicken pox, not shingles.

Shingles can be very serious and painful; and sometimes, though rarely, it can even be fatal. Thankfully, it is usually only a temporary condition that goes away on its own after a couple of weeks, even without treatment.

Learn more about this author, Laureen Manera.
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