Chickenpox (Varicella) is a contagious skin disease caused by infection with the Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV). It causes itchy rashes and small blisters on the skin all over the body. Chickenpox is most common in children under the age of 15, but it can occur in people of all ages.
Chickenpox symptoms begin as an itchy rash and appear about 10 to 21 days after exposure to the virus. A blistering rash develops after the person has been exposed to the virus, which lasts for about 5 to 10 days. Other symptoms that may occur before the rash appear include:
- Feeling tired and uncomfortable
- fever
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
It is transmitted by breathing in respiratory droplets from an infected person or by direct contact with the blisters on the skin of an infected person. The infectious period is 1-2 days before the rash appears until the rash has completely scabbed over ทางเข้า UFABET สำหรับสมาชิกใหม่ สมัครวันนี้ รับโบนัสฟรี. Therefore, we must be careful when being close to an infected person.
Treatment methods
- If you have a fever, wipe your body and take paracetamol to reduce the fever. Do not use aspirin.
- Cut your nails short to prevent scratching, which can easily cause infection.
- Use saline (for cleaning the wound) to clean the wound to help it heal faster.
- Use medicated soap to wash your body and bathe to prevent skin infections.
- Apply anti-itch or anti-itch medication.
- Adults or children over 12 years old and infants will also use antiviral drugs because this group of children can often develop complications.
- If you experience symptoms such as chest tightness, rapid breathing, fever that does not go down, headache, or pustules, you must rush to the hospital because serious complications can occur, such as pneumonia, encephalitis, or bloodstream infection.
A safe and relatively effective way to prevent chickenpox is to get vaccinated against chickenpox. Your doctor will recommend two doses, starting with the first dose at around 1 year of age and a booster shot at around 4–6 years of age.
For those who have never been vaccinated against chickenpox, two doses of the vaccine are also required. The first and second doses should be given approximately 28 days apart. The vaccine can reduce the risk of contracting the disease and reduce the severity of symptoms by up to 90%.
However, vaccination in pregnant women or those with weakened immune systems can cause dangerous side effects. Therefore, a doctor should be consulted before vaccination.