Chickenpox was once considered a rite of passage for most children. The red, itchy rash is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is part of a group of viruses called herpesviruses. Because chickenpox is so contagious, 90% of a patient's family also will develop the illness if they live in the same house and are not already immune. About one of every 100 children infected with chickenpox will develop a severe lung infection (pneumonia), an infection of the brain (encephalitis), or a problem with the liver Chicken pox, as any other contagious disease, is contracted if getting in direct contact with the persons infected. The virus that causes chicken pox, called varicella, also spreads through air, causing the rash development. The other way of catching chicken pox is to get in contact with shingles.

A highly contagious disease, chicken pox is usually spread through air, when inhaling the air near a patient with this disease that has just coughed or sneezed, pr by touch , again by coming in direct contact with a diseased person. Infants usually get their antibodies from their mothers while steal being in the womb, so it is very improbable for them to catch the disease in their first year of life. And even if they do in most cases it just a mild form they would be suffering from.

Symptoms of Chicken Pox:

Fever.

Decreased appetite

Weakness.

Fatigue.

Mild headache.

Abdominal pain or loss of appetite.

Low-grade fever.

Rash on the upper chest or back.

Cough or runny nose

Not so many treatments are known for this virus. Acyclovir is the most used treatment for chicken pox. Combined with natural treatments such as brown vinegar and oatmeal baths or soups of carrot and coriander the treatment usually helps. For patients with a more complicated form of infection hospitalization is needed. So treatment would be directed primarily at improving symptoms as long as they last. It is of primary importance to maintain good hygiene to prevent secondary bacterial infection of the pustules or rashes. Other lotions / tablets to control itching are also useful. Traditional practices such as neem compresses are useful.

Paracetamol is used for fever, bodyache etc. Chicken pox is one condition wherein aspirin absolutely should not be given to children for pain relief since it can result in permanent brain damage. (In any case, unless specifically recommended by a doctor, aspirin or its derivatives should not be administered to persons less than 16 years old.)

The good thing to know about chicken pox is that if your child does get it in their elementary years, it is likely to be mild. Once a full course of the illness is run in a person’s body, the chances of ever getting it again are low. But, there are some cases, called breakthrough infection cases in which a mild form of the illness reoccurs. If you suspect that you or a child you know may have chicken pox, you will need to see a doctor to confirm that it is chicken pox. In order to keep it from spreading to unexposed adults or others at risk for the serious forms of chicken pox, contact with those individuals needs to be minimal. Proper hand washing and sanitizing may help.