FactsOn
       Chickenpox
Chickenpox(varicella) is a common infectious viral infection with the varicella-zoster virus(VZV), one of the herpes viruses. The characteristic feature of chickenpox is a rash that starts out as red spots that turn into pimple like itchy blister bursts, which is often accompanied by fever. After the blister bursts, a dry crust forms. While chickenpox is usually benign and self limiting in otherwise healthy children, the disease is often more severe in immunosuppressed individuals, neonates, adolescent and adults.

Signs And Symptoms od Chickenpox
The first symptoms appear after the incubation period, about 14 days after exposure to the virus. They are usually nonspecific complaints such as headache, depression, fever and loss appetite. One or two days after the first symptoms, a rash appear which may itch intensely. It starts with a few red spots on the trunk, which multiply rapidly and spread out to cover the front and back of the body. the limbs, face, scalp, mouth, and tongue may all be affected. The average number of vesicles is 200 to 300, but as many as 500 or even more may develop in severe cases. The spots are initially flat but soon appear like small blisters as fluid collects in them. After about a week, the blisters rupture to form crusts which drop off, leaving slightly pink depressed areas od skin.

As the skin heals, the rash usually disappears completely. However, scars can develop where the spots were, particularly is they were scratched and subsequently became infected. Once a person has had chickenpox, they will normally get immunity against chickenpox and will not get it again. However, the chickenpox virus stays inactive(dormant) in a person's body for his lifetime. Later in life(usually in older adult years), the virus ,ay become active again and causes shingles(herpes zoster).

Young children
in young children these symptoms are often mild and short-lived. In older children, adolescent and adults, they tent to be more severe. They usually have more chickenpox blister and the other symptoms associated with the illness and usually more persistent.

Adults
Adults with chickenpox may need to be admitted to the hospital for care. People with impaired immune systems may have more severe and longer lasting symptoms of illness when they have chickenpox.

Worldwide Epidemiology
Reliable date on the local epidemiology of chickenpox are limited. Almost everyone, however, will be exposed to varicella-zoster virus over their lifetime, making the annual incidence of chickenpox in any country about the same as the cohort of children born in a given year. In the USA in 1996, for example, the incidence of chickenpox was estimated to be four million cases. The age related incidence of chickenpox is know to vary from one country to another, and climate plays an important role.

Chickenpox In Pregnant Women And Newborn Babies
Chickenpox in a pregnant woman can causes congenital or neonatal chickenpox in her child and, if the infection occurs late in the pregnancy, severe pneumonia and possible death in the woman. Women who are wanting to get pregnant and have never had chickenpox should consider being tested for immunity or take the vaccine to prevent complications of chickenpox during pregnancy.

A woman who catches chickenpox while in the first or second trimester of pregnancy can transmit the virus to her fetus. In one or two percent of cases, this infection can cause congenital chickenpox syndrome in the fetus, which is characterised by skin scarring, limb deformities, a variety of eye disorders and central nervous system defects. There is also an increased risk of stillbirth, abortion, pre maturity and low birth weight. These infants may also develop herpes zoster during early childhood.

Infection of chickenpox in newborn babies is caused by the transmission of the varicella-zoster virus from the mother to the baby around the time of birth, following infection of the mother in late pregnancy. If a mother catches chickenpox more than six days before delivery, maternal immunoglobulin(lg)G antibodies are formed and transferred to the child, preventing the newborn from acquiring severe disease. If the mother is infected within five days before delivery, and there is no time for maternal antibodies to develop and provide the baby with passive immunity. This can, therefore, cause more severe, possibly even fatal, infection in the baby. If a mother gets infected five or fewer days before delivery, the risk of fetus developing chickenpox is about 17 percent, with a case fatality rate of 31 percent.

Protecting High Risk Patients
Chickenpox is becoming more common among adolescent and adults, where it tends to be more severe. Complications, hospitalization rates and mortality rise with age, particularly after the age of 15 years. There will be a reduction in morbidity and mortality associated with the occasional cases of severe disease. The incidence of complications such as bacterial super infections and scarring, pneumonia and encephalitis will be reduces. Congenital and neonatal chickenpox will be prevented. Vaccinated children will be protected from severe consequences of chickenpox. Immunocompromised patients (both children and adults) also suffer more serious disease and complications, while pregnant women who catch the disease may pass the infection on to their babies- with devastating effects. Vacations of people at high risk would bring obvious benefits, and it is particularly important to vaccinate non immune adults who are at increased risk of transmitting chickenpox to those susceptible to severe forms of the disease.

Chickenpox Vaccination:
An Important Advance
Chickenpox can be passed from one person to another even the rash develops. It spreads quickly among people who are in close contact with each other in confined spaces, such as children in small classrooms or people who share bedrooms. It may be difficult to prevent chickenpox from spreading once the rash develops. Chickenpox can be prevented by taking the varicella-zoster vaccine, and the compelling reasons why chickenpox vacation should be carried out include:

Preventing the spread of the disease

Preventing herpes zoster

Reducing financial costs

Reducing the burden to society

Protecting high risk patients

Chickenpox is not always a benign disease; vacation prevents both disease and its complications and meets the following needs:

Preventing The Spread of Chickenpox

Even mild cases of chickenpox in other wise healthy children cause substantial discomfort ad potentially permanent scarring. Small but significant numbers od people die from the disease and its complications, even in countries where health care provision is good. Vacations could prevent the discomforts of the disease, permanent scarring, complications, and even deaths.

Vacation Against Varicella May Reduce The Incidence And Severity Of Herpes Zoster

Anyone who contracts varicella is at risk of developing herpes zoster in later life, If varicella can be prevented, the risk of zoster may be diminished.

Vaccines Is Cost-effective

chickenpox is a highly contagious disease. Children who contract it need to be cared for at home. This can lead to significant absence of parents from work, incurring substantial inconvenience and cost. A study in the USA showed that, when all the indirect costs resulting from cases of chickenpox are taken into account, routine vacation to prevent the disease would save more that $5 for every $1 invested in vaccination