What causes chickenpox and how you can prevent it?

Answer 1

Chicken Pox is caused by the Varicella-zoster virus. It belongs to the family of Herpes viruses. Chickenpox seldom causes scarring, yet when it does, the scars most often occur around the eyes and consist of a small depression. Chickenpox lesions can become infected, usually from scratching and most frequently with bacteria called Staphylococcus. These secondary infections may be severe enough to require hospitalization. The virus is contained in the body fluids and in the lesions of skin and mucosa. It is transmitted from person to person by droplet infection through the respiratory tract. Rarely the condition may be caused by exposure to a case of Herpes Zoster. Once the virus enters the body it rests and reproduces in the lymph nodes of the body for about 3 to 4 days before it travels to the blood to infect the spleen and liver. It finally rests in the nerve roots near the spinal cord till it is activated. No trigger maybe needed for its activation, but sometimes it waits for events like stress or diminished immunity before it attacks.