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Chickenpox

Chickenpox is a contagious and airborne disease primarily due to varicella zoster virus (VZV). The disease can be easily spread through sneezing or coughing of infected individuals or through direct contact with the fluids secreted by the rash.

705 Questions

Is chickenpox worse than urticaria?

Chickenpox is time limited, while urticaria can continue for years. But chickenpox can kill you and urticaria can't. Hard to say which is better or worse.

Can you get chickenpox on your palm?

It's possible, but highly unlikely. Shingles follow a nerve and it's generally on the upper torso. It's best to see your doctor. You may have a skin disease on the bottom of your feet. Until you see the doctor soak your feet in tepid water with a 1/2 cup of Epsom Salts (this is not table salt) and you can get it at your drug store. If you don't see it ask the pharmacist. Soak for 20 minutes. Do this every other day until you see the doctor. Epsom Salts is a crystal so take the 1/2 cup of crystals, add boiling water to melt down and add to a basin of TEPID WATER (skin temperature) and soak. Epsom Salts have great healing properties, but still see your doctor!

What should you drink when you have chickenpox?

You can eat whatever you want if you have chickenpox. Chances are, your appetite will be very low, and only certain foods will appeal.

However, some people get chicken pox right down in their throat. If this happens, stick with soothing milk drinks, ice to keep you hydrated, and ice cream.

Here are some suggestions from other contributors:

  • Ice cream like the low fat fudge pops, and lots of fruit and oatmeal.
  • Anything you fancy (as long as you're not allergic), but as with most illnesses it is more important to take in fluids.

How are genital chickenpox blisters treated?

Painful genital blisters can be treated with an anesthetic cream recommended by a doctor or pharmacist.

Can you get shingles from someone if you already had chickenpox?

First, you can't "catch shingles" from someone. You can get chickenpox from someone who has shingles, but only if two things are true:

  • You have direct contact with the weeping shingles lesions; AND
  • You have not had chickenpox or chickenpox vaccine in the past.

You can't get chickenpox from someone with shingles if you are immune. You can't get it from being in the same room with them, either. A person with shingles can go about normal activities, including all work or school, as long as the lesions are covered.

Does chickenpox look like pimples?

Sometimes it can. Especially certain types that affect the face. They really resemble pimples when a flair up is just beginning, looks just like a pimple breakout. Once they get larger though, they look completely different. Herpes it large, bloody looking and nasty.

Can children vaccinated for chicken pox get it from someone with shingles?

If they have already had Chicken Pox then they do not need it as you can only catch it once except in some rare cases. It is also very harmless and there is no need to panic! Honestly things in injections these days are more harm then good.

However it is your choice!

Is a chicken pox a virus?

Yes, chickenpox virus is virulent. 90% of household contacts to chickenpox will become ill if they weren't already immune.

Can you get the shingles once you have had them?

It is possible for the outbreak to occur more than once; but only about 5% will have additional outbreaks.

Why is a person who suffers from chicken pox once not likely to be attacked by the same disease in the future?

A virus stays in the body, so once you have chicken pox, it's always there and your body always recognizes it as a disease and fights off any new viruses. The chicken pox virus does reappear as shingles, a very painful skin rash.

How does chickenpox enter your body?

Shingles aren't spread, they come from the virus that cause chicken pox. If you have ever had chicken pox then you are able to have shingles. Especially if you have a weak immune system. A person with shingles coming in contact with a person that doesn't have shingle can't give the person without shingles, shingles. They can however, cause then to get chicken pox.

What is the difference between chickenpox with vaccine and chickenpox without vaccine?

Both shingles and chicken pox are caused by the same virus called Varizella Zoster Virus or VZV. The only difference is from how the illness was triggered; Chickenpox occur during childhood, while shingles comes later. VZV remains dormant inside the body after chickenpox. The virus is awakened if the body experiences weakness in its immune system or is triggered by stress.

Also, to add to this answer, shingles is usually on one side, not both sides at the same time. It follows the nerve it has affected. It will either be on the right or left of your body, not both sides.

Shingles is transmitted only by direct contact with the moist lesions. In contrast, chickenpox is transmitted both by contact with lesions and by respiratory droplets.

When was the chickenpox vaccine mandatory?

Chickenpox vaccine first became mandatory in US states in 1997. It is currently mandated in 49 states, with Montana the exception. For information on dates of mandatory vaccine immunization in various states, see related link.

How long do chickenpox scabs last?

The appearance of scabs after varicella (chickenpox) indicate the patient is no longer contagious. As long as you do not scratch at or pick at the healing scabs, the scabs will take two or three weeks to disappear completely.

What virus is similar to chickenpox?

Chickenpox is a member of the herpes virus family, which includes herpes simplex virus and Epstein-Barr virus.

Can you play sports when you have chickenpox?

As a general rule, people should not play sport whilst suffering any highly infectious disease. The risk of human to human infection and the associated health risks that come from any mild or serious infection outweigh an individuals desire to continue playing sports. Until all chickenpox bumps have scabbed over, you should stay home so that you don't infect others.

Is chickenpox dangerous for adults?

I would like to point out, that Zostavax can cause shingles. I was a healthy 64 year old male who received the Zostavax vaccine on 2/5/08. Ten days later, my doctor diagnosed me with "classic shingles". He put me on Valtrex for 7 days and 1 month later was still suffering with red spots on my (right) chest, severe pain in my right arm and shoulder, and severe itching. I notified Merck and my doctor also did! I read Merck's "double blind" studies, and nowhere does it simply say: this vaccine can cause you to contract shingles. I have all the documentation as well as pictures. Please caution anyone who wants to gamble with their health. I don't believe Merck is being as honest as they should regarding the safety of this vaccine.

How was chickenpox discovered?

Discoveries about chickenpox have been ongoing for over a thousand years:

  • Chickenpox was described clinically by a Persian scholar, Muhammad ibn Zakariya Razi, the ninth century. He didn't differentiate between chickenpox and smallpox, though.

  • Giovanni Filippo of Italy differentiated between chickenpox and scarlet fever in the sixteenth century.

  • In the 17th century, an English physician, Morton, called a disease "chickenpox" that seemed to be a less dangerous form of smallpox.

  • In the 18th century, another Englishman proved that smallpox and chickenpox were different diseases.

  • In the late 19th century, the relationship of chickenpox and herpes zoster was established, and a scientist named Steiner proved that it was an infectious disease.

  • The link between chickenpox and herpes zoster was proven in the 1950s.

  • Live weakened chickenpox vaccine was invented in the 1970s. The vaccine was approved for use in March 1995 in the US.

  • The first anti-herpes medication, acyclovir, was invented in the 1980s.

Can you work in healthcare if your child has chickenpox?

The CDC reports that about 90% of all adults are immune to chicken pox.

The virus can be spread only by the infected person and is contagious from just before the rash breaks out until the blisters are scabbed over ( 4 to 7 days ), after exposure 10-21 days pass before symptoms begin.

Doctors recommend keeping children with chicken pox out of school for about a week.

It is not necessary for you to stay home from work if you have been immunized or have had them in the past, only the infected people within the above stated time period are contagious.

Did they give chickenpox vaccines back in the 1960's?

Chickenpox is a viral illness and was not invented or created. It was around long before the 1950s.

Can you get chickenpox inside your body?

I can't speak for the internal organs, but you can certainly get pox inside your mouth and cheeks, yes.
no its not get over it!
Good question. Maybe your Dr. can answer that one. But it is possible.
Herpes Zoster is chicken pox and that is a disorder that occurs on the skin and beneath the skin. You also can get this virus inside the body

What gender is most affected by chickenpox?

Since chicken pox seems to mutate into worse cases as the season progresses, my thought is that the children who get it last (or who are older before catching it) are sicker. Temperatures run higher as does the number of lesions.

How did the first person get chickenpox?

If someone has already been infected with chickenpox, they are immune to it. Vaccines are also available.

You have immune system in your body. This system recognizes the 'Foreign protein' that has entered in your body in the form of infection. It give rise to cell mediated and humeral immunity against the various infections, once you catch the same. Immunity against the virus infection is usually life long as against the bacterial infections.

You get immunity to chickenpox by way of immunization. You can get passive immunity by injecting the chickenpox immunoglobins. Thirdly you can get the immunity by catching the disease by deliberate exposure of the child to chickenpox patient. After the attack of chickenpox you have immunity against the virus.

Is scarlet fever related to chickenpox and shingles?

Scabies and chicken box are unrelated infections, and having chicken pox in the past does not protect against scabies.