Complications from chickenpox can be serious; Ask Alan YOUR CHILD HEALTH QUERIES.Byline: Alan Taman Q Can chickenpox chickenpox or varicella Contagious viral disease producing itchy blisters. It usually occurs in epidemics among young children, causes a low fever, and runs a mild course, leaving patients immune. The blisters can scar if scratched. ever be dangerous? A Yes. Chickenpox can cause complications far more serious than the usual disease, which is relatively mild. Normally a rash starts on the face 10-20 days after infection, which is either from direct contact or by breathing in droplets containing the virus. These are itchy, spread, and become small blisters, taking seven-10 days to disappear again. Usually the worst thing is for sleep to be disturbed through the itchiness - calamine lotion calamine lotion A lotion containing zinc oxide–98% of weight mixed with iron oxide, or zinc carbonate; it is mildly astringent and protective, and used for various skin conditions–eg, poison ivy and sunburn is still an effective remedy. Children with a weakened immune system immune system Cells, cell products, organs, and structures of the body involved in the detection and destruction of foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Immunity is based on the system's ability to launch a defense against such invaders. , such as those with leukaemia, pneumonia or meningitis can be a risk. Another rare but dangerous complication is Reye's syndrome, where the vital organs swell during recovery. Adults catching chickenpox usually fare less well and are far more ill, but even in adults serious complications are rare. The most common long-term complication is shingles, where the virus gets into spinal nerves and stays there for years, flaring up painfully (though not dangerously) at intervals. People with shingles can give others chickenpox if they have not caught it before. |
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