"Chickenpox, or chicken pox, also known as varicella, is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease caused by the initial infection with varicella zoster virus (VZV), a member of the herpesvirus family."
Infections typically contracted during childhood, such as chickenpox, mumps, and rubella.
Immunology: Understanding the immune system is crucial in understanding how childhood infections occur and how they can be prevented or treated.
Epidemiology: This branch of science studies the spread and distribution of diseases among populations, including children.
Microbiology: Knowledge about microorganisms, their characteristics, and how they cause disease is important in understanding childhood infections.
Viruses: Viruses are a major cause of childhood infections and understanding their basic structure and how they cause disease is essential.
Bacteria: Bacteria are another common cause of childhood infections and studying their types, effects, and treatment is important.
Fungi: Fungal infections can also affect children and learning about their basic characteristics, causes, and treatment is important.
Parasites: Parasitic infections can be very dangerous for children and studying their types, effects, and treatment is important.
Vaccinations: Vaccinations are an essential tool in preventing childhood infections, and learning about their types, administration, and effectiveness is important.
Common childhood infections: Learning about common childhood infections such as measles, chickenpox, and mumps is important for identifying and treating these diseases.
Prevention and control: Knowledge about preventive measures such as hygiene, disinfection, and isolation is important in controlling the spread of childhood infections.
Diagnosis and treatment: Understanding how childhood infections are diagnosed and treated can help in identifying and treating these diseases.
Complications and sequelae: Some childhood infections can lead to complications and long-term effects, and studying these can help in understanding the full impact of these diseases.
Emerging infections: New or re-emerging infectious diseases can pose a serious threat to children, and learning about how these diseases spread and how they can be prevented is important.
Antimicrobial resistance: Understanding the problem of antimicrobial resistance and how it affects the treatment of childhood infections is crucial.
Global health: Childhood infections are a major global health issue, and studying their impact on different populations around the world is important.
Chickenpox: A highly contagious viral infection that results in an itchy rash, raised blisters, and fever.
Measles: A contagious viral infection characterized by fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and rash.
Mumps: A contagious viral infection that affects the salivary glands, causing swelling and pain.
Rubella: A contagious viral infection that causes rash, fever, and swollen glands.
Roseola: A viral infection that causes a high fever followed by a rash.
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease: A viral infection that causes sores in the mouth and rash on the hands and feet.
Fifth disease: A viral infection that typically causes a red rash on the face, arms, and legs.
Scarlet fever: A bacterial infection that causes a rash and a sore throat.
Strep throat: A bacterial infection that causes a sore throat and difficulty swallowing.
Impetigo: A bacterial skin infection that results in sores and blisters.
Ringworm: A fungal infection that causes a circular rash on the skin.
Pinworms: A type of parasitic infection that causes itchiness around the anus.
Influenza: A viral infection that causes fever, cough, and body aches.
Pneumonia: A bacterial or viral infection that affects the lungs.
Bronchitis: An infection of the bronchial tubes that causes coughing and difficulty breathing.
Ear infections: An infection in the middle ear that causes pain and difficulty hearing.
Urinary tract infections: A bacterial infection of the urinary tract that causes frequent urination and pain.
Gastroenteritis: A viral or bacterial infection of the digestive system that causes vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain.
"The disease results in a characteristic skin rash that forms small, itchy blisters, which eventually scab over. It usually starts on the chest, back, and face. It then spreads to the rest of the body. The rash and other symptoms, such as fever, tiredness, and headaches, usually last five to seven days."
"Chickenpox is an airborne disease which easily spreads via human-to-human transmission, typically through the coughs and sneezes of an infected person."
"The incubation period is 10–21 days, after which the characteristic rash appears."
"It may be spread from one to two days before the rash appears until all lesions have crusted over."
"Yes, it may also spread through contact with the blisters. Those with shingles may spread chickenpox to those who are not immune through contact with the blisters."
"The disease can usually be diagnosed based on the presenting symptom; however, in unusual cases it may be confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of the blister fluid or scabs."
"People usually only get chickenpox once. Although reinfections by the virus occur, these reinfections usually do not cause any symptoms."
"Since its introduction in 1995 in the United States, the varicella vaccine has resulted in a decrease in the number of cases and complications from the disease."
"It protects about 70–90 percent of people from disease with a greater benefit for severe disease."
"Yes, routine immunization of children is recommended in many countries."
"Immunization within three days of exposure may improve outcomes in children."
"Treatment of those infected may include calamine lotion to help with itching, keeping the fingernails short to decrease injury from scratching, and the use of paracetamol (acetaminophen) to help with fevers."
"In 2013, there were 140 million cases of chickenpox and shingles worldwide."
"Since immunization, the number of infections in the United States has decreased nearly 90%."
"In 2015 chickenpox resulted in 6,400 deaths globally – down from 8,900 in 1990."
"Death occurs in about 1 per 60,000 cases."
"Chickenpox was not separated from smallpox until the late 19th century."
"The first documented use of the term chicken pox was in 1658."
"Various explanations have been suggested for the use of 'chicken' in the name, one being the relative mildness of the disease."