CHICKEN POX

WHAT IS CHICKEN POX

• Chicken pox is a highly contagious infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus which is part of the herpes group of viruses. It is more dangerous if you catch it as an adult and could cause serious or even fatal complications in people of any age.

CAUSES

• Chicken pox is highly contagious 😷 and is spread through the air by coughing, sneezing or direct contact with people who are infected. About 90% of unvaccinated people have not previously had chicken pox will become infected when they come in to contact with the virus. Varicella and zoster are the two different manifestations of chickenpox.

SYMPTOMS

• The symptoms of the chickenpox virus take between 10 to 21days. The main symptom is itchy red rash that turns into lesions or open wounds, which then crust over. It can also cause flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache and sore throat. It can infect the lungs and cause lung infections, difficulty walking and balancing, infect the membranes surrounding the brain and cause brain infections.

RANGE

• Chickenpox is a worldwide disease which can spread my coughing, sneezing or direct contact with the virus. And on a wide scale it could spread to other countries by transportation like planes, boats or cars by transporting anyone who is infected and carrying the virus to another country or place and spreading through other hosts in that area.

SEVERITY

• Chickenpox infections appear 10 to 21days after exposure to the virus and usually lasts to five to 10 days.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Immunise.health.com.au
• www.phac-aspc.gc.ca