Your child’s risk for chicken pox
AS children we can all recall the domino effect of the chicken pox — once all the young ones in the household and even in the classroom came down with the rashes and bumps caused by the chicken pox, it was almost guaranteed that most if not all the children would contract it, even with immediate isolation.
“Chicken pox is a highly contagious disease that is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It appears as small, very itchy bumps which transform themselves into many fluid-filled bumps, [which] become crusted over as they dry up,” said Dr Anona Griffith, paediatrician at Gateway Plaza, Old Harbour.
She explained that the bumps generally take 10 to 21 days from the first contact with an exposed individual to the manifestation of the rash. This rash, she said, first attacks the head and neck region, then spreads to the trunk — which includes the chest and back, then it moves on to the rest of the body.
“The condition may be accompanied by a fever, and the child might also feel unwell in addition to a loss of appetite a few days before the rash appears, although in most children the rash appears first,” Dr Griffith shared.
“The course of chicken pox is usually mild, with common problems being bacterial infection of the skin rashes. But some individuals, especially those whose immune systems are weak — such as newborns and patients undergoing chemotherapy, there are risks for more serious complications such as issues affecting the nervous system as well as the soft tissues and bones.
She argued that not everyone who comes into contact with the virus will become infected, while some people will only have mild symptoms with very few lesions. But it is important that exposure to an infected person be kept at a minimum. To achieve this, Dr Griffith recommended that during the period of illness, the infected child or person should be isolated and kept out of school or day care to prevent the spread of the virus.
Dr Griffith said getting the vaccine will reduce the impact of the virus and its associated side effects on the body. The vaccines are now available to patients starting at 12 months.
“The vaccine is given in two doses. It is recommended that people at risk for contracting the disease should be vaccinated, including those in institutions like schools, day care centres, health professionals and college students,” she advised.
But Dr Griffith cautioned pregnant women against chicken pox vaccination since the virus can be transmitted to the foetus. She noted that the same care should be taken with people who are immunocompromised, such as those with HIV infections, those on prolonged courses of high dose steroids, or those on chemotherapy. She recommended that a thorough assessment be done prior to the administration of the vaccine.
“Once a mother who is nearing delivery or has recently delivered is identified as having contracted the disease, caution and vigilance must be taken to monitor her newborn who may need admission and special medication to decrease the risk of serious complications,” Dr Griffith said.
Dr Griffith also warned that the virus associated with the chicken pox has been known to sometimes lie dormant in certain nerves of the body, and can be triggered at a later time to produce the condition known as shingles. Shingles, also known as zoster, presents with painful skin rashes that can manifest on any part of the body, but is known to appear in areas of the left and right torso.
