Chickenpox
How is it diagnosed?
Your doctor will perform an exam and may possibly order blood tests or cultures to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment
1. Vaccination: The best treatment is prevention. You can help prevent the disease by ensuring that your child receives the varicella vaccine at 12 mos, or during childhood if they have no history of chickenpox in the past (usually given before 7th grade). The vaccine is about 90% effective in preventing the disease, and those who get chickenpox after vaccination tend to have a milder case of it.
Since the vaccine contains a live virus, pregnant women or those with immune disease should not receive the vaccine.
However, if you are planning to become pregnant in the future, you need to be vaccinated since chickenpox can cause birth defects in your baby. If you are an adult who has never had chickenpox, you should probably get the vaccine. Please consult your doctor.
2. Medications: If someone already has symptoms of chickenpox, Tylenol can be given to control fever, and medication to control itching can also be recommended by your doctor.Most people do not need additional medication and get better on their own.
However, antiviral pills, such as acyclovir, can be given especially to teens, adults, or those with weakened immunity, since they can have a more severe case of chickenpox.
Other treatments include an antibody infusion (called VZIG=Varicella Zoster Immune Globulin) which can help fight against the virus, especially for those who have weakened immune systems, such as people with HIV. It should be given as soon as possible. The varicella vaccine can also be given to certain people within several days of exposure to help prevent the disease.
If your are pregnant and suspect you have chicken pox, see your doctor immediately since the virus can cause birth defects in the developing fetus.
Some possible Complications include:
References
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/diseases/varicella/faqs-gen-disease.htm
Copyright 2007, MD Kiosk