Chickenpox causes: Difference between revisions
(Created page with "{{Chickenpox}} {{CMG}} {{MJM}} ==Overview== In a typical scenario, a young child is covered in pox and out of school for a week. The first half of the week the child feels mi...") |
|||
| Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
[[Chickenpox]] is caused by the [[varicella-zoster virus]] (VZV), also known as human herpes virus 3 (HHV-3), one of the eight [[herpesviridae|herpes viruses]] known to affect humans. | |||
==Causes== | |||
In a typical scenario, a young child is covered in pox and out of school for a week. The first half of the week the child feels miserable from intense itching; the second half from boredom. Since the introduction of the [[chickenpox vaccine]], classic [[chickenpox]] is much less common. | In a typical scenario, a young child is covered in pox and out of school for a week. The first half of the week the child feels miserable from intense itching; the second half from boredom. Since the introduction of the [[chickenpox vaccine]], classic [[chickenpox]] is much less common. | ||
[[Chickenpox]] is extremely contagious, and can be spread by direct contact, droplet transmission, and airborne transmission. Even those with mild illness after the [[vaccine]] may be [[contagious]]. | [[Chickenpox]] is extremely contagious, and can be spread by direct contact, droplet transmission, and airborne transmission. Even those with mild illness after the [[vaccine]] may be [[contagious]]. | ||
| Line 10: | Line 13: | ||
Most cases of [[chickenpox]] occur in children younger than ten. The disease is usually mild, although serious complications sometimes occur. Adults and older children usually get sicker than younger children do. | Most cases of [[chickenpox]] occur in children younger than ten. The disease is usually mild, although serious complications sometimes occur. Adults and older children usually get sicker than younger children do. | ||
Children under one year of age whose mothers have had [[chickenpox]] are not very likely to catch it. If they do, they often have mild cases because they retain partial [[immunity]] from their mothers' blood. Children under one year of age whose mothers have not had [[chickenpox]], or whose inborn [[immunity]] has already waned, can get severe [[chickenpox]]. | Children under one year of age whose mothers have had [[chickenpox]] are not very likely to catch it. If they do, they often have mild cases because they retain partial [[immunity]] from their mothers' blood. Children under one year of age whose mothers have not had [[chickenpox]], or whose inborn [[immunity]] has already waned, can get severe [[chickenpox]]. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist|2}} | {{Reflist|2}} | ||
Revision as of 14:58, 29 August 2012
|
Chickenpox Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Chickenpox causes On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Chickenpox causes |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Michael Maddaleni, B.S.
Overview
Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), also known as human herpes virus 3 (HHV-3), one of the eight herpes viruses known to affect humans.
Causes
In a typical scenario, a young child is covered in pox and out of school for a week. The first half of the week the child feels miserable from intense itching; the second half from boredom. Since the introduction of the chickenpox vaccine, classic chickenpox is much less common. Chickenpox is extremely contagious, and can be spread by direct contact, droplet transmission, and airborne transmission. Even those with mild illness after the vaccine may be contagious. When someone becomes infected, the pox usually appear 10 to 21 days later. People become contagious 1 to 2 days before breaking out with pox. They remain contagious while uncrusted blisters are present. Once you catch chickenpox, the virus usually remains in your body for your lifetime, kept in check by the immune system. About 1 in 10 adults will experience shingles when the virus re-emerges during a period of stress. Most cases of chickenpox occur in children younger than ten. The disease is usually mild, although serious complications sometimes occur. Adults and older children usually get sicker than younger children do. Children under one year of age whose mothers have had chickenpox are not very likely to catch it. If they do, they often have mild cases because they retain partial immunity from their mothers' blood. Children under one year of age whose mothers have not had chickenpox, or whose inborn immunity has already waned, can get severe chickenpox.