What is varicella?

Varicella, commonly known as chickenpox, is a virus in herpes family that causes a rash of blisters on the skin.  It's one of the most common childhood infectious diseases, and it affects thousands of individuals in the U.S. every year.  Most people who get chickenpox develop immunity (and can't get it again), but the virus remains dormant in the body and may cause shingles later in life.  Varicella is usually mild in children, but may lead to bacterial pneumonia or swelling of the brain in adults.

How common is varicella in Montgomery County?

There were 10 cases of chickenpox reported in 2003. The number increased to 27 in 2004 and jumped way up to 107 cases in 2005.

What are the symptoms of varicella ?

Chickenpox causes a very itchy rash that spreads from the body to the neck, face, arms and legs. During a seven to 10 day cycle, the rash progresses from red bumps to fluid-filled blisters called vesicles that drain and turn into scabs.  Vesicles may appear in the mouth, around the eyes or on the genitals and can be very painful.

Chickenpox is a highly contagious illness spread by coughing, sneezing and touching sick individuals' clothing, bedding or blisters.  Symptoms appear 21 days after exposure. Infected individuals become contagious a day before the rash appears, and they stay contagious until vesicles turn into scabs.

How is varicella treated?

Treatment for chickenpox depends on the individual's age and the severity of the illness.  Healthy children may need no more than acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) to lower their fever and over-the-counter medications to relieve itching.

Teens and adults with chickenpox usually have more severe symptoms, and, even if they're normally healthy, they should see a medical professional.

Pregnant women and individuals with weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable to complications, and they should see a doctor immediately if they've been exposed to varicella.

How can I protect myself from varicella?

The best way to avoid varicella is to get a live-virus vaccine from your doctor's office.  The vaccine is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and, since its approval in 1995 has dramatically reduced the incidence of chickenpox in the United States.

Children under 12 years of age are vaccinated with a single dose; teenagers and adults receive two shots four to eight weeks apart.  The vaccine prevents most individuals from contracting chickenpox, and those who do get the virus have fewer lesions, milder fevers and faster recoveries.  Even exposed individuals may avoid the illness if they are vaccinated no more than three days after exposure.

Because disease symptoms are more severe for adults than for children, those who have not had chickenpox and may be exposed to the disease should consider vaccination.  Adults most often exposed to chickenpox include child care workers, teachers, college students and international travelers.  Inmates and individuals who work in an institutional setting should be vaccinated, as should women of childbearing age who are sure they are not pregnant.  The vaccine is not recommended for pregnant women because varicella's presence in the mother's body may cause damage to the fetus.  

To find out more about varicella, check out the Centers for Disease Control web site, www.cdc.gov/nip/diseases/varicella, or contact your doctor. 

To read about the varicella vaccine, consult the Immunization Action Coalition, www.vaccineinformation.org