Varicella-Zoster Virus

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Chickenpox’s causative microbe name is known as Varicella-Zoster virus. In the medical field its terminology is known as Varicella. Chickenpox is well acknowledged as one of the numerous childhood diseases that produces skin lesions (Bauman, 2014). Varicella is highly contagious because the virus can spread in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can also be spread by touching or even breathing in the virus from the varicella lesions (Clinical Overview, 2013). Varicella is frequently seen in children than adults, but chickenpox in adults is typically more severe than in children. This happens because much of the tissue damage results from a patient’s immune response, and adults have a more developed immune system than children …show more content…
It is more difficult to distinguish from other type of skin lesions. Though the localization within a band of skin on one side of the body is characteristic. Anti-body tests are available to verify the diagnosis of the varicella infection. Chickenpox is typically self-limiting and requires no treatment other than relief of the symptoms with acetaminophen and antihistamines, though the antiviral drug acyclovir may reduce the severity and duration of chickenpox. Aspirin should not be given to children or adolescents with symptoms of chickenpox because of the risk of contracting Reye’s syndrome (Bauman, 2014). Reye’s syndrome is an occasional severe complication of chickenpox, influenza, and some other viral diseases. A few days after the initial infection has receded, the patient persistently vomits and exhibits signs of brain dysfunction, such as extreme drowsiness or combative behavior. The chance of acquiring Reye’s syndrome is the use of aspirin for fever of chicken pox and influenza (Tortora, 2012). For further treatment of chickenpox involves the management of the symptoms, bed rest, and oral acyclovir. Loose-fitting clothing and nonadherent dressings may help prevent irritation of the lesions. Acyclovir provides relief from the painful rash for some patients, but it is not the cure for disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends immunization against chickenpox with attenuated varicella-zoster virus for all children between twelve to eighteen months of age and a second dose before starting school. Since the vaccine provides protection against chickenpox, successfully vaccinated patients will not develop later complications of diseases such as shingles later in life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends a single dose of a different , more potent, attenuated vaccine for adults aged sixty or older who had chickenpox as children and two

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