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How to Identify and Treat Chicken Pox

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By bethweston71
User-Submitted Article
(1 Ratings)
Varicella-Zoster Virus ... aka Chicken Pox
Varicella-Zoster Virus ... aka Chicken Pox
www.fotosearch.com

Back when I was younger, it was almost expected that every child would someday be infected by Chicken Pox. Nowadays, the infection is less common but still out there. This article will explain how to identify and treat Chicken Pox.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions
  1. Step 1
    Blisters are a characteristic of Chicken Pox.
     
    Blisters are a characteristic of Chicken Pox.

    The first step in identifying Chicken Pox is to know what it looks like! Chicken Pox start out looking like little bug bites on the skin. They can show up anywhere on the body and the amount of sores varies from person to person. The initial sore is a red bump that then develops a blister. That blister will pop and then crust over.

  2. Step 2
    Yes, even he is contagious!
     
    Yes, even he is contagious!

    The second step in identifying Chicken Pox is to understand how they are transmitted and how contagious they are. Chicken Pox are transmitted orally. If someone who is infected sneezes and particles from the sneeze enter your nose or mouth, you may become infected. The person is contagious one day prior to showing symptoms and up to 21 days after showing symptoms. It is so highly contagious that if one person has it, most of their family will also most likely contract it.

  3. Step 3
    Careful when scratching not to break the skin!
     
    Careful when scratching not to break the skin!

    The third step in identifying Chicken Pox is to know what it will feel like. Intense itching is the characteristic most commonly associated with Chicken Pox. Treat the patient with basic treatments for itching - trimmed nails, Benedryl, Calamine lotion, etc. A person needs to be very careful when scratching their Chicken Pox to avoid breaking the skin and causing infection of the sores.

  4. Step 4
    Have a doctor check your Chicken Pox if you have concerns.
     
    Have a doctor check your Chicken Pox if you have concerns.

    The fourth step in identifying Chicken Pox is knowing when to go to the doctor. If you suspect that you have Chicken Pox, you should get looked at by a doctor but there are also danger signs that you should look for that might prompt you to go back to the doctor. These signs include fever of over 103 degrees, itching that doesn't stop and infected sores.

    Also, you should note that if you have had Chicken Pox, the virus stays in your system for life and can be reactivated during stressful periods or times when your immune system is low. When they return, they generally do so as Shingles.

  5. Step 5

    The fifth step in identifying Chicken Pox is to know how to treat them. Back in 1995, a vaccine was approved and put into use to vaccinate people against Chicken Pox. This vaccine has done wonders to avoid epidemics. If you have children, make sure they get the vaccine by the time they reach 18 months old. If you are an adult who has never had Chicken Pox, you may want to consider having the vaccine, as well.

    Once diagnosed as having Chicken Pox, you mostly have to just get through the time period of having them and treat your symptoms topically. However, in some rare adult cases, a doctor will prescribe Acyclovir to alleviate symptoms.

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