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Chicken Pox (Varicella)

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus and results in a diffuse vesicular rash around two weeks after exposure. It presents as small, fluid-filled blisters that form from raised bumps and progress through papules, vesicles, and crusting stages before healing. The virus can later reactivate to cause shingles. Treatment focuses on preventing secondary skin infections through hygienic care and isolation until lesions have healed to reduce spread. Antivirals and antihistamines may be given to reduce symptoms.

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Jonna Yôḥānnāh
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© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Topics covered

  • Disease Surveillance,
  • Varicella,
  • School Exclusion,
  • Clinical Guidelines,
  • Herpesvirus,
  • Infectious Disease,
  • Health Education,
  • Respiratory Tract,
  • Community Health,
  • Pathogenesis
81 views18 pages

Chicken Pox (Varicella)

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus and results in a diffuse vesicular rash around two weeks after exposure. It presents as small, fluid-filled blisters that form from raised bumps and progress through papules, vesicles, and crusting stages before healing. The virus can later reactivate to cause shingles. Treatment focuses on preventing secondary skin infections through hygienic care and isolation until lesions have healed to reduce spread. Antivirals and antihistamines may be given to reduce symptoms.

Uploaded by

Jonna Yôḥānnāh
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Topics covered

  • Disease Surveillance,
  • Varicella,
  • School Exclusion,
  • Clinical Guidelines,
  • Herpesvirus,
  • Infectious Disease,
  • Health Education,
  • Respiratory Tract,
  • Community Health,
  • Pathogenesis

HICKEN POX (VARICELLA

D DESCRIPTIO
N
Acute infectious disease of
sudden onset with slight
fever, mild constitutional
symptoms and eruptions
which are macula-papular
for a few hours, vesicular
for 3-4 days and leaves
granular scrabs.
Lessons are more
on covered than on
exposed parts of
the body and may
appear on scalp
and mucous
membrane of
upper respiratory
tract.
ETIOLOGIC
AGENT

Human (alpha)
herpesirus3
(varicella-zoster
virus), a member
of the Herpesvirus
group.
INCUBATION
PERIOD
2-3 weeks, commonly
13 to 17 days.
MODE OF
TRANSMISSION
Direct contact or droplet spread.
Indirect through articles freshly
soiled by discharges of infected
persons. One of the most readily
communicable of diseases,
especially in the early stages of
SUSCEPTIBILITY,
RESISTANCE and
OCCURRENCE
•Universal among those not
previously attacked. Severe in
adults. An attack confers long
immunity.
•Second attack are rare.
Probably 70% have the disease
by the time they are 15 years of
age.

•Not common in early infancy.


PATHOGE
NESIS
Varicella
Zoster virus is
an enveloped
virus of the
herpes family.
Chicken Pox occurs in susceptible individuals
who are exposed to the virus after intimate
contact. After entry through the respiratory route,
the virus replicates, reaches the lymphatic
system and then the blood stream. Roughly two
weeks after the virus entry, a diffuse vesicular
skin rash is seen. It is believed that the virus
lodges in the sensory nerves after the rash
clears only to reactivate at a later date, several
years later, to cause herpes zoster. 
SIGNS and SYMPTOM
•A red, itchy rash, initially
resembling insect bites,
on your face, scalp, chest
and back
•Small, liquid-filled
blisters that break open
and crust over
•Fever
•Abdominal pain or loss
of appetite
•Mild headache
•General feeling of unease
and discomfort (malaise) or
irritability

•A dry cough

•Headache
The chickenpox rash goes
through these three
phases:

•Raised pink or red bumps


(papules), which break out in
different spots over several
days
•Fluid-filled blisters (vesicles),
forming from the raised
bumps over about one day
before breaking and leaking
•Crusts and scabs, which cover
the broken blisters and take
several more days to heal
METHODS OF
PREVENTION AND
CONTROL
•Case over 15 years should be
investigated to eliminate
possibility of smallpox.
•Report to local authority.
•Isolation
•Concurrent disinfection of
throat and nose discharges.
•Exclusion from school from 1
week after eruption first
appears and avoid contact
Nursing Management:
[Link] of secondary infection of
the skin lesions through hygienic care of
the patient
[Link] should be given to
nasopharyngeal discharges and
disinfection of cloths and
linen by sunlight or boiling
[Link] fingernails short and wash hands
more often in order to minimize
bacterial
infections; may be introduced by
scratching
[Link] lotion over
rashes
[Link] for fever
[Link] of patient;
cannot be confined in
general hospital;
isolated until all lesions
have
become encrusted
TreatmentModalities
•Zoverax 500mg/tablet, 1 tab 2x a day for seven
days must be administered
•Oral acyclovir 800 mg 3x a day for five days must
also be given
•Oral antihistamine can be taken to symptomatic
pruritus
•Calamine lotion will ease itchiness
•Salicylates must not be given
•Antipyretics for fever
THE END

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