What is chickenpox caused by?
Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). It can cause an itchy, blister-like rash. The rash first appears on the chest, back, and face, and then spreads over the entire body, causing between 250 and 500 itchy blisters.
What does VZV stand for?
Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV)
Is varicella a virus?
Varicella (chickenpox) is an acute infectious disease. It is caused by varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which is a DNA virus that is a member of the herpesvirus group.
What are the first signs of chickenpox?
Signs of chickenpox usually happen in the following order:
- Fever.
- Feeling tired.
- Headache.
- A stomachache that lasts for one or two days.
- A skin rash that is very itchy and looks like many small blisters.
- Bumps filled with a liquid that looks like milky water.
- Scabs after the blisters break.
- Skin that looks blotchy.
Is chicken pox vaccine required?
For the 2020-2021 school year, all states (including the District of Columbia) require children to receive at least one dose of chickenpox vaccine or have other evidence of immunity against chickenpox before starting school, and 45 states require two doses of chickenpox vaccine.
How serious is varicella?
A person with chickenpox may have as many as 500 blisters. The rash can spread over the whole body. Chickenpox can be serious, even life-threatening, especially in babies, adolescents, adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.
Is shingles a varicella?
Shingles is caused by varicella zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays dormant (inactive) in their body. The virus can reactivate later, causing shingles. Most people who develop shingles have only one episode during their lifetime.
Can we bath during chicken pox?
Baths will not spread the rash you have from chickenpox from one part of the body to another. Actually, baths are encouraged for people with chickenpox because they can help relieve itching. It is far better to take a cool water bath to help the itch than to scratch at it.
What does antibody to VZV mean?
The presence of detectable IgG-class antibodies indicates prior exposure to the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) through infection or immunization. Individuals testing positive are considered immune to varicella-zoster.