Herpes Doctor

Chickenpox is caused by the virus Varicella Herpes Zoster. This
is a very contagious virus which spreads via the humidity in the air
during the incubation period of chickenpox which lasts from 7 to 23
days and has no symptoms. Once chickenpox is full-blown, it is
no longer contagious.

It is very difficult to avoid exposure to Varicella Herpes Zoster.
About 90% of the world's population had chickenpox in childhood and most
children will catch it from other children in daycare, on playgrounds
or in school.

Although it can be difficult to watch your child being ill, it is
actually a good thing to have chickenpox in childhood. Chickenpox can
be very serious in adults and quite often results in hospitalization.
Once your child have had chickenpox, Varicella Herpes Zoster stays in
the body for life. The body will have developed antibodies during
chickenpox which fought it, and these are still in the body keeping
the virus latent and preventing outbreaks. In effect, you are immune
to chickenpox once you've had it. It will however reactivate in 1 in 5
seniors causing shingles.

There is a chickenpox vaccine usually referred to as the Varicella
vaccine. This is basically a shot of the virus, but so little that the
body is able to develop antibodies and fight the virus just like if you
had chickenpox, but on a much smaller scale and usually without side
effects or symptoms. It will not completely eliminate the risk of
chickenpox, but it will reduce the risk considerably, and if you do
get chickenpox in spite of the vaccine, it will be very mild and
manageable. The vaccine is recommended for adults who didn't have
chickenpox in childhood. It is also recommended for children in most
countries but it is not required unlike most vaccines.

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