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Chickenpox is a common infectious disease in our country as well as all over the world. The disease is mostly seen in the spring and winter months. Although it is more common in children under the age of 10, it can also be seen in adolescents, young adults and adults. Chickenpox usually gets better on its own without the need for treatment. However, undesirable conditions related to the disease may occur in some risky groups. The vaccine, which provides primary protection against chickenpox, has been available in our country for many years. With this vaccine, which is also included in the vaccination calendar, the majority of the population has been immunized against chickenpox. The answers to questions such as 'How is chickenpox, how is it transmitted, how is chickenpox transmitted?' are explained in the following parts of our article.

What is Chickenpox?

Chickenpox is the cause of the virus called Varicella-Zoster. It is an infectious disease. In chickenpox, red-colored, fluid-filled blisters are seen on the skin.

The question 'How does chickenpox start?' is one of the most frequently asked questions about the disease. Red and itchy blisters, which are the typical symptom of the disease, appear 10-21 days after the virus is taken into the body. It takes about 5-10 days. During the onset of chickenpox before blisters appear; Symptoms such as fever, loss of appetite, headache, weakness and fatigue can be seen.

Skin rashes in chickenpox can be seen in three different stages:

• First, pink-red itchy rashes on the skin
• In the second stage, fluid-filled vesicles
• In the last stage, it is in the form of crusting of the rashes.

New rashes begin to appear for a few days at the beginning of the disease. For this reason, while some rashes on the skin are newly formed, some may be blistered and some may be crusted. It is a characteristic feature of chickenpox that these three stages can be seen simultaneously in the patient. Skin rashes in chickenpox start from the scalp and spread to the face and trunk. Rash on the arms and legs is not seen very intensely. Rashes are more common in the first days while it is intense, it gradually decreases in the following days. Approximately 250-500 rashes can be seen in the patient. Chickenpox symptoms are more severe as the child's age increases. It is helpful to take children with chickenpox symptoms to the pediatrician. Thus, the severity of disease symptoms can be reduced and the development of disease-related complications can be prevented.

If in a child:

• The rash has spread to one or both eyes
• The rash has become red, tender and warm, suggesting a secondary bacterial infection
• With rashes; If blurred consciousness, dizziness, shortness of breath, loss of muscle control, increased cough, vomiting, neck stiffness and fever of 39℃ and above are observed, it is necessary to consult a doctor immediately.

Since chickenpox is a contagious disease, it is necessary to inform the doctor and other health workers beforehand. It is also helpful to take precautions to prevent contamination while taking the child to the appointment. Chickenpox symptoms in adults are similar to those seen in children, but are usually more severe.

What are the Undesirable Effects of Chickenpox?

Chickenpox is normally a mild disease. But sometimes it can lead to the development of serious complications. These complications are:

• Bacterial infection of the skin, soft tissue, bone, joint and bloodstream,
• Dehydration,
• Pneumonia (pneumonia),
• Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis),
• Toxic shock syndrome,
• It can be counted as Reye's syndrome in children who use parked drugs while having chickenpox.

Chickenpox complications can even result in death if left untreated.

Some groups are at risk for the undesirable effects of chickenpox. Persons at high risk of developing complications related to the disease:

• Newborns and infants whose mothers have not had chickenpox or have not been vaccinated,
• Adults,
• Pregnant women who have not had chickenpox,
• Adults,
• Smokers,
• Those whose immune system is weakened due to diseases such as cancer, AIDS or as a result of treatments such as chemotherapy,
• Treatment of various diseases They can be listed as those who use steroids for i.

Low birth weight and limb anomalies are more common in babies born to pregnant women infected with chickenpox virus at the beginning of pregnancy. Babies of pregnant women who had chickenpox a week before birth or a few days after birth may also have various problems. Chickenpox infection can be very severe in these babies who get the virus from the mother.

People who have had chickenpox are at risk of developing shingles in the future. The Varicella-Zoster virus, which causes chickenpox, may remain inactive in nerve cells after the skin rash has healed. In the following years, the virus can become active again and cause shingles. In shingles, painful blisters form on the patient's skin. People with weakened immune systems and those in the advanced age group are in the risk group for shingles.

How Is Chickenpox Transmitted?

Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease that can easily spread to people who are in close contact with the person carrying the virus. Patients begin to transmit the virus 1-2 days before the appearance of rashes on the skin. Infectiousness continues until all the rashes crust over. Chickenpox develops 10-21 days (incubation period) after the virus is taken into the body. A person who has had the chickenpox vaccine can transmit the virus to others if they become ill. The answer to the question 'Can chickenpox be removed twice?' is 'Yes, it can be removed'. While for many people, having the disease once provides lifelong immunity, some people may get the disease twice.

People who have not had chickenpox before or have not had chickenpox vaccine are at risk of contracting the disease. The best way to prevent chickenpox is vaccination. Vaccination provides a great deal of protection against the disease. Even if the vaccinated person gets chickenpox, their symptoms are less severe and they get over the disease more easily. The varicella vaccine is included in the vaccination calendar prepared by the Ministry of Health and is administered as a single dose at the end of the 12th month. Working in places where there is a high density of children such as kindergarten, child care center, kindergarten, school. It would be beneficial for adults to have chickenpox vaccination as well.

How is Chickenpox Diagnosis and Treatment?

Diagnosis is made by examining the rash on the skin and the symptoms seen in the patient. These two assessments are often sufficient for diagnosis. If the diagnosis cannot be made definitively, laboratory tests, blood tests and tissue samples taken from the rash can be used as auxiliary techniques.

Children with good general health do not need chickenpox treatment. Antihistamine medication may be prescribed by the doctor for itching of the rash. However, most of the time, it is expected that the disease will resolve on its own without any treatment.

In people at high risk of developing complications related to chickenpox, various treatments can be applied to shorten the duration of infection and reduce the risk of complications. High-risk children can be given antiviral drugs such as acyclovir or intravenous immunoglobulin type drugs. These drugs can help reduce the severity of the disease when given within 24 hours of the appearance of the skin rash.

The rash that occurs in the disease is itchy. However, it is important that the child does not scratch these rashes and that there is no trace of chickenpox. For this reason, it may be beneficial to keep the child under surveillance and to use anti-itch antihistamines.

Chickenpox is a disease that has been known for many years and is frequently encountered in society. This disease resolves spontaneously within a few weeks, especially in children. However, it would be beneficial for patients who develop complications related to the disease, who do not have a fever, who have problems such as clouding of consciousness, to apply to the nearest health center. With early intervention, the undesirable effects of the disease can be prevented.

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