As a kid, you may have at least once suffered from chickenpox. If you are not well acquainted with what chickenpox is, then you can go back to your memory and think of that one time where yours or your friend’s/sibling’s whole body was covered with red blisters, and you or they were not allowed to go out to play because the blisters were contagious. This was nothing but a case of chickenpox. Almost every person at least once in his or her life contracts the chickenpox infection. And it is believed that once you have had a case of chickenpox, you need not worry about ever getting it again.

A brief introduction to chickenpox has been outlined in this article and learn some important facts about the infection.

Introduction to the causes of chickenpox:
You might already know this that chickenpox is caused by a virus known as the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). This virus is contagious, and hence, it is advised to stay away from a person who has had chickenpox for one or two days before he or she starts developing the blisters.

Recommended Read: Interesting facts about the chickenpox vaccine

Most of the time, the transmission of the disease takes place through direct contact with the patient. Other than this, the virus can spread through the infected respiratory tract secretions, respiratory droplets, and fluid from the blisters.

Introduction to chickenpox symptoms:
The first thing to learn when it comes to the introduction to chickenpox is the most common symptom of chickenpox. You must know that the itching rash which a person starts developing all over his or her body is the earliest symptom of chickenpox.

Note that if you are developing itchy rash now, it means that you were already infected by the virus way before, about 7–21 days before.

Also, before you start developing blisters, there are other symptoms that will help you know that you are at risk. Some of these symptoms are:

• Headache
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Tiredness and fatigue
• Abdominal Pain

Recommended Read: Common symptoms of chickenpox

In some rare cases, especially with new-born babies and pregnant babies, there is a chance of complication of chickenpox infection. In these cases, the chickenpox conquers the immune system, and the kid might suffer from pneumonia, or the mother might contract a skin infection.

Can you develop a chickenpox infection as an adult?
It is believed that if you have contracted chickenpox virus at least once in your life, you will not get it again. However, for those who never got one in their childhood, you might get adult chickenpox someday.

Note that adult chickenpox is worse because you are more vulnerable to congestion, fever, and itching, and your immune system is weakened, which might give an easy way to a case of pneumonia.

Recommendd Read: Risk Factors and Symptoms of Pneumonia

Introduction to treatment for chickenpox:
You will be surprised to know that you can’t do much when it comes to the chickenpox infection. There is no sure shot medicine to heal chickenpox. Therefore, you will notice that your doctor will instead give you pain reliefs and ointments that will help you ease the itching and discomfort.

You should keep yourself hydrated when you are suffering from chickenpox. Make sure that you don’t constantly scratch the blisters as this might scar your skin forever. If you have an urge to scratch, you can always try to soothe the skin by applying some cooling agent that will alleviate the pain.

The best thing about chickenpox infection is that for many people, getting it once gives an immunity of lifetime.