Chickenpox, also known as varicella causes blisters over the body that are fluid-filled and itchy. The viral infection is contagious and can be contracted by anyone who has not been vaccinated against the disease or who have never had the disease before. Generally, most people get affected by chicken pox by the time they reach adulthood. Although there are no extreme cases recorded, the condition may cause serious complications in a few cases.
Chickenpox symptoms that indicate the possibility of the infection are as follows:
Itchy feeling
An itchy body is one of the first symptoms that you will come across. The body tends to feel extremely itchy all over and this symptom prevails before other symptoms develop. Usually, the itching continues for up to 15 days and becomes worse with each passing day.
Tiredness
A person will feel tired and will be low on energy during the first few days. Carrying out basic functions become difficult and in case of a child, he/she may not want to play or go to school. Chickenpox is an infectious disease and can be easily transferable, hence the infected individual must stay indoors and must refrain from any outdoor activities.
Fever
The itchiness is accompanied by a high fever that does not drop quickly. This may also include a splitting headache that continues for long periods.
Loss of appetite
The patient begins to experience loss of appetite. Feeding your child basic meals becomes difficult as he/she refuses to consume any types of foods.
Rash development
Post the above chickenpox symptoms; the body tends to develop rashes on most body parts. The rashes become more severe with each passing day and there are three phases. These rashes go through three phases before developing into blister filled boils. In the first phase, there are small bumps that develop in light pink color and spread across the body. The bumps become bigger in the following days and get filled with white fluid. These fluid-filled boils are extremely itchy and make one feel cranky and moody. After a few days and necessary medications, the bumps become scab over and slowly go through the healing process. Throughout the infection period, new bumps begin to appear and heal over the course of time. The boils are usually more bothersome just before healing.
In case you think that you notice the above chickenpox symptoms, you should consult a doctor immediately. The doctor will examine the type of rash and note the appearance of the symptoms that accompany the condition. The physician will prescribe medications that will help in lessening the severity of the condition and also treating further complications. Most importantly, waiting for treatment can lead to the spread of the disease.
Apart from the skin rashes, in few complicated cases, the rash can spread to the eyes. The boils may also turn highly inflamed and feel warm and tender. Also, there can be sudden dizziness and shortness of breath. In case this occurs, one must visit the doctor right away.
The safest way to stay away from this infection is to get a chickenpox vaccine. It is safe and keeps away any possible complications of the same.