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It is that time of the year again when students are headed back to school and parents get busy again with school events and keeping their children healthy. One big fear for parents is their children getting chickenpox. You might ask the question, what is varicella (chickenpox)?
Chickenpox is an infectious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which results in a blister-like rash, itching, tiredness, and fever. How do you get chickenpox? Chickenpox is highly infectious and spreads from person to person by direct contact or through air from an infected person's coughing or sneezing or from skin lesions. A person with chickenpox is contagious one to two days before the rash appears and until all blisters have formed scabs. It takes from 10-21 days after exposure for someone to develop chickenpox. Now the question might be, can chickenpox be prevented? The answer is yes.
In 1995, the varicella vaccine was li
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censed by the Food and Drug Administration and children could obtain immunity against varicella without the risks of natural infection and its potential complications. Then in 2005 a combination of measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine was licensed in the United States for use among healthy children aged 12 months to 12 years of age. Two doses of the vaccine prevents chickenpox in most people, given at least three months apart. For children 13 years of age and older, contact your doctor on whether they need the vaccine or not. Adults who have a weakened immune system or pregnant women should contact their doctor immediately if they are exposed to or develop chickenpox. Then you might ask, can you get the chickenpox if you have been vaccinated? The answer is yes, but the disease is usually mild.
There are several things that parents can do at home to relieve their child's chickenpox symptoms, as well. One is to keep your child's fingernails
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trimmed short, because scratching the blisters may cause them to become infected. Calamine lotion and Aveeno® (oatmeal baths) may relieve some of the itching, too. Also, non-aspirin medications such as acetaminophen (i.e., Tylenol®) can be used to relieve your child's fever. If symptoms worsen (i.e., fever lasts longer than four days or rises above 102 °F and areas of the rash become very red, warm, tender, or begin to leak discolored fluid), call your doctor immediately. If needed, there are medicines that your doctor can prescribe for chickenpox.
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8120 Parallel Parkway
Kansas City, KS 66109
(913) 334-1660
6238 N. Chatham Road
Kansas City, MO 64151
(816) 746-1475
1015 N.E. Rice Road
Lee's Summit, MO 64086
(816) 525-1479
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Olathe, KS 66062
(913) 782-2039
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Fairway, KS 66205
913-236-4983
6900 W. 135th Street
Overland Park, KS 66223
(913) 814 WELL (9355)
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Sprint Campus
6450 Sprint Parkway
Overland Park, KS 66251
(913) 315-8646
Merriam Town Center
5800 Antioch Rd.
Merriam, KS 66202
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