Content

• Steps
• Advice

Chickenpox is a common childhood disease and has a high risk of infection. Chickenpox is caused by the Varicella Zoster virus, which usually causes a mild, non-life-threatening illness. However, the disease can still get worse and cause death in many people. Both children and adults can get chickenpox. If you care for the sick person, you can still get chickenpox if you have never had chickenpox or have not been vaccinated. It is best to learn how to prevent the disease to reduce the long-term effects of chickenpox.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Protect yourself around someone with chickenpox

1. 

   Understand how chickenpox virus spreads. This virus is highly contagious and spreads through the air through airborne particles (particles from lesions on the skin or from the upper respiratory tract). Also, you can get the virus by coming into contact with open wounds by touching your face, nose and mouth.
   • After exposure to the virus, the incubation period can last 10-21 days.
   • According to transmission studies among family members, about 90% of people who have close contact with an infected person will get chickenpox.
   • Varicella carriers have the ability to infect others 1-2 days before the appearance of a skin rash and continue to infect until ALL lesions on the skin are scaly.
   • Some people who have been vaccinated can become re-infected with Varicella virus, a mild form of chickenpox that can have less than 50 rash and mild fever. People infected with chickenpox can also infect others. However, the rate of infection is only about one third of people who have not been vaccinated.

2. 

   
   
   Protect yourself from airborne droplets infection. Take care when caring for someone with chickenpox to reduce the risk of infection through airborne droplets. Varicella Zoster virus is spread through droplets, by contact with an infected person or by touching objects or clothing that has been in contact with an infected person. The droplets can be caused by sneezing, coughing, talking, nasal discharge and saliva.
   • Wear a mask to prevent secretions from entering your mouth and nose. You should wear a mask when sharing a room with someone with chickenpox and change it regularly.
   • Wear gloves, a gown and goggles or a mask if an infected person sneezes, coughs or has nasal discharge. Sneezing droplets can travel through the air up to more than 60 meters away, so protecting yourself is essential.

3. 

   
   
   Wash hands well before and after handling sick people. In addition, you should always wash your hands with soap and warm water after handling objects, clothing, or secretions of a sick person.
   • Wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
   • Remember to always rub the back of your hands, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
   • If it takes time to wash your hands, you can hum "Happy Birthday" twice (about 20 seconds).
   • Wash your hands well with warm water and dry them with a clean towel or use an automatic dryer to let them dry.

4. 

   
   
   Isolate the sick person in a separate room to reduce the risk of infection. It is best to keep the sick person separate from a room, such as a bedroom. If possible, have the sick person use a separate bathroom.
   • Wear a mask for someone with chickenpox when leaving a private room to go to the bathroom. An infected person who sneezes or coughs when leaving a room can also spread the virus.

5. 

   Take precautions. Precautions include wearing a gown and gloves when having physical contact with an infected person or objects that have come into contact with an infected person.
   • Wear protective glasses, gloves, a gown when changing bed sheets, when entering sick patients' rooms, handling sick persons or handling sick person's belongings.
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Method 2 of 3: Consider getting chickenpox vaccine

1. 

   Determine if you've ever had chickenpox. If you don't remember having chickenpox or not, or were born after 1980 and don't have a loved one remembering, you can go to a doctor for a blood test. This is a test to measure antibodies to chickenpox in the blood.
   • If you've been exposed to the chickenpox virus and get sick, even mildly, there will be antibodies in your blood to protect you from getting chickenpox again.

2. 

   Decide whether or not to get vaccinated. There are some cases when the chickenpox vaccine is not recommended due to a health problem. Therefore, you should talk with your doctor about your medical history to determine if you should be vaccinated. In general, the following should not get chickenpox vaccine:
   • Have an allergic reaction to the first dose of vaccine
   • Pregnant women
   • People allergic to Gelatin or Neomycin
   • Immune diseases
   • Use high-dose steroids
   • Are receiving cancer treatment with X-rays, drugs, or chemotherapy
   • Have transfused or received blood within the last 5 months

3. 

   Ask your doctor about the chickenpox vaccine. Getting vaccinated can protect you from chickenpox. Although most studies have been conducted on the pre-exposure vaccination to the virus, vaccination after exposure to the virus also shows protective effects.However, you should get the vaccine within 5 days of contact with the sick person for best results.
   • If you haven't had chickenpox or have had the vaccine, talk to your doctor about getting the vaccine.
   • Some people get mild chickenpox after getting the vaccine, develop fewer blisters than usual, and usually don't have a fever. Vaccines are made from live or weak viruses themselves.
   • Young children should get the vaccine at 12-18 months of age and again at 4-6 years old. The most common side effect from the shot is pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site. A small number of children and adults who get vaccinated will develop a mild rash around the injection site.
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Method 3 of 3: Determination of risk factors and treatments

1. 

   Recognize the risk for a specific group of people with chickenpox. Some people are at higher risk for serious complications that could be life-threatening. This group of people includes:
   • Infants born to mothers who have not had chickenpox or the vaccine
   • Adults
   • Pregnant women have not had chickenpox
   • People with weak immune systems due to drug use
   • Steroid pills
   • People taking immunosuppressants

2. 

   Beware of potential complications from severe chickenpox. In some cases, a person with chickenpox can experience complications and need urgent medical attention. Complications from varicella virus infection include, but are not limited to:
   • Bacterial infections of the skin or soft tissue
   • Pneumonia
   • Septicemia
   • Toxic shock syndrome
   • Bone infections
   • Inflammatory arthritis (joint infection)
   • Encephalitis
   • Cerebellar ataxia (inflammation of the cerebellum in the brain)
   • Dehydration
   • Joint infection

3. 

   Talk to your doctor about treatment options. Chickenpox treatments are usually effective and are done at home. If you are at high risk of getting sick and having other illnesses with chickenpox, you will need to be hospitalized for treatment of a secondary infection and supportive treatment. Home treatments will help the patient recover more comfortably. Home remedies for chickenpox include:
   • Apply calamine lotion and bathe with oatmeal glue to dry blisters and relieve itching.
   • Non-aspirin medicines, such as acetaminophen, to reduce fever. Aspirin is thought to cause Reye's syndrome, a serious illness that can affect the liver and brain, and cause death.
   • Antivirals for high-risk groups (possibly for secondary infection). These drugs include Acyclovir, Valacyclovir and Famciclovir.

4. 

   Know when to get medical attention. If receiving home treatment, the patient needs to know in which situations urgent medical care is required. Call your doctor or get the person with chickenpox to the hospital right away if the sick person:
   • Be over 12 years old for preventive care
   • Has a weakened immune system
   • Pregnant
   • Fever lasts more than 4 days
   • Fever above 39 ° C
   • The rash becomes red, warm, or tender
   • There is discoloration from blisters
   • Difficulty waking up or confused
   • Difficulty walking
   • Neck stiffness
   • Vomiting often
   • Difficulty breathing or coughing a lot
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Advice

• Chickenpox is a common childhood illness with a high risk of infection, and you need to know how to prevent it if you want to prevent the spread of the disease.
• Adults or people with weak immune systems should learn to take care of them appropriately and be cautious when dealing with sick people, as the consequences are dangerous and can be life-threatening.
• Note that someone with shingles (shingles) can also spread chickenpox to someone who hasn't, but not through direct contact. People with shingles are not contagious through droplets. If you have had chickenpox, you could get shingles a few years or even decades later.