How to Prevent Chickenpox and Support Those Affected

Chickenpox is a common illness among children and has a high risk of spreading. It is caused by the Varicella Zoster virus, which typically results in mild symptoms and is not life-threatening. However, the disease can worsen and even be fatal for some individuals. Both children and adults are susceptible to chickenpox. If you are caring for someone infected, you might also catch the virus if you haven't had chickenpox before or received the vaccine. It's best to learn prevention methods to reduce the long-term effects of chickenpox.

Understand how the chickenpox virus spreads. The virus is highly contagious and spreads through airborne particles (from skin lesions or respiratory droplets). Additionally, you can catch the virus through direct contact with open sores when touching your face, nose, or mouth.

• After exposure to the virus, the incubation period can last between 10 to 21 days.
• Studies on household transmission show that about 90% of people who have close contact with an infected individual will contract chickenpox.
• A person carrying the Varicella virus can spread it to others 1-2 days before the rash appears and continues to be contagious until ALL skin lesions have crusted over.
• Some individuals who have been vaccinated might experience a mild form of chickenpox, showing fewer than 50 blisters and mild fever. They can still spread the virus, but their risk of transmission is only one-third compared to those who haven’t been vaccinated.

Protect Yourself from Airborne Droplets. Be cautious when caring for someone with chickenpox to reduce the risk of transmission through airborne droplets. The Varicella Zoster virus spreads via droplets from sneezing, coughing, speaking, nasal secretions, or saliva. You can also become infected by touching items or clothing that have been in contact with the infected person.

• Wear a mask to prevent secretions from entering your mouth and nose. It is recommended to wear a mask when in the same room as someone with chickenpox and to change it frequently.
• Wear gloves, a gown, and goggles or a mask if the infected person sneezes, coughs, or has nasal discharge. Droplets from sneezing can travel up to 60 meters in the air, so personal protection is crucial.

Wash Your Hands Before and After Contact with the Infected Person. Always wash your hands with soap and warm water after touching items, clothes, or secretions from the infected person.

• Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water.
• Be sure to scrub the back of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
• If you're timing your handwashing, sing "Happy Birthday" twice (around 20 seconds).
• Rinse your hands with warm water and dry them with a clean towel or use an automatic hand dryer.

Isolate the Infected Person in a Separate Room to Reduce Virus Transmission. It is best to have the infected person stay in a separate room, such as a bedroom. If possible, have them use a separate bathroom.

• Ask the infected person to wear a mask when leaving their room to use the bathroom. Sneezing or coughing when leaving the room can still spread the virus.

Implement Precautionary Measures. Precautionary measures include wearing a gown and gloves when having physical contact with the infected person or objects they have touched.

• Wear goggles, gloves, and a gown when changing bed linens, entering the patient’s room, interacting with the patient, or handling their belongings.

Determine if you have ever had chickenpox. If you don't remember whether you've had chickenpox or were born after 1980 and there are no relatives who recall, you can visit a doctor to get a blood test. This test checks for antibodies against the chickenpox virus in your blood.

• If you have been exposed to the chickenpox virus and developed the disease, even mildly, your blood will contain antibodies that protect you from getting chickenpox again.

Decide whether to get the chickenpox vaccine. There are certain situations where it's not advisable to receive the chickenpox vaccine due to health issues. Therefore, you should consult with a doctor about your medical history to determine whether the vaccine is suitable for you. Generally, the following conditions are contraindications for receiving the chickenpox vaccine:

• Allergic reaction to the first dose of the vaccine
• Pregnant women
• People allergic to Gelatin or Neomycin
• People with immune disorders
• High-dose Steroid use
• Receiving cancer treatments like radiation, medication, or chemotherapy
• Blood transfusions or donations within the past 5 months

Consult a doctor about getting the chickenpox vaccine. Getting the vaccine can protect you from chickenpox. Although most studies focus on vaccination before exposure to the virus, getting the vaccine after exposure has also shown protective effects. However, it's recommended to get the vaccine within 5 days of exposure to someone with the virus for the best protection.

• If you have never had chickenpox or received the vaccine, discuss with your doctor whether you should get vaccinated.
• Some people may still get mild chickenpox after vaccination, with fewer blisters than usual and generally no fever. The vaccine uses a live or weakened virus.
• Children should receive the vaccine at 12-18 months and a booster at 4-6 years of age. The most common side effects are pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site. A few children and adults may experience a mild rash around the injection site.

Recognize the risks for specific groups affected by chickenpox. Certain individuals are at a higher risk of serious complications from chickenpox that can be life-threatening. These groups include:

• Newborns whose mothers have never had chickenpox or received the vaccine
• Adults
• Pregnant women who have not had chickenpox
• People with weakened immune systems due to medication
• People on Steroid treatments
• People taking immunosuppressive drugs

Beware of potential complications from severe chickenpox. In some cases, individuals with chickenpox may experience complications that require emergency medical care. Complications from the Varicella virus infection include, but are not limited to:

• Skin or soft tissue infections
• Pneumonia
• Sepsis (Blood infection)
• Toxic shock syndrome
• Bone infections
• Infectious arthritis (joint infections)
• Encephalitis (Brain inflammation)
• Cerebellar ataxia (inflammation in the cerebellum of the brain)
• Dehydration
• Joint infections

Consult your doctor about treatment options. Chickenpox treatment is usually effective and can be carried out at home. However, if you're at high risk or have other conditions alongside chickenpox, hospitalization may be necessary for managing secondary infections and providing supportive care. Home treatment methods help patients recover more comfortably. These at-home treatments include:

• Applying calamine lotion and taking oatmeal baths to dry out the blisters and reduce itching.
• Taking non-aspirin medications, such as acetaminophen, to reduce fever. Aspirin is believed to cause Reye's syndrome, a serious condition that can damage the liver and brain, potentially leading to death.
• Antiviral medications for high-risk individuals (who may develop secondary infections). These medications include Acyclovir, Valacyclovir, and Famciclovir.

Know when to seek medical attention. If you're being treated at home, it's essential to recognize when you should seek emergency medical care. Contact your doctor or take the person with chickenpox to the hospital immediately if they:

• Are over 12 years old and need preventive care
• Have a weakened immune system
• Are pregnant
• Have a fever lasting more than 4 days
• Have a fever over 39°C (102.2°F)
• The rash becomes red, warm, or tender
• Experience discharge from the blisters that changes color
• Have difficulty waking up or become confused
• Have trouble walking
• Experience neck stiffness
• Vomits frequently
• Have trouble breathing or a persistent cough

• Chickenpox is a common disease in young children, and those at high risk of infection need to understand how to prevent its spread.
• Adults or individuals with weakened immune systems should learn proper care and exercise caution when interacting with those infected, as the consequences can be dangerous and potentially life-threatening.
• Note that individuals with shingles (Herpes zoster) can also spread chickenpox to those who have never had it, but not through direct contact. Shingles cannot spread through respiratory droplets. If you've had chickenpox, you may develop shingles years or even decades later.