Why is chicken pox worse for adults

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Book Contact us. By Devan Mair Back when you were small, you may remember getting itchy red spots all over your body, along with feeling a little bit tired and achy.

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Health Home Conditions and Diseases. What causes chickenpox? Who is at risk for chickenpox? Most people who have had chickenpox will be immune to the disease for the rest of their lives. However, the virus remains inactive in nerve tissue and may reactivate later in life causing shingles. Very rarely, a second case of chickenpox does happen. Blood tests can confirm immunity to chickenpox in people who are unsure if they have had the disease.

What are the symptoms of chickenpox? Symptoms may include: Fatigue and irritability one to two days before the rash begins Itchy rash on the trunk, face, scalp, under the armpits, on the upper arms and legs, and inside the mouth. The rash appears in several crops. It starts as flat red spots and progresses to raised red bumps that then become blisters. Feeling ill Decreased appetite The initial symptoms of chickenpox may resemble other infections.

How is chickenpox diagnosed? How is chickenpox treated? Specific treatment for chickenpox will be determined by your healthcare provider based on: Your overall health and medical history Extent of the condition Your tolerance for specific medicines, procedures, or therapies Expectations for the course of the condition Your opinion or preference Treatment for chickenpox may include: Acetaminophen to reduce fever.

Skin lotion to relieve itchiness Antiviral drugs for severe cases Bed rest Drinking plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration Cool baths with baking soda to relieve itching Children should not scratch the blisters because it could lead to secondary bacterial infections. What are the complications of chickenpox? Complications may include: Secondary bacterial infections Pneumonia lung infections Encephalitis inflammation of the brain Cerebellar ataxia defective muscular coordination Transverse myelitis inflammation along the spinal cord Reye syndrome.

This is a serious condition marked by a group of symptoms that may affect all major systems or organs. Non-aspirin medications, such as acetaminophen, can also help relieve a fever, if you develop one.

Luckily, chickenpox is becoming pretty rare thanks to the vaccine, but it does crop up here and there. And it's helpful to know that there's actually something to that oft-repeated claim that you don't want to get chickenpox as an adult. SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.

If you've somehow managed to avoid contracting chickenpox thus far, you probably don't want to continue tempting fate. Korin is a former New Yorker who now lives at the beach. You need to take it within 24 hours of the spots appearing. They can arrange a phone call from a nurse or doctor if you need one. Go to You can catch chickenpox by being in the same room as someone with it. It's also spread by touching clothes or bedding that has fluid from the blisters on them.

Chickenpox is infectious from 2 days before the spots appear, until they have all crusted over — usually 5 days after they first appeared. It takes 1 to 3 weeks from the time you were exposed to chickenpox for the spots to start appearing. It's rare to get chickenpox when you're pregnant, and the chance of it causing complications is low. If you do get chickenpox when you're pregnant, there's a small risk of your baby being very ill when it's born.