All About Chicken Pox

This guide is for medical billing and coding.

Chicken pox is a disease that has transcended age and time itself. It still is quiet an epidemic that affects each person once in his life time; although there are measures taken against it, the chicken pox virus still remains rampant. Adequate measures and proper care must be taken to prevent it and if things go adversely as expected, cure the disease. It is a developmental disease that has stages. Once aware of the symptoms, the rest of the process will come into flow.

Chicken pox is otherwise known as varicella. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, a form of the herpes virus. This is highly contagious and airborne, usually transmitted through physical contact. It is characterized in its mature stage to be the presence of spots on the body that have been crusted. These spots are itchy and are irritating to the body. Chicken pox has been a pandemic with almost everyone being infected at one time; however, in 1995, the vaccine was created in order to combat the disease. Despite such, people can still be infected by the virus.

Chicken pox is a mild disease to children; however, if adults, infants, or people with weak immune systems get infected, it may pose some danger if not properly treated. The symptoms vary between people, but they mainly consist of a mild fever and a feeling of uneasiness. Other symptoms may include irritability of the skin, lack of appetite, a cough or runny nose, and muscle or joint pain.

The incubation period of the virus ranges between 14 and 16 days, but the development of the chicken pox may take 10 to 21 days to mature. During this stage, the rashes usually form pus-like bumps that then crust over into the black spots that are associated with the virus. Before the crusting stage is reached, the patient is contagious for one to two days. In that manner, anyone who is not immune to the virus may be infected since it is very contagious.

Once the virus has developed, staying home would be the best thing to do in order to maximize the treatment unless the virus becomes very severe. The focus of treatment lies on reducing the fever, usually by acetaminophen, and the itch by conventional methods of wet compresses or calamine lotion. The doctor may also recommend Benadryl, an antihistamine that does not need a prescription to combat the itch if it becomes too irritating.

Sometimes, chicken pox can develop in the mouth making it difficult to eat. Cold drinks and soft food are recommended to avoid irritation. As a general use, Zovirax, an antiviral drug, may be used to lessen the chicken pox symptoms. It is effective when used around 24 hours before the first rashes or sores develop further. After the crusting, it may take one to two weeks to completely heal from the virus. This period is necessary in order to avoid spreading the virus to other persons.

It is highly advisable not to scratch off the blisters or the scabs because they may become infected which would cause complications. Bacterial infection may occur and the disease may mutate into an even more dangerous one. It is also highly advised that the administering of aspirin to treat the fever shall be regulated because it may cause the Reye Syndrome which is a complication that may develop into a coma and may cause permanent brain damage and seizures. The same virus that causes chicken pox also can cause the disease Shingles. This disease can occur more than once and usually happens in a person who has had chicken pox. The virus does not really die out, it becomes dormant and once reactivated the person may be infected once again by the same virus, but this time taking a new form: shingles.

The chicken pox vaccine is now widely available to prevent the virus altogether, but in cases where the person gets infected the spots aren’t as abundant as one without the virus and the symptoms are significantly less severe. The recovery time is also much faster, but the person can still transmit the disease to another.

Chicken pox is a disease that can be prevented, but it still exists today and many people still get infected. For further information regarding the Chicken Pox Virus, check out the following sites:

Information on Chicken Pox: This is a basic run through of the virus with additional information.
Chicken Pox: An in depth look into the disease is described in this reference.
Vaccination Information: More data on vaccination is given here.
Patient Information: Some guidelines that concern the patients of chicken pox are discussed here.
Clinical Notes: Here are some facts and medical concerns associated with chicken pox.
Reye Syndrome: This is one complication that may occur if the patient is given aspirin while having chicken pox.
Traveler’s Guide: This is a reference about the chicken pox virus which is important knowledge while traveling; also discusses the places where infection may happen.
Shingles: This is a disease brought about by the same virus that causes chicken pox.
Images of Chicken Pox: Here are some examples of the chicken pox virus at its mature stage.
Chicken Pox Vaccine Insight: The chicken pox vaccine has been known to be an economic action that saves money.