Chickenpox, also called chickenpox, is a highly contagious disease caused by the virus Varicella zoster which manifests itself through the appearance of blisters or red spots on the body and intense itching, which should not be scratched or popped, as in addition to increasing the risk of transmission to other people, there is also a greater chance of marks remaining on the skin.
Treatment for chickenpox must be recommended by a general practitioner or pediatrician and is done in order to control symptoms, and the use of medicines such as Paracetamol and antiseptic lotion may be recommended to dry the wounds faster. Learn more about chickenpox.
Below we list the main questions about chickenpox:
1. Is chickenpox in adults very serious?
Chickenpox especially affects children, but it can affect individuals of all ages, in this case being more serious. In addition to the typical chickenpox sores, which occur in greater numbers in adults, other symptoms such as sore throat and earache may also be present. However, the treatment is carried out in the same way, in order to control the symptoms. Find out more details about chickenpox in adults.
2. How many days does chickenpox last?
Chickenpox lasts 7 to 10 days, being contagious mainly in the first few days, and stops being contagious when the blisters begin to dry, because the virus is found in the liquid inside the blisters. See all the precautions you should take to avoid passing chickenpox to other people.
3. Is it possible to get chickenpox more than once?
This is a very rare situation, but it can happen. The most common thing is that the person had a very mild version the first time or that it was actually another disease, which could have been confused with chickenpox. So, when a person is actually infected with the chickenpox virus a 2nd time, he or she develops shingles.
4. When can chickenpox be very serious and leave consequences?
Chickenpox can rarely be serious, having a benign course, which means that in more than 90% of cases it leaves no sequelae, and heals on its own in less than 12 days. However, chickenpox can be more serious and cause complications in people with a weakened immune system, as can happen in the case of cancer treatment, for example. In this case, the body has more difficulty fighting the chickenpox virus and it causes diseases such as pneumonia or pericarditis, for example.
5. Does chickenpox catch from the air?
No, chickenpox is transmitted from one person to another through contact with the liquid present inside the blisters. Therefore, it is not possible to catch chickenpox through the air, as the virus is not present in the air.
6. How to remove chickenpox stains?
The best time to remove the dark spots left by chickenpox is right after it appears and the disease has been controlled. You can use whitening and healing creams, but it is important not to expose yourself to the sun for at least 6 months after having chickenpox. When the spots have been on the skin for more than 6 months, it may be more difficult to remove these spots, and it is recommended to follow aesthetic treatments such as laser or pulsed light, for example.
7. What is the best age to get chickenpox?
Having chickenpox in childhood is simpler than in adulthood, but babies under 1 year of age must be protected because their immunity is not yet very developed. Up to 6 months it is believed that the baby is stronger against the virus because she received antibodies from her mother during pregnancy, but this immunity does not completely prevent her from being infected. Therefore, it can be said that between 1 and 18 years old would be the best time to have chickenpox.
