Chicken pox in adults and children

Chicken pox is a disease that affects almost everyone. People who have been exposed to this disease usually will not experience this disease again. Generally, you only experience this disease once in your life. Chickenpox occurs more frequently in childhood and adult chickenpox is usually less common, but that doesn't mean it can't occur as adults.

What is chicken pox and how is it spread?

Chicken pox is a disease that can happen to everyone. It is a contagious disease that can be spread through the air from an infected person when they sneeze or cough. The saliva of a person who has chickenpox can spread the chickenpox virus. Apart from that, the disease is also spread through contact with the smallpox blisters / fluids of an infected person.

So, if you are in the same room with a person who is infected with chickenpox, you can easily catch chickenpox too, especially if you have never had chickenpox before and you haven't had the chickenpox vaccine. However, brief exposure to the chickenpox virus probably won't cause an infection.

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella zoster virus. This virus can be dangerous for people with immune system problems (such as leukemia) or people who take drugs that weaken the immune system (such as steroids).

Is adult chicken pox more dangerous than chicken pox in children?

Chickenpox or varicella occurs most often in children and is usually mild. However, chicken pox can also occur in adults. Unfortunately, chicken pox in adults can cause more severe symptoms and more serious complications. Especially for those who never had chickenpox in childhood.

Some of the complications that can occur in adults with chickenpox are:

• Bacterial infection of the skin, this can cause the skin to become red, swollen, and painful
• Lung infection (pneumonia), this can cause persistent cough, difficulty breathing, and chest pain

Some people who have had chickenpox also develop shingles (shingles) at a later date. This causes the appearance of a painful rash, which is caused by the chickenpox virus reactivating.

How to prevent chickenpox as an adult?

Vaccination is the best way to keep you from getting chickenpox. Almost all adults can develop protective antibodies against the chickenpox virus after having had two chickenpox vaccines. This vaccine can protect you from chickenpox and may be able to protect you for life.

People who have been vaccinated against chickenpox can sometimes get chickenpox but it is usually mild. For those of you who have chickenpox, you should not worry because it can be cured. You can immediately go to the doctor after the symptoms of chickenpox appear (such as red spots) so that it can be treated immediately.

What if you get chickenpox in adulthood?

Some things you should pay attention to to help heal when you have had chickenpox:

• Use paracetamol to relieve fever. Do not use ibuprofen as it may cause you very sickness. Also, don't take aspirin or any medications that contain aspirin as they increase the risk of brain damage, which can damage the liver and brain.
• Use lotions, moisturizing creams, or cooling gels to relieve itching
• Avoid scratching the skin to prevent injury to the skin. These sores can then cause infection by bacteria that enter the skin. When you feel itchy, you can just pat your skin.
• Drink lots of fluids to keep yourself hydrated