Contents:
- Medical Video: Chickenpox Treatment | Treatment For Chickenpox | Chickenpox Symptoms | Signs Of Chickenpox | 2018
- What is chicken pox and how is it spread?
- Is adult chickenpox more dangerous than chickenpox in children?
- How do you prevent chickenpox as an adult?
- What if you get chickenpox in adulthood?
Medical Video: Chickenpox Treatment | Treatment For Chickenpox | Chickenpox Symptoms | Signs Of Chickenpox | 2018
Chickenpox is a disease that affects almost everyone. People who have been affected by this disease will usually not experience this disease again. Generally, you only experience this disease once in a lifetime. Chickenpox is more common during childhood and adult chickenpox is usually less common, but that does not mean it cannot occur as an adult.
What is chicken pox and how is it spread?
Chickenpox is a disease that can happen to everyone. This is an infectious disease that can spread through the air of an infected person when they sneeze or cough. Saliva of people who suffer from chickenpox can be a spreader of the chickenpox virus. In addition, this disease also spreads through contact with smallpox / blisters from people infected with chickenpox.
So, if you are in a room with someone who is infected with chickenpox, you can easily get chickenpox too, especially if you have never had chickenpox before and you have not been vaccinated for chickenpox. However, a brief exposure to the chickenpox virus may not cause 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 chickenpox more dangerous than chickenpox in children?
Chickenpox or varicella is most common in children and is usually mild. However, chickenpox can also occur in adults. Unfortunately, chickenpox in adults can cause more severe symptoms and more serious complications. Especially for those who have never had chickenpox in childhood.
Some complications that can occur in adults who have chickenpox are:
- Bacterial infections of the skin, this can cause the skin to become red, swollen and painful
- Lung infection (pneumonia), this can cause persistent coughing, difficulty breathing, and chest pain
Some people who have had chickenpox can develop herpes zoster later. This causes the appearance of a painful rash, which is caused by the reactivated chicken pox virus.
How do you prevent chickenpox as an adult?
Vaccination is the best way to avoid chickenpox. Almost all adults can develop protective antibodies against the chickenpox virus after getting two chickenpox vaccines. This vaccine can protect you from chickenpox and may be able to protect for a lifetime.
People who have been vaccinated against chickenpox can also sometimes get chickenpox but are usually lighter. For those of you who have chickenpox, you should not worry because it can be cured. You can go straight to the doctor after chickenpox symptoms appear (such as red spots) to be treated immediately.
What if you get chickenpox in adulthood?
Some things that you should pay attention to help healing when you have already had chickenpox:
- Use paracetamol to relieve fever. Don't use ibuprofen because it might cause you to become very sick. And also, don't take aspirin or drugs that contain aspirin because it can increase the risk of Reye's syndrome, 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. This wound can then cause infection by bacteria that enter the skin. When you feel itchy, you just pat your skin.
- Drink plenty of fluids to keep your body hydrated
