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About Chickenpox
Chickenpox is a disease caused by infection with the varicella zoster virus (VZV),
which causes fever and an itchy rash. Symptoms are a skin rash of blister-like
lesions, covering the body but usually more concentrated on the face, scalp, and
trunk. Most, but not all, infected individuals have fever, which develops just
before or when the rash appears. If exposed, persons who have been vaccinated
against the disease may get a milder illness, with less severe rash (sometimes
involving only a few red bumps that look similar to insect bites) and mild or no
fever. Potential serious complications include bacterial infection of the skin,
swelling of the brain, and pneumonia. Adolescents and adults are more at risk
for severe disease. The virus is spread by coughing and sneezing (highly
contagious), by direct contact, and by aerosolization of virus from skin
lesions. Varicella vaccine can prevent chickenpox. Currently, two doses of
vaccine are recommended for children, adolescents, and adults.
About Shingles
Shingles, a frequently painful disease marked by a blistering rash is caused
by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus. Anyone who has recovered from
chickenpox may develop shingles, including children. However, shingles most
commonly occurs in people 50 years old and older. The risk of getting shingles
increases as a person gets older. People who have medical conditions that keep
the immune system from working properly, like cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, and
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or people who receive immunosuppressive
drugs, such as steroids and drugs given after organ transplantation are also at
greater risk to get shingles. It is estimated that 98% of adults 20 years old or
older in the United States have serologic evidence of VZV infection and are at
risk for shingles. The lifetime risk of developing shingles is estimated to be
about 30%. In the United States, there are an estimated one million cases of
shingles annually. In 2006, a vaccine was licensed for use in people 60 years
old and older to prevent shingles. It is a one-time vaccination and does not
treat shingles or post-herpetic neuralgia (pain after the rash is gone) once it
develops.
For more information contact the WCCHD Disease Surveillance Team
at (512) 943-3660 or email
Mindy Powell, CDMT Team Lead.
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