Chickenpox

22.11.2023

Chickenpox , Daily Current Affairs , RACE IAS : Best IAS Coaching in Lucknow 

Why in the news?                

Recently, 25 years of US data (1995-2019) released shows a steep decline in the incidence of chickenpox and shingles in children.      

Important points:

• On 14 November, the UK government announced that the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) has recommended that a vaccine against chickenpox (varicella) should be added to the routine childhood vaccination programme.
• This vaccine is to be given to all children in two doses at the age of 12 and 18 months.
• Varicella vaccine has not yet been included in the universal vaccination program in India.

About Chickenpox:

• Chickenpox is a disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus.
  • Varicella-zoster is a herpes virus that causes chickenpox, a common childhood illness.
  • It is an exclusively human virus that belongs to the α-herpesvirus family.
• It causes an itchy rash with small, fluid-filled blisters.
• Chickenpox spreads very easily among people who have not had the disease or who have not been vaccinated against chickenpox.
• Its infection can extend to the central nervous system and cause serious complications.

symptoms:

• The rash caused by chickenpox appears 10 to 21 days after exposure to the varicella-zoster virus, with the rash often lasting 5 to 10 days.
• Other symptoms that may appear 1 to 2 days before the rash include:
  • Fever.
  • loss of appetite.
  • Headache.
  • A general feeling of fatigue and being unwell.

Infection:

• Chickenpox can be spread by direct contact with an infected person, or by breathing in air containing virus particles from an infected person's sneezes or coughs.
• It is spread through contact with fluids from an infected child's eyes, nose or mouth.

Treatment:

• Most people with chickenpox are advised to manage their symptoms as soon as they appear.
• Doctors may prescribe antihistamine medications or topical ointments, or you can buy these over the counter to relieve itching.
• The chickenpox vaccine prevents chickenpox in 98 percent of people who receive the recommended two doses.

seriousness:

• Chickenpox in children is often relatively mild.
• Some may develop complications including bacterial infections, and in rare cases encephalitis, lung inflammation and even stroke, this can rarely lead to deaths.
• Even when the disease is cured, the virus remains dormant in the body and can reactivate to cause herpes zoster (shingles), especially in adults.

What Is Herpes Virus ?

• Herpes is a common infection caused by herpes simplex viruses.
•  It can cause painful blisters that come and go, usually around the mouth and genitals.
• Herpesviruses are a member of the herpesviridae family, which has three subfamilies. This family includes several DNA viruses that can develop lytic or latent infections that last their entire lives and permits periodic reactivation.

Types of Herpes virus

• Cold sores are most commonly caused by herpes simplex virus type 1. It is also capable of causing genital herpes.
• While HSV type 2 is typically responsible for genital herpes, the virus can however infect the mouth and cause a sore throat

Symptoms of Herpes virus

• Asymptomatic or asymptomatic oral herpes infection is most common, however unpleasant blisters or open wounds (ulcers) in or around the mouth can occur (cold sores).
• Tingling, stinging, or burning sensations around the mouth of infected individuals are common prior to developing sores on their tongues.
• Each person’s experience with these symptoms is unique, and the frequency with which they occur will vary.
• There are several types of herpes, some of which are untreated or even have minor symptoms that are overlooked.
• Additionally, fever, bodily aches, and swollen glands are common indications of a serious infection. Symptoms may repeat after an early occurrence, which might be severe in nature.

Source:PIB