Why is chickenpox in adults dangerous

He or she usually can diagnose chickenpox by examining the rash and considering other symptoms. Your doctor can also prescribe medications to lessen the severity of chickenpox and treat complications, if necessary. To avoid infecting others in the waiting room, call ahead for an appointment and mention that you think you or your child may have chickenpox.

Chickenpox infection is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It can spread through direct contact with the rash. It can also spread when a person with the chickenpox coughs or sneezes and you inhale the air droplets. Your risk of becoming infected with the varicella-zoster virus that causes chickenpox is higher if you haven't already had chickenpox or if you haven't had the chickenpox vaccine.

It's especially important for people who work in child care or school settings to be vaccinated. Most people who have had chickenpox or have been vaccinated against chickenpox are immune to chickenpox. A few people can get chickenpox more than once, but this is rare. If you've been vaccinated and still get chickenpox, symptoms are often milder, with fewer blisters and mild or no fever.

Chickenpox is normally a mild disease. But it can be serious and can lead to complications including:. Low birth weight and limb abnormalities are more common among babies born to women who are infected with chickenpox early in their pregnancy. When a mother is infected with chickenpox in the week before birth or within a couple of days after giving birth, her baby has a higher risk of developing a serious, life-threatening infection.

If you're pregnant and not immune to chickenpox, talk to your doctor about the risks to you and your unborn child. If you've had chickenpox, you're at risk of a complication called shingles. The varicella-zoster virus remains in your nerve cells after the skin infection has healed. Many years later, the virus can reactivate and resurface as shingles — a painful cluster of short-lived blisters.

The virus is more likely to reappear in older adults and people who have weakened immune systems. The pain of shingles can last long after the blisters disappear. This is called postherpetic neuralgia and can be severe. The shingles vaccine Shingrix is recommended for adults who have had chickenpox. Shingrix is approved and recommended for people age 50 and older, including those who've previously received another shingles vaccine Zostavax. Zostavax, which isn't recommended until age 60, is no longer sold in the United States.

The chickenpox varicella vaccine is the best way to prevent chickenpox. When the vaccine doesn't provide complete protection, it significantly lessens the severity of chickenpox. Young children. Specific treatment for chickenpox will be determined by your healthcare provider based on: Your overall health and medical history Extent of the condition Your tolerance for specific medicines, procedures, or therapies Expectations for the course of the condition Your opinion or preference Treatment for chickenpox may include: Acetaminophen to reduce fever.

Skin lotion to relieve itchiness Antiviral drugs for severe cases Bed rest Drinking plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration Cool baths with baking soda to relieve itching Children should not scratch the blisters because it could lead to secondary bacterial infections. What are the complications of chickenpox? Complications may include: Secondary bacterial infections Pneumonia lung infections Encephalitis inflammation of the brain Cerebellar ataxia defective muscular coordination Transverse myelitis inflammation along the spinal cord Reye syndrome.

This is a serious condition marked by a group of symptoms that may affect all major systems or organs. Do not give aspirin to children with chickenpox. It increases the risk for Reye syndrome. Death When should I call my healthcare provider? It is easily spread to others. There is a vaccine available to prevent chickenpox. They may be life-threatening to adults and people of any age with weak immune systems.

The rash of chickenpox is unique and the diagnosis can usually be made on the appearance of the rash and a history of exposure. Treatment helps reduce fever and itchiness of rash. Next steps Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider: Know the reason for your visit and what you want to happen.

Before your visit, write down questions you want answered. Bring someone with you to help you ask questions and remember what your provider tells you. At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis, and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your provider gives you. Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed, and how it will help you. Also know what the side effects are. Ask if your condition can be treated in other ways.

Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean. Know what to expect if you do not take the medicine or have the test or procedure. If you have a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit. Know how you can contact your provider if you have questions. The risk of hospitalization and death from chickenpox varicella is increased in adults.

About 90 percent of unvaccinated household contacts of an infected person will catch chickenpox. Which Adults Need Chickenpox Vaccine? All adults who never received the chickenpox vaccine and never had the chickenpox.

Adults who are at higher risk of exposure should especially consider vaccination. They include healthcare workers, college students, teachers, and daycare workers. The tell-tale symptom of chickenpox is a rash that develops into itchy blisters over the entire body.