CHICKENPOX IN ADULTS AND TEENS

Chickenpox causes a rash and can make you feel
unwell. Symptoms tend to be worse in adults than
children. Treatments can ease the symptoms until the
illness goes. An antiviral drug may limit the severity of
the illness if the drug is started within 24 hours of the
rash first starting. Full recovery is usual. Serious
complications are rare, but are more common in adults
than children, and are more likely to occur in pregnant
women and in people with a poor immune system, such
as those on chemotherapy. If you are pregnant and
have not had chickenpox (or been immunised) and
come into contact with a person with chickenpox - see
your doctor urgently as treatment may prevent
chickenpox from developing.

What is chickenpox?
Chickenpox is an infection caused by the varicella-
zoster virus. The immune system makes antibodies
during the infection. These fight the virus and then
provide lifelong immunity. Therefore, it is uncommon to
have more than one bout of chickenpox in a lifetime.
Most people have chickenpox as a child. About 9 in 10
people have had it by the age of 15. It is uncommon
for adults to have chickenpox.

What are the symptoms of chickenpox?
Symptoms are usually more severe in adults than in
children. Expect to have a few uncomfortable days.
Fever (temperature), aches and headache often start
a day or so before a rash appears.
Rash . Spots appear in crops. The spots develop into
small blisters and are itchy. They can be anywhere
on the body and sometimes also in the mouth.
Several crops may develop over several days. Some
people are covered in spots; others have only a few.
Cough, sore throat, and feeling sick are common.
The fever and generally feeling unwell can last several
days. The blisters gradually dry up and scab. They
slowly fade over a week or so, but may take 2-3 weeks
to go completely. A dry cough may persist for a while
after all the other symptoms have gone.

What is the treatment for chickenpox?
Symptomatic treatments
Treatments that may ease symptoms whilst your
immune system deals with the virus include the
following:

1.Having plenty to drink to avoid dehydration.

2.Taking paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease fever,
headaches, and aches and pains.

3.Soothing creams (emollients) put on the spots may
ease itching. Calamine lotion used to be used, but
there is little evidence this works.

4.Antihistamine tablets taken at bedtime may help you
to sleep if itch is a problem at night. You can buy
these at pharmacies, or get them on prescription.

Antiviral medication
Antiviral drugs such as aciclovir can limit the severity
of chickenpox. These drugs do not kill the virus, but
stop the virus from multiplying. Adults with chickenpox
may be advised to take an antiviral drug - but only if
the drug can be started within 24 hours of the rash first
developing. If it is started after this time it is not likely
to have much of an effect. So, if started on time, an
antiviral drug may help to reduce the severity of the
illness.
Antiviral medication is especially useful in situations
where chickenpox can be more serious. For example,
for people who have a poor immune system, newborn
babies, and for pregnant women.

( Note : antiviral medication is not normally advised for healthy children who develop chickenpox.)