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Post # 1
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Join Date: 22 Jun 2011
Location:  KuwaitPosts: 448 |
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CHICKENPOX |
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Chickenpox is a very common and readily spread childhood disease that is found worldwide. Symptoms appear 2-3 weeks after infection and last about 2 weeks. The defining sypmtom is a blister-like rash, which can cause severe irritation. Most children have a relatively mild illness, but severe illness may occur in adults and people with depressed immunity because of existing illness, such as AIDS, or because of the treatment they are receiving, e.g. chemotherapy.
It may take up to 3 weeks for symptoms to appear after infection has occurred. The first noticeable symptom is the onset of a slight fever, which is usually followed by some mild constitutional symptoms, such as a headache, runny nose and a general feeling of malaise. The defining symptom of chickenpox is the eruption of skin lesions on all areas of the body, including the scalp, and on the mucous membranes of the mouth and upper respiratory tract. These fluid-filled lesions or vesicles occur in "crops", so that several stages of old and new lesions will be present at the same time. The vesicles usually have a red rim around them; they eventually break, and a crust forms on top. On occasion the vesicles can become infected and filled with pus. If this should occur a physician should be consulted. The greatest number of lesions appear on covered or irritated areas of skin, such as on a sunburn or diaper rash. Chickenpox varies in severity from very mild, with just a few spots, to severe, with fever and a widespread rash. The more severe form is seen more often in adults. Normally there are no long-term side effects of chickenpox. However, in adults there is the possibility of a more severe infection, with a case-fatality rate of 30/100,000. The most common cause of death in adults is viral pneumonia. In people with depressed immunity due to diseases such as AIDS or leukemia or to the treatment they are receiving, severe illness may develop, with hemorrhagic rash; this can be fatal. |
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