Chicken pox is an extremely contagious virus caused by the chickenpox virus of the virus family varicella.

Most cases of chickenpox are mild and last for a few days, however in some severe cases it can lead to complications. Fortunately, for people who have chickenpox they don’t usually have long-term effects.

Chickenpox is caused when the body produces an unusually high amount of the chickenpox virus. The disease starts spreading very quickly after this initial stage and so there is often a great deal of itching and bleeding at the affected site. This can be particularly painful in children. It is therefore very important to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

If you have a history of chickenpox then it is highly likely that you will contract chickenpox again once you have had the virus. Also, children who haven’t been immunised against the virus are likely to get the disease. So if you have children this year, make sure they have been immunised as soon as possible. If you are unsure about whether your child has had chickenpox then go to your GP as they may be able to tell you. You should also remember that the vaccine only protects against chickenpox and not the virus that causes shingles.

As well as having the chickenpox you also develop a fever, nausea and headaches. Some people can have a recurrence of the disease after receiving their first dose of chickenpox, but it is rare. You should therefore make sure that everyone in your household has been immunised against chickenpox.

If you do find that your children have been affected by chickenpox and have not been immunised then it is highly important that you get them vaccinated right away as they are at risk of contracting the disease again.

There are several different types of chicken pox that you can get and each one is quite different. The most common of all chickenpox is Varicella zoster and this is caused by a strain of the chickenpox virus that is highly contagious. Varicella zoster is quite similar to shingles and so if your child has it, and they then get shingles they can pass the virus onto you through skin-to-skin contact. Although it is highly unlikely, there is a chance that shingles can also cause chickenpox.

Another chickenpox disease is the very serious Herpes zoster. This is caused by two different strains of the chickenpox virus and these strains are very different from each other and can often result in serious complications if the disease is not treated correctly. Herpes zoster is highly contagious and it is spread easily through direct skin-to-skin contact with those who are infected. When you contract chickenpox you will find that you feel very uncomfortable, especially if you have a fever and swollen joints are very sore.

Chickenpox is not a life threatening disease and is rarely fatal. However, if left unchecked it can lead to serious complications such as arthritis, hearing loss and brain damage. If you are pregnant, you will also be putting yourself and your unborn baby at risk of contracting the HIV virus and even a potentially fatal form of cancer. It is highly recommended that you get vaccinated as soon as possible and have chickenpox as soon as you become pregnant.

There is now an extremely effective vaccine available which can protect you against the chickenpox. All you need to do is get your child vaccinated. Make sure that you remember to check with your GP to see if they can provide you with free advice about where you can get the vaccine.