CHICKENPOX 
What is it ?

It is a viral infection caused by the Varicella Zoster Virus.

Any scientific name for it ?

Varicella

How do I identify it ?

A rash on the body after some 3days of fever is how you mostly see it.

The fever may usually be mild and may be usually associated with general body symptoms like weakness, lethargy and a general sense of a ‘viral fever ‘

A rash that is typically polymorphic develops on the body.It starts usually on the trunk and then spreads outwards.Polymorphic means that at any point of time there would be generations of crops of the blisters seen.Some would be red and fresh , others may be older and yet others may be fading away just as some others are pinkish and tiny and beginning to just erupt.

The blisters are clear fluid filled.

The blisters come up as crops and may cover eventually the whole body.They would not spare the scalp,genitalia and the area around the anus.

Generally speaking, the younger the child, the milder the rash.The older a person ( i.e. older than a small child ) – the more prominent the disease and the associated problems.

Any complications ?

Generally, chickenpox is a non serious disease and your child will come out of it safely.It is often more of a nuisance than a disease of serious proportions.

Uncommonly there may be significant scarring.There would usually be no scarring and no long term skin appearance problems.

Quite uncommonly it may cause serious pneumonias or meningitis ( brain infection ) .

How do I protect from it ? Any Vaccine ?

There is an effective vaccine called the Varicella Vaccine that you may get your child anytime after 1 year of age. It offers long term immunity and recently there is talk in medical circles of a need for a booster dose.