Chicken Pox

Chickenpox, clinically known as varicella, is a highly contagious infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It is most prevalent among children, though it can affect individuals of any age who have not had the disease before or who have not been vaccinated against it. The disease is characterized by an itchy rash that forms blisters filled with fluid that eventually scab over. Accompanying symptoms often include fever, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Transmission occurs through direct contact with the rash, inhalation of droplets from an infected person's coughs or sneezes, or sharing items like utensils with an infected individual.

Once a person is infected, the virus has an incubation period of approximately 10 to 21 days before symptoms appear. While the disease is generally mild in healthy children, it can be severe and even life-threatening in adults, newborns, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Following the initial infection, the virus remains dormant in the body and can reactivate later in life as shingles. The introduction of the varicella vaccine has significantly decreased the incidence and severity of chickenpox, and the World Health Organization recommends routine immunization to prevent the disease.