How is chickenpox transmitted?

The article was professionally consulted by Doctor Head of Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine, Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital

Chickenpox can become an epidemic, more dangerous when the main object of the disease is young children. Parents need to be equipped with knowledge about the disease as well as how chickenpox is transmitted to know how to protect the health of their children.

Chickenpox is a disease caused by the varicella virus (Varicellavirus), which occurs in children, this virus is also the cause of shingles in adults. The disease is acute with mild fever and rash. The rash develops many times on the same area of ​​skin, so they can be seen at different ages from nodules, clear blisters, cloudy blisters to scabs.
As with other airborne infections, chickenpox incidence is higher during the colder months. Chickenpox epidemics also have a certain cyclical nature like measles epidemics.
Incubation period: 2 to 3 weeks, normally 14-16 days.
Period of transmission: The longest is 5 days, but usually 1-2 days before the rash and not more than 5 days after the appearance of the first blister. Transmission may be longer in immunocompromised individuals. The rate of secondary attacks in infected people living in the same household is 70-90%. Shingles patients can spread the disease for up to a week after the rash develops. The infected body can become sick 10 to 21 days after exposure.

Chickenpox is transmitted in the following ways:
Person-to-person transmission by direct contact. Airborne transmission from respiratory droplets or blister fluid. Indirect transmission through objects recently contaminated with fluid from blisters or mucous membranes. In a person with chickenpox, the disease can be contagious for 1 to 2 days before the rash appears until all blisters have crusted over. About 90% of people who have never had chickenpox will get it if they come into contact with an infected person.

Like other diseases, if not treated promptly, chickenpox can lead to a number of dangerous complications:
Skin infection where the blisters are: This is a mild complication, not dangerous, but can be dangerous. can leave scars. Germs enter from the blisters into the bloodstream, causing sepsis. Pneumonia, encephalitis, cerebellar inflammation,...: These are life-threatening complications, or leave sequelae later. Shingles : Even after the patient has recovered from the disease, the chickenpox virus remains in the ganglia in an inactivated (hibernating) form. 10, 20, or 30 years later, when favorable conditions are met (the body's resistance is weakened, certain diseases are present, etc.), the virus will reactivate and be a factor that causes shingles (also called shingles). The disease is especially dangerous for pregnant women. In the first 3 months of pregnancy, the chickenpox virus in the mother's body will cause miscarriage, or when born, the baby will be born with chickenpox with many malformations such as small head, constriction of limbs, cerebral palsy, congenital scars. In the last days of pregnancy or after giving birth, chickenpox in the mother can be transmitted to the baby, causing the baby to have a lot of blisters and be prone to complications of pneumonia, respiratory infection,...

Vaccination against chickenpox is an effective and long-lasting way, helping the body create antibodies against the chickenpox virus. The chickenpox vaccine is long-acting. About 90% of vaccinated people have absolute immunity to the disease. The remaining 10% may get chickenpox after vaccination, but these cases are also mild, very few pox, without complications. Vaccination: Live attenuated varicella vaccine. For children from 12 months to 12 years old, inject 1 dose of 0.5 ml under the skin. Children 13 years of age and older get 2 doses 4-8 weeks apart.
In addition, should limit contact with sick people to prevent spread. Cases of chickenpox should be absent from school or work for 7 to 10 days from the time of diagnosis to avoid spreading to others. Regularly wash your hands with soap, use separate utensils, clean your nose and throat daily with physiological saline. Regularly clean houses, schools, and daily-life items with common disinfectants.

As recommended by medical experts, even during an epidemic, parents should still take their children to get vaccinated on schedule. Delaying the vaccination schedule can increase the risk of disease that has been ruled out or make infectious and superinfectious diseases such as influenza, measles, chickenpox, pharyngitis, pneumonia... become more severe and difficult to treat. than.
In the first 5 years of life, a child's immune system is completely built, so full vaccination is an effective way to strengthen the child's resistance. Parents should note that when taking their children to get vaccinated, they should strictly follow the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health, such as wearing a mask properly, washing hands often with an antiseptic solution. In addition, parents are always updated with correct information about this strain of Covid -19 to protect themselves and their families from Corona Virus.
In areas where there is no epidemic, mothers can still have their children vaccinated according to the age-appropriate vaccination schedule, but avoid crowded places, make an appointment in advance to avoid waiting and go to the facility Trust medical facilities guaranteed.
>> See more: Should vaccinations be delayed during the Covid-19 epidemic? expert advice by Specialist Doctor II Quach Nguyen Thu Thuy - Pediatric Center - Vinmec Times City International Hospital

Compiled source: Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health