Chickenpox can be deadly

MOST children with chickenpox completely recover from the disease. But it can be serious, even deadly, especially for babies, pregnant women, adolescents, adults, and people with weakened immune systems.

Make sure everyone in your family is up to date on their chickenpox vaccinations.

Chickenpox is a very contagious disease. Someone can get the disease if they have never been vaccinated against it, or suffered from chickenpox before.

Chickenpox causes a blister-like rash, itching, tiredness, and fever. This leaves a person feeling very sick and uncomfortable, and may cause sick people to miss a week or more of school or work.

Chickenpox can be serious. Before there was a vaccine, chickenpox afflicted about 4 million people a year, led to more than 10 500 hospitalisations, and about 100 to 150 deaths. Most people who get severe chickenpox are healthy beforehand.

BEST PROTECTION

Chickenpox vaccine is the best way to protect your family from the disease.

Children get the first dose of chickenpox vaccine at between 12 and 15 months, and the second at between four and six years.

People from 13 years and older who have never suffered from chickenpox or been vaccinated against it should get two doses of chickenpox vaccine at least 28 days apart.

If you or your child only got one dose in the past, check with your doctor about the possibility of getting a second dose.

Chickenpox Can Be Serious

Chickenpox can be fatal. It can also cause dehydration, pneumonia, bleeding problems, brain infections or inflammation, and also bacterial infections of the skin and soft tissues in children, including Group A streptococcal infections.

The disease can furthermore cause bloodstream infections (sepsis, toxic shock syndrome, bone infections and joint infections.

It is safer to get chickenpox vaccine than getting the body to build its own immunity after suffering chickenpox.

Two doses of chickenpox vaccine are very effective at preventing the disease, including complications and death. Although it is rare, some people can still get chickenpox even after vaccination. However, the symptoms are usually very mild, meaning fewer blisters, little or no fever and quick recovery.

It is also important to realise that when a person gets vaccinated, he/she protects others in the community. This is especially important for people who cannot get vaccinated.

People who cannot have the chickenpox vaccine administered include pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems. – www.Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

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