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March
4, 2004
Little
Rock -- Many adults think that chickenpox (varicella) is nothing to worry about—a mild illness that’s very contagious, but surely not dangerous. But chickenpox is a serious and sometimes deadly disease that can be easily prevented by vaccination. In fact, the Arkansas Department of Health provides the vaccine in its local health units for children one through eighteen years of age. It is currently required for all children in day care centers and kindergarten students in Arkansas.
We have approximately six to fourteen percent of children six to nineteen years of age who have not had varicella. The department is advising parents of these children to visit a local health unit or private physician to receive the vaccine. Children ages one to twelve should receive one dose of vaccine; children ages thirteen through eighteen should receive two doses.
Chickenpox is an infectious disease caused by a virus. In children, chickenpox most commonly causes an illness that lasts about five to ten days. Most children with chickenpox are sick with a high fever, severe itching, an uncomfortable rash, dehydration or headache. However, one child in ten has a complication from chickenpox that includes infected skin lesions, other infections, dehydration from vomiting or diarrhea, increase in asthmatic attacks or more serious complications such as pneumonia. Chickenpox results in approximately 100 deaths in the United States annually.
Chickenpox is highly infectious and spreads from person to person by direct contact or by an infected person’s coughing or sneezing. A person with chickenpox is contagious one to two days before the rash appears and until all blisters have formed scabs.
Prevention is the best medicine for this potentially deadly disease. If you have questions, contact your local county health unit or family doctor. Protect your family from this easily preventable health risk.
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