Chickenpox

Synonyms

Varicella infection

Introduction

The so-called varicella zoster virus causes the disease pattern of chickenpox and shingles. If the initial infection with the virus occurs, this results in chickenpox, which is an acute and highly contagious infection. The patients show a skin rash, which mainly affects the trunk, the hairy head, the face, the neck and the mucous membranes. Small fluid-filled blisters are particularly impressive. The virus remains in the body for life and can be reactivated under certain conditions, in which case one speaks of a zoster or shingles.

EpidemiologyResources

Before the introduction of the vaccination against chickenpox, there were about 750,000 infections per year in Germany. Due to the vaccination the rates have decreased significantly. Nowadays it is mainly unvaccinated children who fall ill with chickenpox.

About 350 cases of chickenpox requiring inpatient treatment occur every year. A chickenpox infection is possible at any age. Especially many infections occur in the age group between 1 and 4 years. There is a seasonal increase in the incidence of chickenpox in autumn and winter.

CauseEstablishment

The virus can be transmitted in two ways: It is transmitted by droplet infection and by direct contact with the infectious content of the vesicles. The viruses enter the body via the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and throat and via the conjunctiva of the eyes, enter the bloodstream and finally reach the skin: this is where the virus infection causes the formation of blisters and severe itching. In addition, the virus is now excreted through the breath as an aerosol.

In the rash stage, the virus also reaches the sensitive ganglia (“nerve cell nodes”) of the thoracic-lumbar region; the virus remains in the ganglia for life. The rash lasts for about 6 days and the last encrusted blisters fall off after about 2 weeks of the disease. The infectivity of the diseased (when the diseased can infect others) begins two days before the rash appears and ends when the last liquid-filled vesicles are dried and encrusted.

Chickenpox is transmitted by droplets in the air. Since chickenpox is very contagious, it can be transmitted from one infected person to all persons in the room without having had close contact with the infected person. In rare cases, chickenpox can also be transmitted by smear infection.

Infectious is the person suffering from chickenpox 2 days before the start of the rash until the last blister has healed. Until then, chickenpox can be transmitted both by air and by smear infection. A transmission of chickenpox from the mother to the unborn child, i.e. a diaplacental transmission, is also possible.