Chicken+Pox

=Chicken Pox - Varicella-Zoster Virus –Shui Dou=

Chicken pox starts off with a mild headache and fatigue 11-15 days after exposure preceding the eruptions by 24-36 hours. The initial rash has macular eruption, which evolve into an itchy teardrop vesicle containing clear fluid with a red areola. These vesicles will begin to crust within 6-8 hours. Usually the whole body will be infected with eruptions including possible sites as the mucous membranes. The eruptions will continuously appear for 4 - 7 days with the majority of them being crusted by the 6th day. Most crusts will disappear in 20 days after onset. Chinese Medicine Treatment Of Chicken Pox:

1. Wind Heat Mild fever, or no fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, cough and sneezing, red rash made up of blisters filled with clear fluid. Yin Qiao San

Symptoms of Chickenpox:
The first signs that a child is coming down with chickenpox usually include same combination of the following: Moderate fever. Headache. Fatigue. Achiness. Sore throat. A day or two after these first symptoms appear, a child with chickenpox will develop the tell-tale rash, usually characterized by the following: It starts out flat and reddish, centered on the trunk of the body. A day or so after it first appears, it spreads to the extremities, neck, and face, and turns from red splotches into masses of tiny pimples. It is intensely itchy.

Liver Heat with Wind Damp, with eventually yin xu.
-High fever, vexation, and agitation, red eyes, and face, thirst, densely packed pox which are dull purple in color filled with turbid fluid, or accompanied by swollen gums, dry stools scanty and yellow urine. Qing Wei Jie Du Tang – Sheng Ma, Huang lian, Huang qin, shi gao, mu dan pi, Sheng di Huang With dark red rashes + Zi Cao, Zhi Zi Wind Damp - Chi Shi Wei Ling Tang

Chickenpox is a highly contagious childhood disease that is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, a member of the herpes family. Very few children escape chickenpox infection. It spreads quickly. Coughing and sneezing-even laughing and talking-spread the illness. A child with developing chickenpox will be contagious for one or two days before any symptoms show. A child who plays with an infected child during this period will almost certainly catch the disease. An infected child is contagious from a few days before symptoms develop until all of the blisters are dry and have formed scabs.

The more intimate and more frequent the exposure to chickenpox, the more severe the case will be. This fact has very important implications, especially if there is more than one child. Children in different stages of the disease should be separated to minimize their exposure to each other. With minimal exposure, the second child to become ill is likely to have a less severe case of chickenpox, with less discomfort. Chickenpox typically begins with a headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, and fever, much like any other viral illness. A day or two after these early symptoms, a rash of flat, red, splotchy dots erupts, usually beginning on the chest, stomach, it and back, and spreading a day or so later to the face and scalp.

The red dots of the rash soon come together to form clusters of tiny pimples, which then progress to small, delicate, clear blisters. Some children develop 3 lesions; some develop 300. Once the rash erupts, expect new crops of blisters over the next three to five days. Scabs, which are the last phase of the pox, form five to six days after the blisters develop. These scabs last for one to two weeks before falling off, exposing tender, freshly healed skin. Over the course of the disease, the rash shows signs of all the different phases of chickenpox, with some areas that are splotchy and red, some areas of new blisters, areas where sores are crusting over and scabbing, and areas of healing. From eruption through healing, each and every pock is very, very itchy. It is the extreme itchiness of chickenpox that causes the greatest torment.

Chickenpox can be contracted at any age. Because infected adults tend to feel much sicker and more miserable with this disease than youngsters do, it's probably best to have it as a child. Once you have had chickenpox, it is highly unlikely that you will ever suffer through it again. Although it is possible to shingles. Conventional Treatment -Acetaminophen (in Tylenol, Tempra, and other medications) is helpful in relieving pain and bringing down fever. Note: In excessive amounts, this drug can cause liver damage. Read package directions carefully so as not to exceed the proper dosage for your child's age and size. -Do not give a child any product that contains aspirin. A child or teenager who has the symptoms of any viral disease, including chickenpox, should never be given aspirin, because the combination of aspirin and viral disease has been linked to the development of Reye's syndrome, a dangerous complication.

Stages of Reye's Syndrome:
http://www.reyessyndrome.org/what.htm Stage I: Persistent or continuous vomiting Signs of brain dysfunction: Listlessness Loss of pep and energy Drowsiness

Stage II: Personality changes: Irritability Aggressive behavior Disorientation: Confusion Irrational behavior Combative Delirium, convulsions, coma

(found in Benadryl) or chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton Viscous Xylocaine is a local anesthetic - mouth Burow's solution is a powder available over the counter at most drug stores. Mixed with water and applied as a soak, it is very effective at drying up weeping sores. -Calamine lotion can help to relieve itching and dry weeping sores. -Acyclovir (Zovirax) is a drug that has some effectiveness against the chickenpox virus. However, it is very expensive and shortens the course of the illness by only a few days. It is therefore used primarily in severe cases that occur in children with disorders that impair immune system function, such as leukemia.

Dietary Guidelines
-Offer plenty of fluids so that the child stays well hydrated. -Prepare a simple, clean, whole-foods diet. Include easily digested foods high in vitamins and minerals, such as soups, well-cooked whole grains, and vegetables. -If child has lost his appetite and is not eating well, try tempting him with diluted fruit juices, herbal teas, and soups. Frozen fruit-juice popsicles are usually well received. When to Call the Doctor about Chickenpox If child develops vaginal or rectal lesions, or bad sores in his mouth, call physician. If child develops a fever consistently over 102°F, an earache, a very painful sore throat, a persistent cough, and/or increased difficulty breathing, seek your doctor's advice. It is possible for a child with chickenpox to develop such complications as an ear infection, strep throat, or pneumonia. If the child seems to be developing any of these conditions, seek further medical attention. See notes for other ideas p57 Vaccinations p68