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Chickenpox – get your children vaccinated and help protect the whole family!
Refusing to get your child vaccinated against chickenpox increases the risk of catching the disease nine fold. This finding by an American study is hardly surprising. However, it proves once again the importance of vaccination in terms of public health.
Vaccination not only protects the youngest members of society against the disease … it also helps to protect adults! When adults come into contact with children infected with chickenpox, they are also at risk of developing the disease. However, chickenpox, which is a relatively benign condition in children, can pose a much more serious risk to adults. After infection, the virus remains in a latent state in the ganglia and, if reactivated, can cause shingles. This occurs mainly in older people and people with a weakened immune system.
In adults, chickenpox can lead to extremely serious complications, particularly in the lungs. This is especially dangerous for pregnant women and unborn babies because of the possible lack of oxygen. Not forgetting either that a pregnant woman can pass the virus on to her unborn child.
So it’s important to recognise the first symptoms. If your child has a high temperature, complains of a headache, and seems tired, don’t delay, take him to the doctor straight away. If your GP diagnoses chickenpox, don’t forget that your child will remain contagious for a fortnight… in fact until the vesicles have formed crusts.
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