1. Chickenpox (Varicella)
Ana Corona, FNP
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2. What is Chickenpox (Varicella)?
Chickenpox is an acute viral infectious disease
Varicella-zoster virus (VZV)
VZV is a DNA virus
A member of Herpes virus group.
Primary infection results in Varicella.
Recurrent infection results in herpes zoster (shingles).

3. Pathogenesis of Varicella
Day 0 – 3
Infection of conjunctivae and/or
mucosa of the upper respiratory tract
Viral replication in regional lymph
nodes
Day 4 – 6
Primary Viremia
Viral replication in liver, spleen,
and other organs
Days 10 – 12
Secondary Viremia
Day 14
Infection of skin and appearance of
vesicular rash

4. Clinical Features Mild prodrome (fever, malaise) for 1-2 days
Successive crops (2-4 days) of pruritic vesicles
Generally appear first on head; most concentrated on trunk
Can spread over the entire body causing between 250 to 500 itchy blisters
Generally mild in healthy children

5. What is The Chickenpox Illness Like?
Chickenpox most commonly causes an illness that lasts about 5-10 days.
Children usually miss 5 or 6 days of school or childcare due to chickenpox.
1 child in 10 has a complication from chickenpox serious enough to visit a health care provider
Including infected skin lesions and other infections.
Dehydration from vomiting or diarrhea
Exacerbation of asthma
More serious complications such as pneumonia

6. The Lesions
Each lesion progresses through a series of characteristic stages over about a week.
Papules and vesicles develop into pustules, which then crust over prior to healing.
A prominent feature of chickenpox is the development of several crops of spots.
The peak of the illness, 3-4 days after first appearance of the rash, there are lesions at all stages of development, from new vesicles through to crusts.

7. Transmission: How do you get Chickenpox?
Acquired by inhaling virus-containing particles, trapped in tiny droplets released into the air from the nose or throat of an infected person.
The virus (VZV) enters the body by infecting cells in the respiratory tract.
It spreads to many other parts of the body, including the skin, where it causes the characteristic rash.
A person with chickenpox is contagious 1-2 days before the rash appears and until all blisters have formed scabs.
It takes from days after contact with an infected person for someone to develop chickenpox

8. Incubation period and prodromal illness
The wide range commonly quoted for the incubation period: days.
Time of contact and true source of infection may be difficult to pinpoint.
General constitutional symptoms sometimes precede the rash. This is called a prodrome.
Young children generally have either no or a very mild prodrome.
Older children and adults: the prodrome may be more pronounced.
Symptoms include fever (which may precede the rash by up to 6 days), headache, backache and sore throat

9. The Stages of Chickenpox
Incubation Period
Usually (14-17 days)
Prodrome (1 – 3 days)
Vesicles
Pustules
Scabs
Recovery typically 7 days after
rash appears (ranges days)

10. Herpes Zoster (Shingles)
Reactivation of Varicella Zoster Virus
Associated with:
Aging
Immunosuppression
Intrauterine exposure
Varicella at <18 month of age

11. Can chickenpox be caught from someone with Herpes Zoster (Shingles)?
Yes.
The rash of shingles contains VZV particles, just like the rash of chickenpox.
Shingles carries a small risk of transmitting chickenpox to someone who has not had chickenpox before.
An infant might acquire chickenpox by very close contact with a grandparent with shingles
The risk of transmission is low - because VZV is not excreted from the throat during shingles.

12. Complications Bacterial infection of lesions CNS manifestations
Pneumonia (rare in children)
Hospitalization: 3 per 1000 cases
Death: 1 per 60,000 cases

13. Groups at Increased Risk of Complications
Normal Adults
Immunocompromised persons
Newborns with maternal rash onset within 5 days before to 48 hours after delivery

14. Chickenpox during pregnancy may result in:
Congenital Varicella syndrome
Severe Varicella syndrome
Risk of neonatal death

15. Congenital Varicella Syndrome
Results from maternal infection during pregnancy
Period of risk may extend through first 20 weeks of pregnancy
Atrophy of extremity with skin scarring, low birth weight, eye and neurologic abnormalities
Risk appears to be small (<2%)

16. Laboratory Diagnosis Laboratory diagnosis is not routinely required
Useful if confirmation of the diagnosis or determination of susceptibility is necessary
Most frequent source of isolation is vesicular fluid
Stained smears from vesicular scrapings (Tzanck Smear).
Serology Tests for Varicella IgM antibody
ELISA and Latex Agglutination (LA) useful in screening for varicella immunity

17. Can you get chickenpox more than once?
Yes
But it is uncommon to do so.
For most people, one infection is thought to confer lifelong immunity.

18. Management Interventions designed to minimize fever and discomfort:
Antipyretic medicines
Cool baths and soothing lotions
Chickenpox is not usually treated with a specific antiviral compound owing to its short duration and generally mild, uncomplicated nature.
Antiviral medication may be appropriate for older patients, in whom the disease tends to be more severe.

19. Acyclovir Therapy Healthy nonpregnant persons >13 years of age
Children >12 months with chronic cutaneous or pulmonary disorders or on salicylate therapy
Children receiving short intermittent or aerosolized steroids
IV in Immunocompromised children and adults with viral-mediated complications
Not recommended for post-exposure prophylaxis

20. What home treatments are available for chickenpox?
Fingernails trimmed short
Calamine lotion and Aveeno (oatmeal) baths may help relieve some of the itching
Aspirin or aspirin-containing products to relieve your child's fever are not recommended.
The use of aspirin has been associated with development of Reye syndrome (a severe disease affecting all organs - most seriously affecting the liver and brain, that may cause death).
The use of non aspirin medications such as acetaminophen is recommended.

21. Complications
Certain groups of persons are more likely to have more serious illness with complications.
These include adults, infants, adolescents and people with weak immune systems from either illnesses or from medications such a long-term steroids.

22. What Complications Result From Varicella?
The most common complications are:
Bacterial infections of the skin and soft tissues in children
Septicemia
Toxic Shock Syndrome
Necrotizing Fascitis
Osteomyelitis
Bacterial pneumonia
Septic arthritis. 

23. Complications: Continued
Varicella is a well described risk factor for invasive group A streptococcus infections.
Other complications:
Cerebellar ataxia
Encephalitis
Hemorrhagic complications leading to bleeding disorders including disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).

24. Morbidity and mortality
Since 1999, states have been encouraged to report chickenpox deaths to CDC.
In 1999 and 2000, CDC received reports that showed that deaths from chickenpox continue to occur in healthy, unvaccinated children and adults.
Most of the healthy adults who died from chickenpox contracted the disease from their unvaccinated children.

25. How serious a disease is varicella?
Prior to the availability of varicella vaccine there were approximately 4 million cases of varicella a year in the U.S.
Many health care providers are not aware that 11,000 hospitalizations and 100 deaths occurred every year in the United States before varicella vaccine became available.
The majority of deaths and complications occurred in previously healthy individuals.

26. When is it necessary to go to the doctor for treatment?
If a fever lasts longer than 4 days or rises above 102 ºF.
Lesions which become very red, warm, tender, or is leaking pus may mean there is a bacterial infection.
Lethargy
Difficulty walking
Stiff neck
Severe Vomiting
Difficulty breathing
Severe cough.

27. Can chickenpox be prevented?
Yes, chickenpox can
now be prevented by vaccination

28. Varicella Vaccine Composition Live Virus (Oka-Merck strain) Efficacy
95% (range 65%-100%)
Duration of Immunity
>7 years
Schedule
1 dose (<13 years of age)

29. Varicella Vaccine Recommendations
Routine vaccination at 12 to 18 months of age
Recommended for all susceptible children by the 13th birthday
Persons >13 years of age without history of Varicella
Two doses separated by 4 – 8 weeks

30. Varicella Vaccine: Post-exposure Prophylaxis
Varicella vaccine is recommended for use in susceptible person after exposure to Varicella
70% - 100% effective if given within 72 hours of exposure
Not effective if >5 days but will produce immunity if not infected

31. Varicella Vaccine: Adverse Reactions
Injection site complaints: 20%
Rash: 3% - 4%
May be maculopapular rather than vesicular
Average 5 lesions
Systemic reactions uncommon

32. Zoster Following Vaccination
Most cases in children
Risk from wild virus 4 to 5 times higher than from vaccine virus
Mild illness without complications

33. Varicella Vaccine: Contraindications and Precautions
Severe allergy to vaccine component or prior dose of vaccine
Pregnancy
Immunosuppression
Moderate or severe acute illness
Recent blood product
Immunocompromised persons should not be vaccinated
Vaccinate persons with humoral immunodeficiency

34. Varicella Zoster Immune Globulin (VZIG)
May modify or prevent disease if given <96 hours after exposure
Indications:
Immunocompromised persons
Newborn of mothers with onset 5 days before to 2 days after birth
Premature infants with postnatal exposure
Susceptible adults and pregnant women

35. What problems can occur after chickenpox vaccination?
Soreness, redness, or swelling at injection site is the most common side effect, occurring about 20% of the time.
A very mild rash or several small bumps can result in about 1% to 4% of vaccine recipients.
It may be possible for someone who gets a rash from chickenpox vaccine to give vaccine strain chickenpox to another person.
The vaccine may cause a mild fever 2 weeks after vaccination.
Seizures usually caused by fever may occur in less than 1 in 1000 vaccine recipients.

36. Have serious reactions ever occurred from the chickenpox vaccine?
After distribution of the first 10 million doses of the vaccine, reports of serious adverse events after vaccination
Seizures, encephalitis, pneumonia, ataxia and anaphylaxis have been very rare, occurring approximately 1 for every 50,000 doses given

37. What should I do if there is a serious reaction after chickenpox vaccination?
Call health care provider or 911 right away.
Write down what happened and the date and time it happened.
Ask your health care provider or health department to file a Vaccine Adverse Event Report Form or you can call (800) (toll-free).

38. Vaccine Birth Defects
There is a theoretical risk that when administered one month prior to, or during, pregnancy, the vaccine may cause birth defects similar to those that can occur from natural chickenpox:
Limb abnormalities
Abnormal brain development
Mental Retardation
Scarring of the skin and eye abnormalities

39. The majority of this morbidity is preventable by vaccination.
Why not allow children to acquire natural infection and offer vaccine only to susceptible adolescents and adults?
Approximately 60% of hospitalizations and 40% of deaths due to varicella occur in children less than 10 years of age.
The majority of this morbidity is preventable by vaccination.

40. Continued
Children miss an average of 5-6 days of school when they have varicella
Caregivers miss 3-4 days of work to care for their sick children.
The majority of adults who acquire varicella and persons at high risk for severe disease who are not eligible for vaccination, contract the disease from unvaccinated children.

41. Evaluation of Patient Education Materials
Usefulness
Provide useful information
Prevention
Readability
Easy to read 5th – 6th grade reading level
Availability
Easy access from medical office, DHS
Cost
Free
No cost

42. Evaluation of Community Resources
Services offered
Information on preventive measures
Immunizations
Population served
Unimmunized population against chickenpox
Accessibility of services
Immunization Clinics
Easy access
Payment for services
Free Immunizations

43. Community Resources Keepkidshealthy.com:
Information on Shingles: CDC:
Varicella Vaccination in Pregnancy Registry: 1 (800)
Varicella Vaccine Information: 1 (800) 9VARIVAX
Information on acyclovir therapy
Prevention of Varicella: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
Immunization Action Coalition:
Merck:
National Immunization Program website:
Vaccine Adverse Event Report (800)
Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Clinics: 313 N. Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90012:

44. Question
A 6-year-old boy receiving prednisolone 2 mg/kg for asthma comes to the clinic the day he develops varicella rash. Which of the following is the required treatment?
A: Varicella-zoster immune globulin (VZIG) B: Acyclovir C: Varicella vaccine D: All of the above E: None of the above

45. Answer The correct answer is B:
VZIG and vaccine are effective if given within 3-4 days of exposure but are ineffective once the varicella rash has appeared.
Children on systemic steroids are at high risk for complications and should receive acyclovir

46. Quiz: True or False?
2. Varicella spread can be prevented by isolating all children with Varicella rash.
ANSWER
False: The disease is infectious 2 days before the rash appears.
Children also may acquire the disease from adults with herpes zoster

47. References
Atkinson, W. Wolfe, C. & Humiston, S. (2000). Epidemiology and prevention of vaccine-preventable diseases (6th ed.). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Immunization Action Coalition:
Merck, (1999). Chickenpox: A disease worth preventing. Merck & Co., Inc.
Varicella from Pediatrics:

48. Any Questions?