Chickenpox

Chickenpox with another name, Varicella is a viral infection. Chickenpox is caused by varicella-zoster virus. A person hasn’t been infected or vaccinated can get the disease. It’s highly contagious but generally a non-serious and self-limiting infection, but it can be serious in case of babies, adults and people with weak immune system. Chickenpox affects more commonly children between 5-10 years of age. This disease is characterized by itchy skin rash. It usually start appearing first on the chest, back and face then spreads to the rest of the body causing between 250 and 500 itchy blisters. Chicken Pox in Ayurveda is known by name of “Laghu Masurika”.

• Causative factor for Chickenpox infection is varicella-zoster virus (VZV). The virus usually incubates for 14 to 16 days before a rash appears, although incubation can last from 10 days to 21 days.
• VZV is communicable through direct skin-to-skin contact and via respiratory droplets (through coughing, sneezing) from the infected person.
• Person suffering from chickenpox remain contagious until all the blisters get dried and scabs have formed.

Ayurveda explains the cause of most skin rashes because of unbalanced Vata and Kapha which could happen due to faulty food habits as well as wrong lifestyle. Other factors like mental stress, anxiety & tension also take a toll on the body, especially the skin.

Characteristic symptoms of chickenpox is red or pink rash that gets turned into itchy, fluid-filled blisters that eventually turn into scabs. The rash may first appear on the face, chest and back then spreading to the rest of the body, which includes inside the mouth, eyelids or genital area. Usually all the blisters get converted to scabs about in one week.

Other typical symptoms appearing 1-2 days before rashes come into notification and that includes:

• Fever
• Tiredness
• Loss of appetite
• Headache
• Fatigue and weakness
• Abdominal pain

Women if, exposed during pregnancy may bear children with birth defects including poor growth, small head size, intellectual disabilities and eye problems.

Anyone who got infected with chickenpox in the past may develop shingles which is a delayed complication of Chickenpox. Shingles appearance is due to infection of a nerve and the area of skin supplied by the nerve. It causes a rash and pain in a local band-like area along the affected nerve. Chickenpox affects about 1 in 5 people at some time in their lives. It can occur at any age, but it is most commonly in people over the age of 50. The reason why shingles may occur is because the virus does not go completely after you have chickenpox.

The good news is that Chickenpox is preventable and reversible, but can only be possible by using holistic approach, the one advocated in Ayurveda that addresses the issues from the very root.

Since ancient times, Ayurveda has defined diseases with their symptoms, causes and healing methods with nature.

If you are having any of the above mentioned symptoms, don’t assume it is Chickenpox yet without any proper diagnosis because there are Skin heart related diseases that comes with the same symptoms. Consult with a Doctor for accurate diagnosis to find out if Chickenpox is what you are having or any other related disease.