It usually

takes about two to three weeks before symptoms start once

a person has been infected. The time period between

catching the infection and feeling sick is called the

"incubation period". At the end of the

incubation period, which can last anywhere from one to

three weeks, an infected person may feel achy and

feverish, may not want to eat and, in general, seem as if

he or she is "coming down with something". Next

comes the rash that usually starts as little red spots or

as a rash on the chest, stomach, or back, and then on the

face, arms, and legs. The rash may consist of only a few

spots or it may develop into hundreds of spots over the

next three to five days. The spots will change into clear

blisters filled with fluid. These blisters become cloudy,

can break open, and form a crust or a scab. These scabs

can be very itchy and many lead to permanent scarring.

The rash can be spread to the scalp or even inside the

mouth or other body openings, which van be very

uncomfortable.

The

infected person will start to feel better after about

three to five days. However, if the fever returns or if

the fever rises rapidly and/or a cough develops,

complications may be starting. It is important to contact

your health care professional if these symptoms persist.

The course

of chickenpox will vary with each infected person. A

person is generally sick with chickenpox for about four

to seven days. New blisters usually stop appearing by the

fifth day, most are crusted by the sixth day and most

scabs are gone within twenty days after the rash begins.

If complications set in, however, the recovery period may

be longer.

Fortunately,

there is now a vaccine to protect anyone who has not

already had this disease. In the early 1970's a vaccine

for chickenpox was developed in Japan. More than two

million doses of that vaccine have been given in Japan

and Korea. Since the early 1980's, a similar vaccine

against chickenpox, has been tested in the United States

in over 9,400 healthy children and over 1600 adults.

These tests have shown this vaccine to be safe and

effective. Adverse reactions from the chickenpox vaccine

generally are mild. The chickenpox vaccine is 70- 90

percent effective in preventing chickenpox. If vaccinated

people do get chickenpox, they usually have a much milder

form of the disease. They have fewer skin lesions, a

lower fever, and recover more quickly. In fact, the

disease may be so mild that the skin lesions look like

insect bites. Even so, vaccinated children with a mild

cas of the chickenpox can still infect others at risk of

getting chickenpox. Currently, a booster for the

chickenpox vaccine is not recomm ended. Studies are underway to

determine how long protection from the vaccine lasts and

whether the person will need a booster in the future.

The

American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the chickenpox

vaccine for all children between 12 and 18 months old who

do not have a history of chickenpox. Older children

should be immunized at the earliest opportunity. Anyone

over the age of 13 will need two doses of the vaccine

four to eight weeks apart. The Fayette County Health

Department can administer the chickenpox vaccine to

anyone age one year to 13 years of age. The cost of the

vaccine is $10. If you would like an appointment, call

the health department at 770-461-1178, ext.416.

If you have

any questions or would like more information about

chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine ask your health care

worker or call the Fayette County health Department.

Chickenpox can be serious - please treat it that way.

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