Sunday, March 25, 2007

Pathogen - Chicken Pox


1) Chicken Pox is one example of a pathogen. It is a illness that is mainly shown in kids under the age of 12, however teens and adults can also get it. Chicken Pox is caused by the disease Varicella-Zoster (scientific name). This disease is passed through people with direct contact with a person that has it or air-transmitted droplets. It is very contagious and it is necessary to avoid a person with the Chicken Pox for atleast 2 days while the virus is still active. After approximately 2 days the red dots turn into scabs.
2) Chicken Pox affects the body with a few different symptoms. The main symptom is the visible one ... those red itchy dots that you get all over your body. It starts showing on the abdomen, back, and face but then it spreads around to everywhere else. You may be surprised to find that the Chicken Pox will go to places like your scalp, mouth, nose, and even the throat, This is like a rash. These dots look like blisters or large zits. They start as little dots that grow to be larger puss filled things. Some kids that get Chicken Pox are dragged down with flu symptoms. This might include vomiting, fever, cramps, etc.
3) The body responds to the Chicken Pox is to make these red, itchy dots to get the virus to the outside of the body. Most of every virus or illness starts out in the inside of the body. The Chicken Pox starts out in the body. The body responds by bringing white blood cells to the virus. The get the virus out of the body it pushes it to the surface of the skin. This is why the red dots form.
4) There is no real cure or medical response to this disease but staying home, getting lots of bed-rest, washing your hands, and relaxation helps. Also it is necessary to stay away from a person that has the illness for about 2 days. Sometimes you might find a itch relieving cream. An example of this is Calamine Lotion.
5) Since there is no medical response or cure there is a vaccination. It is called the VZV, meaning the Varicella-Zoster Vaccination. It is directed for babies, 12-18months old but kids, teens, or adults could also have it.
Chicken Pox is normally only shown in a person once but sometimes if you have it, it may live in you without showing symptoms until something disturbs it. Then it can produce a serious illness called Shingles.
One of the reasons they call the illness Chicken Pox is because the red dots that a person gets, look like a chicken has been pecking at your skin.


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