The Indian capital is reporting a spike in the viral childhood disease, chickenpox, particularly in adults, with approximately 300 cases reported, including one fatality, according to an Indian Express report today.
“Chickenpox is an airborne viral disease. While cases are reported every year during a change in season, health authorities are reporting a rise in cases this time, particularly among adults,”one health official said.
“Chickenpox is one virus which is manageable much more easily in children since the symptoms are milder. In adults, particularly patients with diabetes and heart diseases and pregnant women, the symptoms may get aggravated and cause respiratory problems, including pneumonia, or affect the brain, causing meningitis-like symptoms, which may lead to death. But this is very rare,” D S Chatterjee from Apollo Hospital, said.
In the city of Ranchi in Jharkhand State, health officials are reporting as many as 450 people have been affected by chicken pox in the past month alone, according to a Times of India report.
According to statistics obtained from OPD authorities of the city hospitals, cases of chicken pox have been predominantly reported from areas such as Lalpur, Hatia, Dhurwa, Harmu and Kanke. For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page.
Chickenpox is a common, usually benign childhood disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a member of the herpes family. This virus causes two distinct diseases; varicella (chickenpox) is the primary infection, and later when VSV reactivates,herpes zoster (shingles).
Chickenpox is highly contagious and is spread by coughing and sneezing, by direct contact and by aerosolization of the virus from skin lesions. You can also get it by contact with the vesicle secretions from shingles.
The disease is characterized by fever and a red, itchy skin rash of that usually starts on the abdomen, back or face and then spreads to nearly all parts of the body. The rash begins as small red bumps that appear as pimples or insect bites. They then develop into thin-walled blisters that are filled with clear fluid which collapse on puncture. The blisters then breaks, crusts over, and leaves dry brown scabs.
The chickenpox lesions may be present in several stages of maturity and are more abundant on covered skin rather than exposed. Lesions may also be found in the mouth, upper respiratory tract and genitals.
Chickenpox is contagious from 1-2 days before the rash forms and continues until all the lesions are crusted over (usually about 5 days).
This disease is more serious in adults than in children. Complications of chickenpox are rare, but include pneumonia, encephalitis and secondary bacterial infections.
Infection with this virus usually gives lifelong immunity, although second attacks have been documented in immunocompromised people. The viral infection remains latent, and disease may recur years later as shingles.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the chickenpox vaccine is the best protection against chickenpox. The vaccine is made from weakened varicella virus that produces an immune response in your body that protects you against chickenpox. The chickenpox vaccine was licensed for use in the United States in 1995.
