dept

Student Health Services

 

Chicken Pox

 

Cause: A very contagious mild disease caused by the herpes zoster virus. It can effect all ages, but it is most common in children.

Signs and Symptoms: Chicken Pox is an acute generalized viral disease that is highly contagious, with sudden onset of slight fever, a vague feeling of body weakness or discomfort (malaise) and loss of appetite. Within 24 hours, an itchy rash begins on the trunk that progresses to a red elevated pimple-like rash that breaks, drains and forms scabs for three to four days. The skin rash goes through typical stages: flat red spots, raised spots, small blisters and crusting blisters. The rash spreads to the face and extremities. Lesions commonly occur in successive crops, with several stages of maturity present at the same time; they tend to be more abundant on covered than on exposed parts of the body; may appear on the scalp, high in the armpit, on mucous membranes of the mouth, upper respiratory tract and on the eyelids; they may be so few as to escape observation.

Mode of transmission: From person to person by direct contact, droplets, or airborne spread of secretion of respiratory tract. Indirectly through articles freshly soiled by sneezing or coughing of infected persons. Chicken Pox is one of the most readily communicable of diseases, especially before the early stages of eruption.

Incubation Period: From 2-3 weeks; commonly 13-17 days

Should your child present any of these symptoms, we recommend that you consult your family physician, or if income eligible, the Broward County Public Health Unit. Any student presenting these signs and symptoms will be excluded from school. Student may return to school when all scabs are dry (usually 8-10 days). There is also a vaccine available for Chicken Pox called Vari Vax. Please contact your family physician for further information and recommendation.