CHICKENPOX, or medically known as varicella, is a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV).
This viral infection causes a red, itchy rash on the skin accompanied by fluid-filled lesions.
Chickenpox is prone to attacking children, especially those of school age, and is often considered a mild disease.
In fact, this disease has the potential to cause various serious complications. Therefore, it is important to prevent the risk and complications of chickenpox in children, especially through varicella immunization.
Chickenpox has a very high transmission rate, and can even become an epidemic in a community. The virus that causes chickenpox can be transmitted from person to person in the same place through droplets or direct contact such as when touching skin infected with chickenpox.
In addition, this virus can also spread through air contaminated by virus particles from the breathing of infected people, especially if you inhale particles from blister fluid on skin affected by chickenpox.
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Pediatrician who is also a health educator and humanitarian activist Mas Nugroho Ardi Santoso explained, “Chickenpox transmission occurs when someone who is infected with chickenpox spreads the virus to other people who have never been infected with the virus. The transmission rate is very high, reaching 90%. This means that someone who does not have immunity and is in close contact with a chickenpox sufferer has a high potential to be infected.”
Ardi added that someone infected with varicella can transmit the virus from 1 to 2 days before the rash appears until all chickenpox lesions have dried up. In fact, it is still considered contagious until no new lesions appear for 24 hours.
Chickenpox is characterized by early symptoms of mild fever that occurs 10 to 21 days following the body is exposed to the varicella virus. After 1 to 2 days, a reddish rash appears on the chest, back, and face, then spreads throughout the body.
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The rash of chickenpox is often itchy and progresses rapidly from initially red lesions (macular), to raised (papular) and finally fluid-filled (vesicular) lesions before drying out. Symptoms usually last for 4 to 7 days until all lesions have scabbed over.
Chickenpox carries the risk of triggering more serious complications, especially in infants, adolescents, adults, pregnant women, and immunocompromised patients (people who have problems with their immune systems).
Some of these complications include: bacterial infections of skin wounds caused by chickenpox – commonly experienced by children; pneumonia or inflammation of the lungs in adults that occurs following contracting chickenpox; to disorders of the central nervous system, ranging from meningitis to encephalitis.
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The high potential for transmission of chickenpox and the risk of complications further increases the urgency of preventing the risk of this disease, primarily through the provision of varicella immunization.
“Chickenpox transmission in children is highest in the school environment. For example, if a child has chickenpox, he can transmit the disease to other children in the school environment. Varicella immunization is important for children to protect them from the risk of getting chickenpox. Children who have been vaccinated have a very low risk of getting chickenpox, and if infected, the symptoms are milder than those who are not vaccinated. If you have not been vaccinated for varicella, the CDC recommends getting vaccinated within 3-5 days following contact with someone with chickenpox,” explained Ardi.
Based on the recommendations of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDAI), the varicella vaccine is given in two complete doses to children aged 12-18 months with an interval of 6 weeks to 3 months.
As for children aged 13 years or older are also given 2 doses with an interval of 4 to 6 weeks. Two doses of varicella vaccine are effective up to 90% in preventing chickenpox and reducing the risk of complications that may arise.
“By immunizing children, we can achieve high herd immunity, which can protect vulnerable individuals who cannot be vaccinated. This means that varicella immunization not only protects individuals who get the vaccine, but also plays a role in protecting the entire community from the threat of chickenpox outbreaks,” Ardi concluded. (Z-1)
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