Chickenpox: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

Chickenpox or varicella is a viral infection caused by varicella zoster virus. It is highly contagious and self-limiting. It affects more commonly in children. The virus called varicella zoster incubates for 14- 16 days before a rash appear. It can be spread by direct contact and via droplets (coughing, sneezing etc) from the infected one. Symptoms include

• Red or pink rash may first appear on chest, face and back
• Later spreads to the rest of the body
• Red spot become raised, forms an itchy, round, fluid filled blister against a red background and finally crusts
• Mild headache
• Moderate fever
• Loss of appetite
• Malaise

Complications

• Dehydration
• Pneumonia
• Ramsay Hunt syndrome
• Reye’s syndrome
• Bell’s palsy
• Inflammation of the brain

Ayurveda treatment and prevention for chickenpox 

Ayurveda explains chickenpox as masurika jwaram. Kapha and pitta will be vitiated in this condition. Due to various causative factors, doshas spreads to the entire body. These aggravated doshas blocks channels, diminishes the agni, and give rise to fever. Then blisters forms like a masoor daal (red lentil). Ayurvedic medicines like sudarshana choornam, vilwadi vati, amruthotharam kashayam etc are taken under doctor’s guidance. Diet Depends on his appetite one can take normal diet. Hard to digest foods should be avoided during this period. Green gram, pomegranate, grapes, gruel, bitter vegetables are good. Citrus fruits like lemon etc may increase irritation. Avoid oily, heavy, fried food items. Drink warm water frequently. Lifestyle Infected person should be isolated in a ventilated room until all blisters have scabs. Avoid scratching, cut the nails, wear light and loose cotton dress, fumigate with guggulu, use neem leaves on the bed, apply neem paste, turmeric paste, aloe vera gel on the blisters, boil neem leaves and turmeric in bathing water and bath in lukewarm water, proper rest is advised, cloths and other things used by the infected person must be made sterile. To start treatment, contact our doctor through phone or mail. Doctor will decide the course of treatment and medicines. Contact Dr. shyam’s ayurveda treatment centre, Dubai & Ajman.