Ever heard of the infection that causes little red dots to scatter your body? It’s called chickenpox, a common childhood infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus that affects around 80 to 90 million children worldwide, but adults can still get it too later in life.
Here are some of chickenpox’s telltale symptoms, starting with the most common one first…
1. Rashes
Rashes usually appear on the chest, back, face, and all over the body, including the mouth. Over time these become blisters called vesicles, which are filled with liquid and cause nerves to itch frequently. After some time, these eventually scab over.
Not only does chickenpox cause these itchy rashes, it drains you out too…
2. Malaise
Along with itchy, red rashes often comes a persistent feeling of weakness, causing more discomfort and unease, especially for kids. Malaise can feel and look similar to regular fatigue, or it can become extreme, where the sick child becomes bedridden.
Eventually, chickenpox develops into the following symptom…
3. Fever
Chickenpox can result in high fevers of over 101°–102°F. Sometimes, these fevers even precede other symptoms, such as rashes for about a day or two. If you notice your child has spiked a high fever, call their pediatrician right away.
Having a healthy diet can make the pox go away in no time, but it’ll be tricky, as the following system suggests…
4. Appetite Loss
Just like with other sicknesses, chickenpox can cause reduced appetite or thirst, making it even more miserable to deal with. Appetite loss is totally normal with chickenpox, but it can lead to other more severe symptoms, like the following…
5. Strep Throat
Strep throat is when your throat becomes red, swollen, and sore. This infection is caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria, and children who get chickenpox often experience this.
This next symptom can cause some serious pain, especially for little kids…
6. Stomach Problems
Chickenpox can bring about nasty symptoms, like stomach issues. However, if nausea and diarrhea are also present, it could be a case of the shingles.
Symptoms of chickenpox don’t stop with stomachaches, though…
7. Drowsiness
Children with chickenpox generally tend to doze off easily if they’re feeling exhausted from fighting it. On the contrary, some kids may have difficulty sleeping due to intense itching.
The following symptom on the other hand, does not involve itching…
8. Breathing Problems
When breathing becomes strained during chickenpox, it could be a sign of complications. The NHS reports that about 5 to14 percent of adults with chickenpox are at risk of developing lung disorders like pneumonia.
Kids may find it difficult to move about when they have the pox…
9. Wobbly Feet
Apart from the general malaise, some children feel so weak from the effects of chickenpox they find it difficult to move or even stand on their feet. This could also indicate other problems or complications.
Chickenpox may sound non-threatening, but it can yield the unexpected…
10. Sepsis
Chickenpox, while generally harmless, can still trigger serious health problems. For one thing, it can infect the bloodstream and send you to septic shock, which can be potentially fatal if not diagnosed immediately. So it’s important to seek immediate medical help when strange symptoms occur.
