Medical Illustrations

Varicella (chickenpox):A highly infectious viral disease, known familiarly aschickenpox. (In many countries, this disease is always called "varicella.")

Chickenpoxhas nothing at all to do with chicken. The name was meant to distinguish this "weak" form of the pox fromsmallpox. "Chicken" is used here, as in "chickenhearted," to mean weak or timid. The "pox" of chickenpox is no major matter unless it becomes infected (through scratching) or occurs in an immunodeficient person.

然而,可以有非常重大公关oblems from chickenpox includingpneumoniaandencephalitisand reactivation of the sameherpesvirus is responsible forshingles(zoster). Chickenpox is responsible for more deaths thanmeasles(rubeola),mumps,whooping cough(pertussis) and H.flu(Haemophilus influenzae type B)meningitiscombined. Contrary to what many people believe, chickenpox is by no means a mild disease.

The current aim in the U.S. is to achieve universal (or come as close as possible to universal) immunization of children with thechickenpox vaccine. The rationale for childhood chickenpox vaccination is not just to protect the children but also to protect everyone with whom they come in contact, including adults (who can die from the chickenpox) andpregnantwomen (so that the unborn baby does not get chickenpox).