chicken pox

Chicken pox = Disease

Varicella zoster virus = virus

Double stranded DNA (dsDNA), virus enveloped, spikes

Transmitted via respiratory droplets or touching or breathing in virus from blisters

10-21 day incubation period

Signs and Symptoms:

Rash that turns into itchy, fluid-filled blisters that eventually turn into scabs, fever, headache, fatigue, decreased appetite. The rash may first show up on the chest, back, and face, and then spread over the entire body, including inside the mouth, eyelids, or genital area.

Contagious 1-2 days before rash until all blisters have scabbed over (typical patients has 250-500 blisters)

Complications may include pneumonia, brain inflammation, sepsis, bone or joint infections

Testing looks for antibodies in the blood

Antiviral drug acyclovir inhibits synthesis step of viral replication

Chickenpox vaccine available for chicken pox (2 shot series 90% effective)

shingles

Shingles = Disease

Varicella zoster virus = virus

Patient gets varicella zoster virus and chickenpox. The virus goes latent at the of a cranial or spinal nerve

Shingles is caused by varicella zoster virus coming out of latency

Shingles develops in about 10% of people who have had chickenpox

About 1 million cases of shingles are diagnosed every year in the U.S. The risk of shingles increases as you get older

Signs and Symptoms:

Pain, itching, or tingling in the area 1-5 days before painful, blister-like rash. The pain (ice pick pain, aching, burning, stabbing). The rash usually erupts in a single location on either the left or right side of the face or body along a nerve path. The rash may develop on the torso, arms, thighs, or head including the ears or eyes. The most common places for the rash are the chest and abdomen. Rash lasts 7-10 days clears up in 2-4 weeks.

Typically, people only get shingles outbreak one time

Can transmit the virus via direct contact fluid from the blisters; give someone chicken pox not shingles. Cover the rash.

Complications include long terms nerve pain (postherpetic neuralgia), pneumonia, hearing problems, brain inflammation, blindness, and death

Antiviral drug acyclovir inhibits viral synthesis step of viral replication

Shingles vaccine available for shingles for age 50 and over (get the vaccine ages 50-69, 97% effective, get the vaccine over age 70, 91% effective)