Chicken Pox

Until recently, chicken pox was a rite of passage for children and was often looked upon as just a nuisance, although this illness can cause complications in some people. Though the development and use of a chicken pox vaccine has reduced the number of chicken pox cases, the unvaccinated remain vulnerable. In addition, shingles, a painful condition that can arise after an initial chicken pox infection, is a concern, particularly in older people. Chicken Pox presents an overview of this disease caused by a herpesvirus known as the varicella-zoster virus, explaining the signs and symptoms of the disease, how it spreads, how it is treated, and how the development of a vaccine has affected the incidence of chicken pox.

Chapters include:

• What Is Chicken Pox?
• The History of Chicken Pox
• The Varicella-Zoster Virus
• Chicken Pox in Infants and Adults
• Treatment
• How Is Chicken Pox Prevented?
• What Is Shingles?
• Future Prospects and Concerns.