Question about chicken pox

[dees1980]

Hi, i am from Holland and i have a question!!!

Every time when i see a movie (an american one) and someone is infected bij the chickenpox virus then everyone is alert to the limits! WHY???

Here in Holland no one gets vaccinated for the chickenpox. Everyone gets it and its no big deal. Not for infants, children or adults..

I really don't understand all the fuss about it.

Can someone please explain this to me???


Greats from Holland (Europe_)

[Diane12855]

Herpes simplex = fever blisters, genital herpes
Herpes zoster= shingles, chickenpox

The first word is the Genus and the second word is the species.

They are not the same. Try Googling it.

Diane

[ds0432]

Holy moly, they put stars over the word s u c k s.

[ds0432]

I am having chickenpox right now, and I am 32. It's incredibly unpleasant, the blisters are everywhere. Really, everywhere. The ones in the back of my mouth make it very painful to swallow. It's the fifth day of fever, and the third day of blisters, and has only been getting worse so far. Oh, how I wish I were vaccinated!

Everyone says that in children it's much easier, but I know some children have very severe cases too. I, for one, am glad not to have to watch my child go through what I'm going through. It *****, trust me.

[susan400]

By the way, if you ever had chicken pox, it makes a copy and lies dormant in your body and then, as an adult can come back as shingles.  I have had shingles at age 28 and it was very painful.  I had it on my forehead and it was almost into my eye itself, swelled my eye shut and I had the worst headache of my life.  My father had it about 2 years ago, in the same exact spot on his head and forehad and eye area.  The weird thing is, my mom never remembered my every having had chicken pox, I don't remember ever having had it either.  But, my doctor at that time told me that it's not possible to have shingles w/o having had chicken pox, so he said I might have had only 2 pox, but that it would have been enough to make a copy in my system.  My sister, who is only 14 mon. difference in age from me, would have been growing up next to me in the same house and she didn't get chicken pox until she was 30 and 5 mon. pregnant.  

Susan

[bev881]

chicken pox can leave nasty scars. and facial scars can ruin your life and your confidence. make you depress and give psychological problem. its really worst when your skin is ruined. i can tell this by experience as my daughter had it about 2 and half months and scars have not faded. her skin looks like moth eaten. she was getting comliment but not anymore. she feels suicidal but i just give her courage and tell her may be in future some things can be done. there might be treatment.
unfortunately not surgery can take away scars for good if they are pitted.

[merryBe]

chicken pox can reemerge in later life as shingles and be very debilitating and disforming

now we recommend even adults who never had chicken pox as children get baccinated so they will have antibodies, so that a sick unvaccinated child will not give them a case of shingles.

go google "pictures of shingles" and see why this is serious.

[ladywhy]

When I was very young, my brother and sisters all came down with the chicken pox. My mother figured no sense in keeing me away from them...might as well get it over with in one shot. Alas, I never got it. So, I am wondering if I should be vaccinated for it now and if I were....would that mean I couldn't get shingles? I understand that that one is tuff. Just thought I'd ask.

[meki]

Vashti - If you're allergic to it - yes... If the needle is infected or has not been sterilized properly or is not a fresh needle - then you could obtain a disease from any previous individuals it was used on .

Other than that --- not really.

[Vashtipete]

Hi, we live in Northern Cyprus and have just been advised that they would normally innoculate against Chicken pox here.  I had not heard of this jab before, as i dont think they do it in the UK (we're English).  I understand the risks of chicken pox but just wondered if there are any risks with the actual jab.
Many thanks

[Babycakes1]

.

[trackerdog]

Hi,
I am 56 years old and was told that I had Chicken Pox when I was 6 mos. old.  But several years ago, my Titre was negative - basically saying I've never had the disease.  My older brother -who is a physician - says I definitely had it when I was a baby.  My Dad was a physician and I remember him telling me I had had chicken pox.  I guess I am questioning it now - as my grandson reaches school age and may get chicken pox.  His mother - my daughter - also has never had chicken pox.  Is it possible that I did have it very young, and the titre to be negative many many years later.  Can a person have a natural immunity?
Thanks

[hippiemom]

sorry cuty, looked this one up in the medical dictionary at work, asked the nurse and PA, and all agree, same oiginal virus.

[cuteus]

yes they are in the herpes family. I am also in the medical field though not as a provider. the type that presents itself as varicella is not going to inflict the genital herpes, the HSV variation will, the vaccine won't prevent genital herpes. The idea that if we eliminate the varicella zoster virus, we eliminate HSV and thus genital herpes, is not medically backed.
stay well

[hippiemom]

sorry, you are wrong....vericella IS the same virus, just mutated.  Ask your Doctor.  I am a medical practitioner.  Five things come from this virus:  Chicken pox, shingles, cold sores, herpes and a red faced disease called"fifth's" or more commonly referred to as "slapped cheek" disease, because this is what it looks like.  Herpes IS a mutated virus from the same :  a variation on chicken pox.

[cuteus]

chicken pox(varicella) does not cause genital herpes(caused by HSV-1 and HSV-2) or cold sores. See the CDC site for further info.

[hippiemom]

In a country where chicken pox innoculation seems unimportant, the reason is that there are no carries.  Probably years ago, everyone built up a natural immunity, and the problem never came back.  In America, the virus that causes chicken pox also causes, herpes, shingles and slapped cheek disease, and cold sores.  Some of these things are life long sexually transmitted diseases with no cure.  Does anyone in your country have herpes or get cold sores?  Shingles?  If so, your medical community should start thinking about vaccines.  Chicken pox in small children can not only be deadly, but cause problems later on down the road.

[dees1980]

thank you all... I always thought that you just get bumps and that they would itch (again: don't know the right letters)thats all...i've had chicken pox when i was little..i didn't stay home from school or anything.. its just a childrens disease..
Here in Holland newborns also get shots for several diseases but not for chickenpox...I still think its strange..The goverment here must know why they vaccinate in the US against chicken pox but here it is a disease we don't mind.
I have a son (1 year old) and last week i thought he had chicken pox but it wasn't. I was dissapointed because the sooner he gets it the better (so he would not remember the itching)

Well thanks again...

greets

[honey1616]

I had chicken pox when I was little and then my kids caught it when they were younger.  I figured I was safe since I had it before but caught from them.  I could not believe it and was late 20's and got so sick!  I do feel it hits adults so much harder then kids.

[susan400]

Chicken pox can also be life threatening in someone with a compromised immune system.  It can also cause birth defects in children if their mother gets it in the 1st trimester.
Susan

[ringeding]

chicken pox , when left and untreated can turn into whats now called 'flesh eating disease'  the U.S. has the best immunization program in the world according to an investigative program called the 'Fifth Estate' or was that W5??? that i watched a few weeks ago.  anyway, canada rates way below the US in their immunization programs and fail miserably to properly inform parents about the nessisary shots...and are only given a very few immunization shots, compared to what is standard and required.  in order to be fully immun. you must first know that the docs aren't informing you of all the other shots required that cost money here....so yet again...good ol canada and its sub-standard health care system.....

[cuteus]

It is a big deal in adults, more so than in children.
The US loves to vaccinate. An infant nowadays gets tons of vaccines at a time when their inmune symstem is not fully develop to assist in the antibody production. That is why they need more than one  to ensure inmunization. Personally, I believe it is overdone somewhat. Perhaps the vaccine manufacturer has a powerful lobbyist?

[MichaelT]

Because! Because it <i>can</i> be a big deal!

From the CDC (Center for Dsiease Control, U.S. Gov. entity):

"It can lead to severe skin infection, scars, pneumonia, brain damage, or death. About 12,000 people are hospitalized for chickenpox each year in the United States. About 100 people die each year in the United States as a result of chickenpox."

So, as you can see, Americans are unbelievably frightened of scars!

Please, no American jokes about brain damage. Thank you.