The War on Infectious Diseases - Spring: Chickenpox

This is the 2977th article of Da Yi Xiao Hu

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History Lesson: Chickenpox and Vaccines

Herpes zoster is commonly known as "dragon around the waist" in my country. In the 16th century, Italian doctor Giovanni Filippo first described the characteristics of chickenpox; in the 17th century, British doctor Richard Morton named it "chickenpox"; in the 18th century, British doctor William Heberden confirmed that chickenpox and smallpox are two different diseases; in 1954, Thomas Huckle Weller of the United States isolated the varicella virus; in 1972, Japan's Takahashi Rin developed the first live attenuated varicella vaccine. In Shanghai and other regions, varicella vaccine has been included in the routine immunization program for children, and children of appropriate age can receive 2 doses of varicella vaccine for free. Pathogen Encyclopedia: Varicella

1. Chickenpox and shingles are both infectious diseases caused by the varicella-zoster virus.

2. Chickenpox is a highly contagious common childhood infectious disease, 90% of which occurs in children under the age of 14. Herpes zoster mainly occurs in adults.

3. Chickenpox is transmitted through the respiratory tract and can spread rapidly through close contact. The main symptoms are fever, vesicular rash all over the body, and itching.

4. The incubation period of chickenpox is 14 to 21 days, usually 2 weeks. Chickenpox is a self-healing disease, and usually scabs form in 1 to 2 weeks. From 1 to 2 days before the onset of the disease to when the rash is completely dry and scabbed, chickenpox patients are contagious.

5. Vaccination against varicella is the most effective measure to prevent varicella. The current vaccination schedule is to give the first dose at the age of 1 and the second dose at the age of 4 (subject to the vaccination schedule issued by the local health department). Breakthrough varicella may occur even after vaccination against varicella, but the symptoms and infectiousness are greatly reduced.

Pathogen Encyclopedia: Herpes Zoster

1. After the first infection with chickenpox, the virus will remain dormant in the nerve ganglia. Once the body's immunity is reduced, it may be activated as shingles.

2. Shingles mainly occurs on one side of the body, with symptoms including itching and pain. In severe cases, it can cause neuralgia.

3. The rash of shingles is also contagious. People who have not been vaccinated against chickenpox or have been infected with chickenpox may develop chickenpox after contact with the infection.

4. Treatment of shingles includes antiviral treatment, minimally invasive treatment, traditional Chinese medicine treatment, etc.

5. The herpes zoster vaccine has been successfully developed and is mainly used in middle-aged and elderly people.

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Chief Advisor: Professor Jiang Qingwu Medical Advisor: Changning District Center for Disease Control and Prevention Chief Physician Zhao Wensui Chief Physician Cai Enmao Chief Physician Tang Hong Deputy Chief Physician

IT technical support: Shanghai Yuemi Information Technology Co., Ltd.

Medical content: Zhuang Jianlin famous doctor studio Editor: Zhang Zhan Gao Hui

*Project Funding:

National Natural Science Foundation of China "Response, Governance and Impact of Public Health Events Such as the COVID-19 Pandemic" Special Project - Project Name: Response and Governance of Public Opinion in Major Public Health Emergencies (Project Approval No.: 72042004)

This project was supported by the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission's Science Popularization Project (Project No.: 18dz2300700).

Public Health Protection Project of Changning District Health and Family Planning Commission (2017)

Changning District Fourth Round (2018-2020) Innovation Team (Reserve) (Innovative R&D team for infectious disease prevention and control based on artificial intelligence and original IP system)

Medical specialty in Changning District: Acute infectious disease prevention and control department (acute infectious disease monitoring and prevention and control in schools)

Changning District Center for Disease Control and Prevention Innovation Team: Visual Health and Health Science Team