What
are economic costs for a family when a child suffers from chickenpox?
The economic costs can be divided into direct costs and indirect
costs. The cost of medications to control fever, relieve itching
can be considered as direct costs. Occasionally, the child may
have to be hospitalized or rarely suffer a severe complication.
These add to direct costs. In addition, there are indirect expenses
that the family has to incur. E.g. when a child has chickenpox,
he cannot attend school and cannot be cared for in a day-care
center, for the fear of spreading infection. This compels one
of the adult household members, usually a parent to abstain from
work and be at home to take care of the sick child. This may mean
missing important appointments, rescheduling assignments or even
loss of wages.
How
does one treat chickenpox?
As stated earlier, chickenpox presents with fever, other constitutional
symptoms and rash. In most children, it has a self-limited course.
Paracetamol can be given to control fever. Use of aspirin should
be avoided, as it is feared to give rise to certain complications.
Itching can be controlled by application of calamine lotion or
oral antihistaminic drugs after consulting your doctor. The fingernails
should bathed daily (contrary to general belief) so as to decrease
the possibility of secondary infection.
Anti-viral
drugs effective against vericella are known but are usually not
required for otherwise healthy children and for uncomplicated
cases of chickenpox. They may, however, be required when complications
such as varicella pneumonia occur or when an immunocompromised
child suffers from chickenpox.
What
vaccines are available against chickenpox?
A vaccine containing a live attenuated strain of varicella is
available. This strain is capable of stimulating the body's immune
system to produce immunity against varicella virus without causing
the disease. The vaccine is administered subcutaneously and is
effective in providing protection for over 90% of vaccinees. Children
below the age of 12 years require only one dose while older children;
adolescents and adults require two doses at an interval of 6-10
weeks. The vaccine is usually well tolerated and side effects
are generally mild and transient. These include local pain, mild
rash and fever. Thus chickenpox is now preventable through vaccination.
Please consult your doctor.
Last updated on 6-11-2000
Last created on 18-11-2006
