Chicken pox on the increase

The Ministry of Health wishes to inform the public that there is an increase of chicken pox infecting the island. The general public should take precautionary measures to stop the spread as it is a highly contagious infection.

Chicken pox is a highly contagious viral disease that is spread by direct contact or breathing in germs from someone’s cough or sneeze. Two weeks after exposure, chicken pox spots appear on the body.

Signs and Symptoms

The following symptoms will occur 10-21 days after exposure to chicken pox:
1.    Low grade fever.
2.    Runny nose, slight cough.
3.    Poor appetite.
4.    Headache.
5.    Tired, rundown feeling.

These symptoms usually occur 1-2 days before the spots appear on the body.
When the spots first appear they will start on the chest, back, or face, and eventually are seen over the entire body, itching may be severe. The spots may occur in the mouth as white sores, and as sores in the ears.

Treatment

First seek medical help, but it may be treated by using

1.    Baking soda bath.
2.    Calamine lotion as needed to skin.
3.    Paracetamol or Tylenol for fever above 102 degrees  Do not use Aspirin
4.    For sores in mouth, rinse with warm water or hydrogen peroxide mouth rinses.

Keep the sores clean by bathing daily. If the sores look infected, wash them well and apply Neosporin or Bacitracin ointment 4 times a day.

What else do I need to know about Chicken Pox?
1.    Chicken pox is spread by direct contact or breathing in from nose and throat secretions.
2.    Crusts do not contain the virus.
3.    Crusting occurs in 5 to 10 days after breakout.
4.    Children are not to go to school for at least 7 days – until all sores are crusted.
5.    Trim nails and do not scratch.
6.    Bathe daily.
7.    Let scabs fall off by themselves.
8.    Contact your district nurse or private doctor if symptoms are persistent.

The Ministry of Health encourages the general public to take the necessary steps to protect yourselves and family from contacting chicken pox.

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40 Comments

  1. Justice and Truth
    February 20, 2012

    Every country gets its share. At this time in Toronto, I heard that there is a strange virus (cold) which is difficult to contain and cure with medication. So far so good for me.
    A few years ago the government is offering, free of charge, flu shots for the common cold. In winter, people are susceptible to colds especially the aged. We also have we call “seasonal cold – flu” as the temperature changes in spring, summer, fall – autumn and winter.
    I have not yet taken it. I refuse to take it. There are stories about this flu shot. I have heard some people died of it. Others who got the flu shot still got the flu and even bronchitis. I know of some people who got the shot and they still got the cold.
    When people tell me be it over telephone “I have the flu.” The first question I ask is, “Did you get the flu shot?” They reply, “Yes.”
    Of course, the authorities will make all sorts of excuses why people catch colds after they got the flu shot.
    I take my Vitamin C and E and doing my utmost to eat well. This does not mean eating a lot of food at one time. I do not have a big appetite. :) I always say, I eat because I have to eat for health reasons. Eating nutritious foods, vegetables, citrus and orange juice and the likes.
    I read we should eat more garlic and onion and cook with them. Are you aware that you could also roast garlic and eat it? I have not yet tried it but I will sometime. I heard it is tasty.
    I saw a roasted and baked onion recipe on a TV program and will try it sometime.
    God gave us all of them, root vegetables and fruits. They are there for our purpose and health benefit. We should take advantage of God’s natural food to avoid getting sick at least for a while as we age.

  2. Eagle-Eyed
    February 20, 2012

    Well we can expect a steep increase after the carnival with so many people rubbing up to each other on the road. :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

    • Justice and Truth
      February 20, 2012

      @ Eagle-Eyed

      Do you think some liquor as rum or whiskey would help, to avoid contracting chicken pox? :lol:
      I think the rum punch would do because it also has lime. Lime and lemon juice are good to make a drink. :-D They are excellent sources of citrus.

  3. english wifey
    February 20, 2012

    I think every one is panicing to much about chicken pox, i have found the medical institues version of symptoms and what to expect and to show WHO is more vunrable, but i think below some one metioned deathj in adults, this is very rare indeed, and they would have to have some immune system problems for them to surcome to chicken pox,,,,
    have a read people and stop panicing and blaming everyone else, it is a small world we live in now, and people from your country travel, and may bring the virus back from there travels.

    The onset of illness with chickenpox is often characterized by symptoms including myalgia, itching, nausea, fever, headache, sore throat, pain in both ears, complaints of pressure in head or swollen face, and malaise in adolescents and adults. In children, the first symptom is usually the development of a papular rash, followed by development of malaise, fever (a body temperature of 38 °C (100 °F), but may be as high as 42 °C (108 °F) in rare cases), sometimes severe back pains to the lower back, and anorexia (loss of appetite, not to be confused with anorexia nervosa). Typically, the disease is more severe in adults.[5] Chickenpox is rarely fatal, although it is generally more severe in adult males than in adult females or children. Non-immune pregnant women and those with a suppressed immune system are at highest risk of serious complications. Chickenpox is believed to be the cause of one third of stroke cases in children.[6] The most common late complication of chickenpox is shingles (herpes zoster), caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus decades after the initial episode of chickenpox.

  4. Justice and Truth
    February 19, 2012

    Chicken Pox. I do think that the DA Ministry of Health should inform the public about preventative measures so as to avoid getting chicken pox. You know, prevention, if possible, is better than cure. Some people are not fortunate to contract it slightly.
    I wonder if it is preventable if we eat nutritious foods and also take daily doses of Vitmin C, tablets and citrus fruits.
    I must ask Dr. Oz about this one. He appears to be an expert on nutrition.
    I thought that I would share this with you. I have a Vitamin Bible and while looking through it I came across Chicken Pox. This is what is contained in that book which originated from the U.S.

    Chicken Pox: This childhood staple is caused by a virus closely related to that of shingles. The fever and itching deplete a good amount of nutrients. Many mothers have found their children up and about faster by adding the following supplements to their diets:

    Rose hips Vitamin C, 500 mg, 3 times daily.
    Vitamin E (dry form), 100-200 IU 1-3 times daily.
    Beta Carotene, 10,000 IU daily (check pediatrician for proper dosage according to age and weight).
    Multivitamin and mineral, taken in A.M. and P.M.

    For those who do not know this, Beta Carotene is a tablet (I have a bottle of it). Carrots can also replace it – carrot juice; homemade.

    I recall as a child when I got measles in DA, my father gave me unsweetened, homemade carrot juice. Also green tomatoes as a cooling. I hated the taste of unsweetened carrot and mashed green tomatoes but I had to take them. In less than no time those of us, his children who contracted it were soon healed.
    I hope this will be of help to everyone. You may not get Chicken Pox but it is useful information also for those who may contract it. Please pass this on.
    Of course, always contact your doctor if you notice a small sign of it. If it is caught in time, it may not spread throughout the body and to others.
    I feel sorry for those who have it all over their bodies. As it itches, so does it hurt and leaves marks. For body marks, Cocoa Butter could be rubbed on the skin (I do not know about the face; the doctor could recommend something else for the face). I will also look into this.
    Pertaining to measles, I heard of two elderly people who retired and whom I had worked with who contracted it. There are more such cases throughout the nation.
    As it is stated, the symptoms are like measles. I heard that shingles could be the result of a nervous disorder caused by anxiety and stress. Some senior citizens who reside in a progressive country and who retired, all of a sudden, they have nothing to do. This could cause them to get shingles. This Vitamin Bible should have the information. I will check on this sometime.
    By the way, under healthy conditions, “green tomatoes” could be used to make fritters. Season them tastily. I have a recipe for it but have not yet tried it. I hope to do so sometime, this summer, I hope.
    I do hope that the Chicken Pox does not spread throughout DA. May God assist and protect all of you. May He ease the discomfort and quickly heal those who have contracted it, in Jesus Name, I pray. God’s blessing and peace.

    • Justice and Truth
      February 20, 2012

      Taken from a book which I have, Vitamin Bible:
      Itching

      As an antihistamine, two 1,000 mg. vitamin C tablets (time release) in the morning and in the evening, with food, might be helpful. I would also recommend a stress B complex with breakfast and dinner. 1,000 mg. pantothenic acid one to three times daily and vitamin E cream (20,000 IU per ounce) applied to afflicted area three times daily.

  5. baby
    February 18, 2012

    i just had this chicken pox fo my christmas and it was also my newyear gift,,i advise persons to bathe 2wice a dat with medicated soap from head to toe and sit in the sun after cause it helps kill the itching so and when the scabs or bobos start drying up u have to take out the skin cause when u leave them it gets very hard and u need the medicated soap to reach the bobo self not the skin…my experience,,and then after 2weeks u can bathe with aloe vera,,,after the chicken pox has gone u take a wash out,,im not a doc but i can tell u it works ……

  6. :-(
    February 18, 2012

    All those immigrants coming to Dominica with no health screening… that’s expected.

    • english wifey
      February 20, 2012

      actually :-( you are quiet wrong there, when i moved to dominica i had to have a long list of health checks and a phyco evaluation, if you look at the imigration specification if you want to come to DA from the uk they include HIV test and TB test, cost me a fortune, my hubbie didnt have to do any to come to england, so i think ya jumping the gun a little there hun xx

    • Justice and Truth
      February 20, 2012

      Which immigrants are you talking about? There are times the virus is in the air – airbone. If and when you travel, do you require to take a health-screening or vaccination?
      It would be a wise idea for people to take good care of their health. Vitamin E and C, Zinc and Beta Carotene are supplements which should also be taken and there are more vitamins. Vitamins are not without reason. People do not take them. Some state that they eat well. This may very well be the case but we do need supplements. We should not over do it. How much water do nationals drink? The amount should be 6 to 8 glasses of water a day. This cleanses the blood and assists with circulation. You have a computer. You should conduct a research about that.

  7. english wifey
    February 18, 2012

    hello dno, i would just like to say, if any body is thinking about cominig to the uk, to live, then if you know some one with chicken pox, go see them and catch it, because my poor husband who is from marigot, came to england with me and caught it, and had to have 3 weeks from his job, as we all know dominica is a much more compassionate place than the UK, and his employer was a little angry, not that it was his fault.
    so if you can get it over and done with then i would suggest while you have the lovely fresh air and healing powers of the ocean, get it while you there before you come, much love DA miss you loads xxxxx

  8. charlo
    February 18, 2012

    Adult chickenpox has actually claimed lives… Terrible illness.

  9. Your Past Schoolmate
    February 18, 2012

    Well i can say its very uncomfortable my entire family had it we did take all the immidiate measures until it get better take head its very itchy and please donot scratch it will only make it worse savlon soap or the liqiud is good to use when u taking your bath you can also use the cream or calamine lotion to rub after your bath, and yes its true if you get it you wont get it again.

  10. Dominican Queen
    February 18, 2012

    Too many Haitains in the place. They bring all those diseases with them. They nasty, all over the place. No wonder so many people getting sick.

  11. Justice and Truth
    February 17, 2012

    When I resided in DA, I contracted Chicken Pox. At that time many people had chicken pox. I remember a man who had it all over his face and it left marks on his face.
    I noticed approximately two or three pimples on my forehead. I thought nothing of it. While on my way to work, a doctor was passing. I spoke to him about the pimples on my forehead. He said it is chicken pox. I will never forget that I commenced crying, knowing that if it spread what my face could like. You know, pride takes over. :)
    I went home and told my mother about it. She immediately gave me a doze of Milk of Magnesia. It is like a cooling and for inflammation of the body. Not one more pimple came out. I stayed home for approximately 3 weeks. No members of my family got it. Occasionally I relate this to others when the opportunity presents itself.
    A health doctor stated, that if a condition is diagnosed and that people must undergo an operation, prior to the operation, drink something (not medicine) for inflammation. Who knows, they may not have to undergo the operation.
    It was also said that many ailments are caused because of inflammation of the body; that many people are not aware of that.
    In addition, how often do people take “a body cleanser?” It does not have to be a harsh one but it is necessary to cleanse the body. Once again, if we do not cleanse our bodies, at least, once a month, consider in the long run we could develop some sort of ailment.
    I always say, our body is not made up of iron and even iron corrodes in time.
    The message here is, if anyone observes a few pimples on their face/body, drink something for inflammation. It probably could help to depress the chicken pox.
    During the course of the year it is imperative that we take care of our body just as we take care of our person and purchase nice clothing and shoes. Who knows? We may live long and long enough to be free of ailments. I suppose it all depends how well we take care of ourselves.
    There are times that our immune system breaks down. When that happens, we can catch a cold or whatever is in the air and get sick. We are told to eat nutritious meals; drink plenty of water and get ample rest.
    Today, many people have computers. They can always access health matters over the Internet, make notes and/or save them for future reference and also pass copies on to others. You know, caring, to share and share alike as each one reaches one. It is a wise, considerate and helpful thing to do.
    The Doctor on DNO could give further advice on this in a professional manner.

  12. Anonymous
    February 17, 2012

    if that think bad ,but the good thing is u can only get it once.

  13. lovesponge
    February 17, 2012

    thats how it looks so thats the pic that have to b shown. what other pic do u expect them to put.

  14. Mandodox
    February 17, 2012

    Of all the pics in the world, this is the best you could find? I know chicken pox really makes the skin look bad but i mean why use a Caucasian whose light skin makes things look different (or even worst). why not use a pic which would most likely reflect us Negroes?

  15. Anonymous
    February 17, 2012

    so that thats the good thing about it u can only get it once .

  16. En Ba La
    February 17, 2012

    What else can we ask for – Misery really loves company – we have to becareful in this country.

    The temp it should clearly state it is 102 F – this is seriousl high already – 104 F and your organs begin to shut down if you are not careful.

    • Justice and Truth
      February 20, 2012

      @ En Ba La

      Considering the temperature, people should be drinking a lot of water. It helps. The minimum should be 6 to 8 glasses of water daily; not huge ones. I would think medium ones. They should also eat fruits and vegetables, at least three a day.

  17. us citizen
    February 17, 2012

    mouth of the South FYI..it is not scratching it is itching.. When your body itches you scratch it.. next time say my body is itching me ok.. just a lil something to learn today.

  18. FLORIDA
    February 17, 2012

    Adult chicken pox is very bad and it can also attack your vision. Spray the rooms with Lysol disinfectant. Children should stay away from school.

    • Justice and Truth
      February 20, 2012

      @ Florida

      Generally, if there is an epidemic, schools will be closed. As a child, whenever there was an epidemic in DA and of course children were getting sick from it, as also measles and mumps, the schools would be closed for a few weeks. I hope this is done in DA. It would be senseless keeping the schools open for as one or a few children catch it, others will.
      I was fortunate that whenever I contracted those illnesses, they were minor. Reason being as I believe, my parents always gave us vitamins and cod liver oil. I know there are some children who do not like cod liver oil. To this day, I love it. There is fish oil which is similar to it. With my parents, they were given to us and we had to take them. This helped. This included nutritious foods. If we take care of ourselves, maybe we will keep well.

  19. possie pple
    February 17, 2012

    awa we dno, u all didnt have to put that pic nuh

  20. correction
    February 17, 2012

    It’s called itching not scratching.

    • February 17, 2012

      i guess you should blame Universal Secondary Education on the error… the bacteria are indeed scratching… so we feel an itch…. so quite simply i said ‘scratching’…. :-x

      • Justice and Truth
        February 20, 2012

        @ mouth of the south

        Itching – when something itches you.
        Scratching – when you scratch your body and/or infected part.
        Nevertheless, we understand what you mean. At least, some of us. No big problem.

    • Read Carefully
      February 19, 2012

      Read carefully! Direct quote from the article
      itching may be severe.
      do not scratch.

      You scratch any itching that you may have.

  21. ..................
    February 17, 2012

    A more comforting pic could have been placed instead for ppl like me who have never had chickenpox

    • DPM
      February 17, 2012

      For real. Some of us have weak stomachs Admin; now I cannot even enjoy my lunch.
      Admin I know you might respond by telling me it’s just a picture; please don’t; I already know that lol.

      • February 17, 2012

        well shut it

      • Justice and Truth
        February 17, 2012

        @ DPM

        Were you eating while reading? :) This could account for it, your weak stomach. I have not eaten dinner but it will not bother me. Your stomach must be weak indeed. :)

    • ME R
      February 17, 2012

      WHY ARE YOU AFRAID OF REALITY?

    • February 17, 2012

      that is reality .face it .

    • February 17, 2012

      it is reality face it.

  22. February 17, 2012

    eeeewwww how i hate that… is it true that once you had it… u can’t get it again… what a discomfort… all your body scratching you…

    • February 19, 2012

      you won’t get chicken pox again; however, the virus remains dormant in your nerve endings and may reoccur as shingles if your immune system is weakened. Someone who has never had chickenpox however can get chickenpox from someone with shingles, but not shingles from one with shingles. That is to say, you only get shingles once you have had chickenpox.

      • Justice and Truth
        February 20, 2012

        @ Read Carefully

        What you have stated is interesting. I previously commented and after I did that I searched in the Vitamin Bible for Shingles. This is it.

        Shingles

        Shingles (herpes zoster) is caused by a virus much like the one that causes chicken pox. But where chicken pox causes a general skin eruption, shingles usually erupts along a nerve path. Differences aside, the nutritional deficit caused by both diseases is high.

        Beta Carotene, 25,000.
        Vitamin B complex, 100mg. (time release) A.M. and P.M.
        Rose hips, vitamin c with bioflavonoids, 1000-2,000 mg. A.M and PM
        Vitamin D, 1,000 IU daily for 5 days, then stop for 2

        There was no mention of contracting shingles after contracting chicken pox and vice versa. It would be interesting to know what the writer of this book has to say on that.

    • Justice and Truth
      February 19, 2012

      @ Mouth of the south

      I heard that, as measles and mumps. The worst is small pox which is capable of wiping out a whole nation and world or rather thousands of people in a country. It happened in the ancient days. May this not recur in the world.

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