Chicken pox cases surging across districts in Kerala

Chicken pox cases are surging across the State, coinciding with the season of respiratory illnesses. While this is said to be a seasonal surge, many parents are going through tense times as this is also the exam season, with children writing board exams and various entrance examinations

Over 8,851 cases of chicken pox have been reported in the last two months (as on February 25), with 4,457 cases reported in February. Most cases are in children but one death has also been reported in the State this month, from Ernakulam, of a 53-year-old woman. On an average, over 3,000 cases are reported every year. But in 2019, the State had reported close to 30,000 cases and 20 deaths.

“Chicken pox is predominantly a childhood disease, but we have a huge cohort of adults who have never contracted this disease in childhood. Though this appears as a mild illness in children, in pregnant women, adults and the elderly, especially in those with chronic co-morbidities, chicken pox can lead to serious complications like pneumonia, sepsis or encephalitis and even death. We recommend that all adults who have not had natural infection, get themselves vaccinated,” a senior Health official said.

Respiratory route

Chicken pox is one of the most contagious communicable diseases and it spreads through the respiratory route, through the direct contact with fluid from blisters or inhalation of respiratory droplets from an infected person. Caused by the varicella zoster virus, the disease appears as a mild rash in children. Early administration of antivirals can reduce the severity of symptoms.

Though vaccination against chicken pox is effective for both adults and children, it is not part of the universal immunisation schedule. However, it is widely available in all private hospitals. Paediatricians advise parents to vaccinate children who are going away from home to stay in a hostel, because of the highly contagious nature of the disease.

“This is a disease wherein post-exposure prophylaxis vaccination within five days of exposure to the infected person has been found to be very effective,” a health official said.

Need to isolate

Vaccinated persons could still get a breakthrough varicella infection. While this is a mild infection and self resolving, they should also isolate themselves to prevent transmission to others.

A person with chicken pox is infectious at least two days before the rashes show up and remains infective till the blisters heal. But often, the source of infection remains unknown. Chicken pox can spread wildly in schools and hostels if there is one infected child. Children bringing home the infection to elderly grandparents or other adults is not uncommon.