Dr Sarah Wells – Thyme GP

Chickenpox, once considered a rite of passage for children, is a highly contagious viral infection caused by the Varicella-Zoster virus. While typically a mild and self-limiting childhood illness, if caught later in life, it can be more severe and occasionally lead to serious complications. 

In the past, families would throw ‘chickenpox parties’ to encourage young children with chickenpox to mix, in order to catch it and have the mild illness associated in childhood, and acquire long term immunity. 

There is now a larger pool of children without immunity to chickenpox, due to the restricted socialising that followed Covid, and there has been a growing discussion about the benefits of routine vaccination against chickenpox at 12 and 18 months of age, and a catch-up programme for slightly older children in the UK.

Chickenpox symptoms:

The varicella-zoster virus is responsible for both chickenpox and shingles. Chickenpox normally manifests as an itchy rash, sometimes with fever, and/or flu-like symptoms, and usually gets better within a week or two. While most cases resolve on their own, severe complications can arise, particularly in vulnerable and older populations. Once a person has had chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in nerve cells and can reactivate later in life as shingles, if the immune system is weakened.

It’s highly infectious – you can catch it by being in the same room as someone with it who is coughing and sneezing.

How to treat mild chickenpox

• Take paracetamol and stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids
• Use cooling creams – such as Calamine lotion – and gels
• Cut your child’s fingernails and put socks or gloves on their hands at night to stop them scratching

The Case for Routine Vaccination

Traditionally, chickenpox was seen as a common childhood ailment, and many parents viewed it as a benign part of growing up. However, the potential for severe complications, including pneumonia and bacterial infections, prompted the development of the varicella vaccine. Routine vaccination has proven highly effective in preventing chickenpox and reducing related hospitalizations.

The vaccine doesn’t guarantee lifetime immunity, but it does greatly reduce the risk of someone developing chickenpox or having a bad case.

By vaccinating toddlers against chickenpox, experts believe we can not only protect them from the immediate risks of the virus but may also decrease the incidence of shingles in adulthood. 

‘However, being exposed to chickenpox as an adult (for example, through contact with infected children) boosts your immunity to shingles.

If you vaccinate children against chickenpox, you may lose this natural boosting, so immunity in adults could drop, possibly causing more shingles cases.’ (NHS, 2023.)

Addressing Vaccine Concerns

Some parents may express concerns about the safety of vaccines. However, extensive research and real-world data support the safety and efficacy of the varicella vaccine. Serious side effects are rare, and the benefits of preventing both chickenpox and shingles are thought to outweigh the risks associated with vaccination, however it is not recommended in anyone with a compromised immune system- speak to your doctor if you think this could apply to you.

The jab contains a very small amount of the live virus which has been weakened to teach the body how to fight off an infection without causing full-blown disease.

Chickenpox vaccination is available at Thyme for £110 per dose. To book or discuss whether it’s suitable for your child contact the team.

Reference

NHS Online. 2023. Accessed 14^th November 2023: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/chickenpox-vaccine-questions-answers/#:~:text=Being%20exposed%20to%20chicken