[NVIC] Chickenpox in the Vaccinated

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" Protecting the health and informed consent rights of children since 1982. "

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BL Fisher Note:

The varicella zoster (chicken pox) vaccine is not only ineffective in 10-20%

of individuals vaccinated but it also can cause vaccine strain chicken pox.

How many of the vaccinated children who come down with chicken pox got it

from the vaccine itself? In addition, because mass vaccination policies have

prevented the natural circulation of the virus and the 'boosting " of

immunity for those who had chicken pox as children, studies have shown that

older children and adults are now susceptible to shingles, a much more

painful and expensive disease to treat than chicken pox in childhood. In

past generations, 99.9 percent of American children who got chicken pox

recovered without permanent side effects.

http://www.dailybreeze.com/today/articles/1501862.html

Daily Breeze

April 25, 2005

Don't relax: Fight over chickenpox not through yet

Expert stresses vaccine does not give complete protection and even mild

cases are still contagious.

By Rossetti

COPLEY NEWS SERVICE

Spring has sprung and with it, small outbreaks of chickenpox.

Caused by varicella zoster, a virus of the herpes family, chickenpox's most

obvious symptom is a blisterlike rash that causes severe itching.

" Until 1995, there was no vaccine to protect against chickenpox, " said Lynn

Fernandez, a registered nurse and immunization coordinator for the Canton

(Ohio) Health Department. " Many people don't know that 100 people in the

U.S. died each year from chickenpox before the vaccine became available. "

Those who dealt with chickenpox years earlier were more aware that

complications from the disease are possible. Viral pneumonia, skin

infections, even encephalitis could occur.

Today, chickenpox vaccine is given to children when they reach their first

birthday. It does not provide complete protection, Fernandez stressed. It is

80 percent to 90 percent effective against getting the infection and 85

percent to 95 percent effective against a severe case of chickenpox.

" What that means is you can have a mild case, " Fernandez said. " What we're

seeing with kids getting mild cases, it's more of a rash, not the

fluid-filled blisters. Usually, there is no fever. But it is still

contagious. "

Citing a review of school attendance records, Stark County (Ohio) Health

Department epidemiologist Matt Tillapaw said he has noticed no major spikes

that would indicate widespread outbreaks.

The incubation period here is 10 to 14 days, but as long as 20 days in

Europe, some studies have revealed. Symptoms include low-grade fever,

listlessness, loss of appetite and itching.

" We recommend giving the vaccine to kids after they've been exposed, " said

Fernandez. " It could make a difference on whether they get the disease or,

if they do, how severe it is. "

Dr. Ashraf Ahmed of Premier Health Associates in Alliance warned that adults

who had chickenpox in childhood could contract it a second time. And adults

who fall victim to chickenpox have a considerably rougher time of it than

children.

" There is significant evidence we can get it twice. We had one case this

year already of chickenpox (that turned into) pneumonia here in an adult and

another case of the dermatological chickenpox in an adult woman who had

contracted it in Asia, " said Ahmed, an internal medicine specialist.

" Usually the season is early spring, but we saw these about a month ago. The

virulence of the virus becomes more prominent in mildly warmer weather when

it's slightly damp. "

The virus is spread by contact and enters through the respiratory system.

Infants, people with immune deficiencies and pregnant women are at increased

risk.

" Pregnancy is a great strain on the body. The mother can pass the infection

to the baby in utero. That could result in low birth weight or even

miscarriage, " Ahmed said, " and the contagion rates in the same household are

very high. "

Today, the disease kills two children in every 100,000 cases, Ahmed said,

but the mortality rate is 15 times that for adults.

" Give Tylenol for the fever. Do not use aspirin in children, " he stressed.

" Everyone should know by now it predisposes them to Reye's syndrome. " Reye's

syndrome is an acute and frequently fatal childhood syndrome that follows a

viral infection such as influenza or varicella.

Prescription antiviral medications are available. Closely cropped

fingernails, he said, can help avoid introducing bacteria into the lesions.

Use calamine lotion to calm the urge to itch.

" Good old common sense is what is best, " said Ahmed. " Use discretion in the

household, clean your linens and keep hygiene a priority to safeguard you

and your children. It's still around. It's not eradicated. "

Adults who had childhood chickenpox have a 15 percent chance of getting

shingles before age 80. Shingles, or herpes zoster, is caused by the

chickenpox virus that lies dormant in the nerve roots after a person has had

chickenpox. When the chickenpox virus re-awakens for reasons yet unknown,

the result is shingles, a skin infection that causes a painful rash. The

blistery rash most often appears on the side of the body or face.

Interestingly, if you have shingles, you can pass the virus to someone who

has not had chickenpox and he may get chickenpox. But contact with someone

suffering from chickenpox or shingles will not cause shingles.

Doctors say early treatment of shingles with anti-viral medications is best.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that a study is under

way focusing on a new version of a chickenpox vaccine that could be

administered to people 55 and older to reduce the frequency or severity of

shingles attacks. Results of that study, however, will not be available for

five years.

Some people hear the term " herpes " and mistakenly believe that chickenpox

and shingles somehow are connected to herpes simplex, the virus responsible

for common cold sores and genital herpes. " It is a similar family, " said

Ahmed ... " but there is no connection between cold sores and chickenpox. "

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