Chickenpox

November 19, 2009

Dear Parent/Guardian:

Recently we have had a few students in the Middle School that have been identified with Chickenpox, (Varicella).

Chickenpox is very contagious and easily passed from one person to another. Before a vaccine became available, chickenpox resulted in about 10, 000 hospitalizations and about 100 deaths a year in the U.S. Cases can be more severe in adults. A single dose of chickenpox vaccine is about 85% effective in reducing the change a person will develop chickenpox, and currently fewer than 10 deaths occur a year in the U.S. However, even among children who received one dose of chickenpox vaccine, it is not uncommon for mild cases of chickenpox to occur. Therefore, it is possible there will be additional cases at the school. New cases occur around 10-21 days after exposure to a contagious case.

An unvaccinated child who develops chickenpox usually has an itchy rash that changes from spots to bumps to blisters and then forms scabs in 4-7 days. There might be several hundred sores. Fever and feeling bad might occur 1-2 days before the rash breaks out.

A vaccinated child who later develops chickenpox usually has a milder disease with fever than 50 sores and only a few blisters. Scabs may form sooner, and fever is often absent.

Children with chickenpox are contagious for 1-2 days before the rash starts and until all the blisters have formed scabs, usually 4-7 days after the rash first formed.

Please be aware your child could develop chickenpox. Any child who develops symptoms or signs of chickenpox should be kept home from school until all of the sores have formed scabs and the child feels better.

Two doses of chickenpox vaccine are now recommended routinely for all children. Therefore, if your child has received just one dose of chickenpox vaccine, you should go to your doctor or clinic so your child can get the second dose. Unless there are reasons your child is exempted from vaccinations, he/she should get the first dose of vaccine if he/she has not yet received it. Vaccine given within 3 days of exposure and possibly up to 5 days can prevent disease.

If your child has not been vaccinated because of medical reasons, your child’s doctor should advise whether or not your child should be excluded from school to lessen the chance of catching chickenpox.

Otherwise, vaccine-exempted children may continue to attend school. As for all children, if signs or symptoms of chickenpox develop, the unvaccinated child should be promptly excluded from school. Thanks you for your attention to this matter. Additional information can be found at http://www.adph.org/immunization.