Chennai: What usually starts in the end of February, chicken pox, caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), seems to have arrived early this year. Doctors in the city say they have started seeing chicken pox cases, and that the numbers are likely to increase in the coming months.
Dr. Madhu Purushothaman, consultant pediatrician, says that they saw a greater number of children coming down with it earlier, but now, with the availability of vaccines, cases had become fewer.
“Sporadic cases are being reported. The chicken pox vaccine is one of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics’ recommended schedules. Two doses are given – one at 12 months and the other at four years. It’s extremely contagious and one should stay away from schools and workplaces,” says Dr. Purushothaman. The cost of a dose is Rs 1500.
If one gets chicken pox in childhood, it gives life-long immunity. “If not, then it’s better to get vaccinated. Usually, medications are not needed for children below 16 years of age, but if adults get chicken pox then the risks and complications are greater and anti-viral medicines are given,” says Dr V. Ramasubramanian, infectious diseases specialist.
Last year, 30 outbreaks were reported across the state. An official from the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine said that in each outbreak, approximately 10-20 cases were reported.
“We do surveillance throughout the year and if there is any outbreak, control measures are taken immediately. Usually, we receive calls from schools about the outbreak and also from hostels. We ask them to stay inside the hostel room and medications are provided to them,” said the official.
Doctors say it’s a big concern when children are infected with chicken pox during exam time. “We ask them to take rest for at least 10 days, they miss exams too. There’s no prevention, but it’s better to avoid crowded places,” says a senior doctor from the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital.
Officials from the public health department said that citizens could call 104 if there was an outbreak of any disease.
Home remedies or doctor’s route?
Aishwarya V.P. | DC
Chennai: Citizens repose less belief in home remedies for treating chicken pox and measles nowadays.
Yet, there are those who bring the patient with symptoms of flu, but once the disease is diagnosed as chicken pox, they immediately ask for the patient to be discharged and go home, stating that they would follow the traditional methods for treating ammai, says Dr C. Subbulakshmi, in-charge of the Vaccine Preventable Diseases Ward at Institute of Child Health (ICH), EgmÂore.
But how effectively the traditional method of treatment really works can be proved only through reseaÂrch, she says.
They had been a few cases where the patient had complications.
She also points out that the vaccination for chicken pox and measles had been increased in recent years from one dose to two for children as some of them failed to develop immunity through a single dose.
Unsteady climatic conditions and fluctuation in temperatures could be the reason for the early onset of chicken pox and measles in the city. It was therefore high time for citizens to take precautionary steps, she adds.
The Institute of Child Health (ICH) and Hospital for Children started receiving some cases of chicken pox and measles since the end of December.
Speaking of the treatment procedure, she says that when the patient with chicken pox arrives, antiviral medicine, such as acyclovir, is given either through injection, tablet or syrup at the initial stage, and later symptomatic treatment is given.
However, the patient is isolated, as the disease spreads very quickly through the air. In the case of measles, symptomatic treatment is given.
