Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
Chickenpox
The risks of chickenpox – What every parent should know
-
Chickenpox (also known as varicella) is mainly a childhood disease.
-
It is caused by a virus and is highly contagious.
-
Although it is generally mild, chickenpox may be associated with serious complications. Most people believe that chickenpox is a harmless, even normal, part of growing up. But it can be serious.
-
A child is three to four times more likely to be hospitalized with complications due to chickenpox than from a motor vehicle accident or from a fall down the stairs.
In Canada, children <12 years of age account for:2
85-90% of chickenpox-related hospitalizations
Any child could be at risk
Although most children who develop chickenpox will just have to experience the discomfort of the disease, some otherwise healthy children may develop serious complications. These complications could include:
-
Permanent scars
-
Skin infections
-
Flesh-eating disease
-
Pneumonia
-
Middle ear infection
-
Blood infection
-
Inflammation/infection of the bone
-
Inflammation/infection of the lining of the heart
-
Inflammation/infection of the brain
-
Muscle coordination problems
-
Reye's Syndrome
Chickenpox may also increase the risk of flesh-eating disease by 40 to 60 times 2,3
Serious problems may lead to:
- Hospitalization
- Death
Chickenpox can be particularly serious, even life-threatening, to infants, adults, or anyone with a weakened immune system. Sadly, deaths due to chickenpox still occur… deaths that may be prevented through vaccination.
VARIVAX® III is not indicated to prevent deaths and complications associated with chickenpox.
