Pediatria pre prax S1/2012

Chicken-pox in the vaccination era

Chicken pox is the only classic childhood illness which is not regularly vaccinated against in the Czech Republic. At the same time, it is one of the most commonly reported infectious diseases in the territory of the country. Chicken pox is an infectious disease whose progress is, in the vast majority of cases, mild; nevertheless, the patient will spend several days in sickbed. Even in an otherwise healthy child or adult, however, a whole range of complications can accompany the course of the illness. Patients with compromised immunity and pregnant women are especially at risk. In the case of pregnant women, both mother and child are threatened.

Keywords: varicella zoster virus, varicella, shingles, clinical picture, diagnosis, treatment, vaccination.