Varicella zoster virus or colloquially called 'chickenpox' is highly contagious and belongs to the group of herpes viruses. Prodromal symptoms are usually non-existent. After an incubation period of 11-21 days, the typical, strong itching exanthema occurs. The vesicles turn after a few hours into pustules and in the end into eschar. All the different efflorescence stages occur together and are also possible to be present as painful enanthema on the oral mucosa and tongue. The healing takes about 2 weeks. Symptomatic therapy is eventually induced, antibiotics or virostatic agents are only necessary if complications arise.
Pathogen: Varicella-Zoster Virus/ Herpes Simplex Virus Type 3
Transmission path: droplet infection, contact with skin lesions
Incubation time: 11-21 days
Contagiousness: one day before the outbreak until the lesions crust over
Prodromal symptoms: usually absent
Symptoms: Pruritus, different stages of efflorescences
Treatment: symptomatically, ZnO-balm
Complications: seldom, bacterial superinfection, scarring
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