Chicken Pox

Question 1

What causes chicken pox?

Answer 1

Varicella zoster virus

Question 2

Describe varicella zoster virus

Answer 2

Enveloped double stranded DNA virus
Part of herpes family

Question 3

Signs and symptoms of chicken pox

Answer 3

Red spots > fill with fluid + blister > scab
Fever
Aches + pains
Loss of appetite

Question 4

Outline the mechanism of infection of chicken pox

Answer 4

• Person to person - direct touch or just in same room
• Touching of clothing or bedding with fluid from blisters

Question 5

Treatment of chicken pox

Answer 5

Supportive management:
- plenty of fluids
- paracetamol to relieve pain
- prevent scratching
- loose clothing

Question 6

Outline the adaptive immune response to chicken pox

Answer 6

1- viral PAMPS are recognised by APCs
2- APCs process and present viral PAMPs
3- presented to T cells
4- CD4+ and CD8+ T cells activated
5- results in cell mediated immunity:
- killing of infected cells by cytotoxic T cells + NKC
- phagocytosis
- antibody production by B cells&raquo_space; prevent recurrent infection