Varicella zoster

Question 1

List the viral childhood diseases and the causative pathogen (7)

Answer 1

• Chicken Pox & Shingles: Varicella-Zoster Virus
• Gastroenteritis: Various causes. Viruses (e.g. rotavirus, norovirus), parasites, toxins and some non-infectious diseases
• German Measles: Rubella Virus
• Glandular Fever: Epstein- Barr Virus
• Influenza: Influenza Virus
• Measles: Paramyxovirus
• Mumps: Paramyxovirus
• Primary Herpetic Gingivostomatitis: Herpes simplex 1
• Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease: Coxsackie virus

Question 2

List the bacterial childhood diseases and the causative pathogen (5)

Answer 2

• Conjunctivitis: Can also be viral/allergic cause
• Meningococcal Disease: Neisseria meningitidis
• Impetigo: Staphylococcusaureus ‘staph’
• Scarlet Fever: Group A streptococcus
• Whooping Cough: Bordetella pertussis

Question 3

List other types of diseases and the causative pathogen (5)

Answer 3

• Headlice
• Ringworm: Fungal infection
• Scabies: Scaroptes Scabiei (mite)
• Worms
• Thrush: Candidosis

Question 4

For chicken pox (varicella), state:

• Alternative names
• How it is spread

Answer 4

Alternative names:
• Varicella-Zoster Virus-
• Herpes Zoster Virus (HHV3)

How it is spread:
• Spread by coughing early in the illness
• Spread by direct contact with fluid of blisters later in illness
• Highly contagious to people who have never had chickenpox, or who have not been vaccinated

Question 5

For chicken pox (varicella), state:

• State the signs and symptoms of the prodromal phase and what they are followed by
• When children are most infectious

Answer 5

Prodromal phase:
• Slight fever
• Runny nose
• Feeling generally unwell

Followed by:
• Cutaneous pruritic (itchy) vesicles (a rash that begins as raised pink spots that blister and scab)
• The rash begins crust over 3-4 days

When children are most infectious:
• Children are infectious 1-2 days before the rash appears

Question 6

For chicken pox (varicella), state:

• Oral signs and symptoms (3)
• Prognosis

Answer 6

• Oral lesions occur in 50% of cases
• 1-2 mm shallow oral ulcers may develop at any intraoral site in addition to other mucosal sites in the body
• Healing of oral lesions is uneventful

Prognosis:
• Most people recover without complications
• Sometimes can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis

Question 7

For chicken pox (varicella), state:

• Vaccination as prevention
• Who should get vaccinated
• How hygiene is a form of prevention

Answer 7

Vaccination as prevention:
• Free vaccine (MMRV) is recommended for all children 18 months of age
• Children 12 years of age who have not received the varicella vaccine and not had chickenpox are offered the vaccine
• Not given to pregnant women

Vaccination is recommended for people at high risk:
• Health care workers
• People living with or working with small children
• Women planning pregnancy
• Household contact of persons who are immunosuppressed

Hygiene as prevention:
• Cover nose and mouth when coughing/sneezing
• Dispose of soiled tissues
• Wash hands thoroughly
• Avoid sharing utensils, food or drinking cups

Question 8

For chicken pox (varicella), state:

- Treatment

Answer 8

• Children should not attend school until at least 5 days after onset of the rash and blisters have dried
• Maintain fluid intake
• Paracetamol if required
• Avoid aspirin