GUWAHATI, May 9 � Guwahati and many other areas of the State are witnessing a spurt in cases of chicken pox. Among those who have been affected are a large number of children.
Concerns about the disease stem from the fact that the infection is highly contagious and can spread without direct contact with a carrier. An airborne disease, it can spread through sneezing or coughing of an infected person apart from direct contact.
According to doctors� a child or adult with chicken-pox may develop itchy, fluid-filled blisters which burst and form crusts. The virus that causes chicken-pox is varicella-zoster, the same virus that also causes herpes zoster in adults.
There has been an increase in the number of people who have been diagnosed with chicken pox in clinics and doctors chambers in the last few weeks, and those infected have come in from varied backgrounds, which imply that the infection has not been restricted to any particular strata.
Anyone infected by the virus should ideally stay in quarantine to minimize contact with others. Proper hygiene should be maintained, and the diet should ensure that dehydration does not take place. Scratching should be avoided as it may lead to scars.
This season, a large number of young children have been infected by the virus. Dr Ranjan Saikia, a city based pediatrician mentioned that the number of cases is quite high in and around Guwahati.
He said in case of a child showing the symptoms of chicken pox, doctor�s advice should be sought immediately. He informed that children between the age of 15 months and 10 years can also be vaccinated to resist the infection.
Keeping the child in quarantine is recommended, and those in contact with the child must take necessary protection so that the infection does not spread, he added.
In case of a lactating mother being infected, the infant may be breast fed, but otherwise contact with the mother should be minimized.
