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Related terms: Chickenpox
Zika-Bearing Mosquitoes More Widespread in U.S. Than Expected
Posted 6 days ago by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, June 20, 2017 – The latest buzz from federal health officials is that mosquitoes that can spread Zika, dengue and chikungunya viruses are in more counties in the southern United States than previously thought. After a Zika outbreak in Florida last summer, researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded mosquito-collection measures across the South. The new study revealed a 21 percent increase in the number of counties with Zika-carrying mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti). There was also a 10 percent increase in counties with dengue-spreading mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus). The results don't mean these mosquitoes are abundant or madly transmitting the viruses. But the "findings highlight the need for continued and improved mosquito surveillance," wrote the team led by Micah Hahn. Hahn is with the CDC's division of vector-borne diseases in Fort Collins, ... Read more
Related support groups: Varicella-Zoster, Insect Bites, Zika Virus Infection, Varicella-Zoster - Prophylaxis, Dengue Fever
Shingles Vaccine Cuts Chronic Pain, Hospitalizations
Posted 17 Mar 2017 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, March 17, 2017 – Vaccination greatly reduces the risk of serious complications from shingles, a new study finds. Shingles occurs when the same virus that causes chickenpox is reactivated later in life. Nearly one-third of people in the United States will develop shingles. The risk increases with age, researchers said. The new study showed the vaccine was 74 percent effective in preventing hospitalizations for shingles during the three years after vaccination. That number dropped to 55 percent effective after four or more years. The immunization was 57 percent effective for preventing lasting pain in the three years after vaccination. The rate dropped to 45 percent after four years, the researchers said. The findings were published recently in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. "The fact that we found relatively high effectiveness against serious outcomes, such as ... Read more
Related support groups: Herpes Zoster, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Zostavax, Varicella-Zoster, Vaccination and Prophlaxis, Zoster Vaccine Live, Herpes Zoster Peripheral Neuropathy, Varicella-Zoster - Prophylaxis
Got an Itch? Use These Tips for Relief -- and Don't Scratch
Posted 31 Jan 2017 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, Jan. 31, 2017 – Itchy skin is a common problem, but there are several ways to find relief, a dermatologist says. "There are many reasons for itchy skin," Dr. Hassan Galadari said in an American Academy of Dermatology news release. "It could be the result of a skin condition, such as eczema, shingles, hives or psoriasis, or it could be a sign of a contagious disease, like scabies or ringworm." To relieve itchy skin, Galadari offers these tips: Apply a cold, wet cloth or ice pack to the itchy area for five to 10 minutes or until the itch subsides. Or take an oatmeal bath. Use skin moisturizers that contain no additives, fragrances or perfumes. Apply topical anesthetics that contain pramoxine. Apply cooling agents such as menthol or calamine, or refrigerate your moisturizer to help achieve this cooling effect. Avoid scratching. It will irritate your skin and could lead to ... Read more
Related support groups: Skin Rash, Herpes Zoster, Psoriasis, Eczema, Scabies, Plaque Psoriasis, Calamine, Varicella-Zoster, Menthol, Pramoxine, Anusol, Calmoseptine, Biofreeze, Terocin, Analpram-HC, Hydrocortisone/Pramoxine, Caladryl, Dendracin, Sarna, Caladryl Clear
Experimental Shingles Vaccine Looks Quite Effective: Study
Posted 15 Sep 2016 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 14, 2016 – An experimental vaccine against shingles may offer lasting protection for most older adults who receive it, a new clinical trial found. Shingles is a painful rash that's triggered by a reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox. About one-third of Americans develop the disease at some point, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There already is a vaccine against shingles, but its effectiveness is limited. The new study found that the experimental vaccine protected about 90 percent of adults age 70 and up. And the effects were still apparent four years later. By comparison, the existing vaccine, Zostavax, cuts the risk of shingles by about half. And immunity wanes within five years, according to the CDC. The study results were published in the Sept. 15 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers called ... Read more
Related support groups: Herpes Zoster, Zostavax, Varicella-Zoster, Vaccination and Prophlaxis, Zoster Vaccine Live, Varicella-Zoster - Prophylaxis, Herpes Zoster - Prophylaxis
Chickenpox Cases Down 85 Percent Since 2-Dose Vaccine Started: CDC
Posted 1 Sep 2016 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, Sept. 1, 2016 – Chickenpox – which is caused by the varicella-zoster virus – has continued declining in the United States since 2006, when doctors began routinely recommending a second dose of chickenpox (varicella) vaccine, U.S. health officials said Thursday. States reporting vaccination data noted an 85 percent drop in the highly contagious disease between 2005-2006 and 2013-2014, according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The fall-off was greatest among kids aged 5 to 14, health officials said. This is also the age group most likely to have received the second dose of varicella vaccine. Symptoms of chickenpox include an itchy, blistery rash, tiredness and fever. It tends to be more serious in babies, adults and people with a weakened immune system, the CDC noted. Before vaccination, chickenpox was commonplace, with 4 million ... Read more
Related support groups: Varicella-Zoster, Varicella Virus Vaccine, Measles Virus Vaccine/Mumps Virus Vaccine/Rubella Virus Vaccine/Varicella Virus Vaccine, ProQuad, Vaccination and Prophlaxis, Varizig, Varivax, Varicella-Zoster - Prophylaxis, Varicella Zoster Immune Globulin
Experimental Drug for Rheumatoid Arthritis Shows Promise
Posted 31 Mar 2016 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, March 31, 2016 – An experimental drug to treat rheumatoid arthritis showed promise in a new six-month trial. Baricitinib substantially reduced symptoms and improved daily physical functioning among people who failed other treatments for the autoimmune disease, researchers found. "If you have active disease and you've failed existing treatment options, you should have hope," said lead researcher Dr. Mark Genovese. He is a professor of immunology and rheumatology at Stanford University School of Medicine in California. "There is another therapy, which will hopefully become available, that has demonstrated it can work in that situation." The report was published March 31 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The trial was sponsored by Eli Lilly and Co., the manufacturer of baricitinib. Lilly is currently seeking approval of the drug from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. ... Read more
Related support groups: Rheumatoid Arthritis, High Cholesterol, Varicella-Zoster, Varicella-Zoster - Prophylaxis
Two-Dose Chickenpox Shot Gets the Job Done, Study Shows
Posted 14 Mar 2016 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, March 14, 2016 – Among school children, two doses of the chickenpox vaccine is better than one, a new study finds. Giving the first dose at age 1 and the second dose at ages 4 to 6 is nearly 100 percent effective in preventing the once common childhood disease, researchers have found. "A second dose of varicella [chickenpox] vaccine provides school-aged children with better protection against the chickenpox virus, compared to one dose alone or no vaccination," said lead researcher Dana Perella, of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. Two doses of the vaccine protected against the moderate to severe chickenpox infections that can lead to complications and hospitalizations, she said. The report was published online March 14 and will appear in the April print issue of the journal Pediatrics. Chickenpox is a viral infection that causes a painful, itchy rash with small, ... Read more
Related support groups: Varicella-Zoster, Varicella Virus Vaccine, Measles Virus Vaccine/Mumps Virus Vaccine/Rubella Virus Vaccine/Varicella Virus Vaccine, ProQuad, Vaccination and Prophlaxis, Varivax, Varicella-Zoster - Prophylaxis
Health Tip: Chickenpox Can Be Dangerous
Posted 5 Feb 2016 by Drugs.com
-- Chickenpox is notoriously contagious, and for some people it can be very dangerous. Women who are pregnant, young children, the elderly and people with a weakened immune system are at greatest risk of complications. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mentions these potential complications of chickenpox: Pneumonia, blood poisoning or dehydration. Brain inflammation or infection. Bacterial infection affecting the skin or soft tissues, especially among children. Infection of the joints or bones. Toxic shock syndrome. Unusual bleeding. Read more
Related support groups: Varicella-Zoster, Varicella Virus Vaccine, Measles Virus Vaccine/Mumps Virus Vaccine/Rubella Virus Vaccine/Varicella Virus Vaccine, ProQuad, Vaccination and Prophlaxis, Varivax, Varicella-Zoster - Prophylaxis
Chickenpox, Shingles Vaccines Linked to Rare Eye Inflammation
Posted 25 Jan 2016 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, Jan. 25, 2016 – The vaccine for chickenpox and shingles has been linked to inflammation of the eye's cornea, but the number of such cases is small, a new study says. "Keratitis, or inflammation of the clear layer on the front of the eye, is a vision issue that can cause serious complications or even permanent damage to your vision if left untreated," Dr. Frederick Fraunfelder, chair of the ophthalmology department and director of the University of Missouri Eye Institute, said in a university news release. Researchers found 20 cases of keratitis in children and adults that occurred within a month of receiving a chickenpox or shingles vaccine. Symptoms of the disorder developed within 24 days of vaccination among adults. In children, symptoms began within 14 days of vaccination, the researchers said. The researchers said there is a probable relationship between the vaccine and ... Read more
Related support groups: Eye Conditions, Herpes Zoster, Zostavax, Varicella-Zoster, Keratitis, Corneal Ulcer, Corneal Abrasion, Eye Redness/Itching, Varicella Virus Vaccine, Herpes Zoster Iridocyclitis, Measles Virus Vaccine/Mumps Virus Vaccine/Rubella Virus Vaccine/Varicella Virus Vaccine, Visual Defect/Disturbance, ProQuad, Vaccination and Prophlaxis, Zoster Vaccine Live, Varivax, Varicella-Zoster - Prophylaxis
Health Tip: Coping With Chickenpox
Posted 24 Aug 2015 by Drugs.com
-- What can you do if you get chickenpox – besides scratch? The American Academy of Family Physicians suggests: Keep the room cool, as heat can make itchy skin worse. Put a cool, damp compress on the itchiest spots. Keep fingernails trimmed short so you don't break the skin if you do scratch. Soak in a lukewarm oatmeal bath. Apply calamine lotion. Read more
Related support groups: Skin Rash, Benadryl, Hydroxyzine, Zyrtec, Promethazine, Claritin, Diphenhydramine, Loratadine, Vistaril, Allegra, Phenergan, Cetirizine, Cyproheptadine, Atarax, Fexofenadine, Chlorpheniramine, Periactin, Xyzal, Levocetirizine, Benadryl Allergy
Vaccine Sharply Curbs Chickenpox Cases in U.S.
Posted 13 Aug 2015 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, Aug. 13, 2015 – Chickenpox cases in the United States have dropped sharply since a vaccine against the disease became available in 1995, a new study shows. Also, hospitalizations and outpatient visits for chickenpox have continued to fall since 2006, when a second dose of the vaccine was recommended to boost protection against the disease, the researchers found. Before 1995, about 4 million people in the United States got chickenpox each year, nearly 11,000 were hospitalized, and up to 150 died of the disease, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For this study, CDC researchers analyzed national health insurance claims data. They found there were 93 percent fewer hospitalizations for chickenpox in 2012, and 84 percent fewer outpatient visits for the disease than in the period before the vaccine was introduced. After the second dose recommendation ... Read more
Related support groups: Varicella-Zoster, Vaccination and Prophlaxis, Varicella-Zoster - Prophylaxis
Shingles Vaccine Appears to Cut Odds of Long-Term Pain
Posted 4 Jun 2015 by Drugs.com
TBD, 2015 – Even when shingles vaccination does not prevent the disease, it reduces the risk of long-term pain that can occur as a complication of the condition, according to a new study. Although the U.S. Advisory Council on Immunization Practices recommends shingles vaccination for people 60 and older, vaccination rates remain low, the researchers say. "Hopefully, this study will encourage more people to get vaccinated in order to reduce the long-term pain and potential disability associated with shingles," said lead author Hung Fu Tseng, a researcher with Kaiser Permanente Southern California. Tseng's team analyzed the medical records of 2,400 people in Southern California over age 60 who developed shingles. Some had been vaccinated against the disease. Among vaccinated patients, just over 4 percent of women and 6 percent of men developed long-term pain (post-herpetic neuralgia, or ... Read more
Related support groups: Persisting Pain, Shingles, Postherpetic Neuralgia, Varicella-Zoster, Varicella Virus Vaccine, Measles Virus Vaccine/Mumps Virus Vaccine/Rubella Virus Vaccine/Varicella Virus Vaccine, ProQuad, Varivax, Varicella-Zoster - Prophylaxis
Study Ties Shingles Virus to Dangerous Blood Vessel Disease in Elderly
Posted 18 Feb 2015 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 18, 2015 – New research links the virus behind chickenpox and shingles to a blood vessel condition that afflicts the elderly and can sometimes be deadly. The study doesn't prove that the so-called varicella zoster virus causes the condition, known as giant cell arteritis. But study author Dr. Don Gilden, a professor of neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, said the findings suggest that the standard treatment of steroids, which reduce inflammation, aren't enough on their own. "You need to treat the virus and the inflammation that goes along with it," he said. "This is totally new." That means patients with the condition should take antiviral medications to fight off the chickenpox virus, he added. About 30 cases of giant cell arteritis appear in every 100,000 people each year, Gilden said, or about 300 cases in a city of one million. By ... Read more
Related support groups: Giant Cell Arteritis, Varicella-Zoster
Most States Not Ready to Handle Infectious Disease Outbreaks: Report
Posted 19 Dec 2014 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, Dec. 18, 2014 – Ebola's entrance into the United States – along with Angelina Jolie's chickenpox and the National Hockey League's mumps outbreak – have highlighted cracks in the nation's public health defense against infectious disease, according to a new health policy report released Thursday. Half of U.S. states are poorly prepared to prevent, detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. That was the main conclusion of the report issued jointly by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "Ebola has served as a major wake-up call to the United States," said Jeffrey Levi, executive director of the Trust for America's Health. "It's a reminder that an infectious disease anywhere is a threat everywhere, and Ebola has raised attention to serious gaps in our ability to manage disease outbreaks and contain their spread. It was very disturbing ... Read more
Related support groups: Varicella-Zoster, Varicella-Zoster - Prophylaxis, Mumps Prophylaxis
'Kids' Diseases' Now Hitting Adults
Posted 16 Dec 2014 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, Dec. 16, 2014 – Chickenpox befell Angelina Jolie this week, preventing the actress-turned-director from attending the premiere of her new film. Meanwhile, an outbreak of mumps has hit the National Hockey League, sidelining more than a dozen players and two referees. These are considered kids' diseases. Most adults have vivid, fretful childhood memories of standing in line to get vaccinations that they expected to provide lifetime protection. Why, then, are these prominent adults – and scores of faceless others – coming down with these infections? Mainly, it comes down to two factors, experts say. Vaccination rates have declined among children in some parts of the United States, increasing everyone's risk of exposure to virulent diseases like chickenpox, measles, mumps and whooping cough, said Dr. Aaron Glatt, a spokesman for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. "These ... Read more
Related support groups: Varicella-Zoster, Vaccination and Prophlaxis
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Varicella-Zoster - Prophylaxis, Herpes Zoster
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Valtrex, acyclovir, valacyclovir, Zovirax, foscarnet, immune globulin intramuscular, Biogam, Varizig, GamaSTAN S / D, BayGam, Foscavir, varicella zoster immune globulin
