Adult Chicken Pox

day 4

admin — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 10:44:04 +0000

No real change in symptoms today – plenty of spots covering the upper body with some itchiness. Flu-like symptoms are fairly minimal though there is a trend to feel very tired in the afternoon. Chicken pox has so far been an unpleasant illness for me only because of the unsightly spots. I had been prepared for something far worse and I touch wood that I’m not about to enter a new and horrible phase. However as things are I appear to have been quite lucky compared to many other adults who have reported their disease progress on various blogs. Maybe the drugs I am taking – primarily ibuprofen, piriton and acyclivor – have diminished the symptoms.
Unless things change I doubt whether I’ll update this blog again. As it stands I hope it conveys a brighter message to any adult just starting with chicken pox and who is depressed by the numerous horror stories out there.

anti-virals

admin — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:41:24 +0000

Aciclovir is the main anti-viral drug prescribed for chicken pox patients. In the UK its prescription is mainly limited to adults who have existing conditions that may make them more vulnerable to complications. However some GPs prescribe it more routinely. In any case the drug needs to be started within 24-48 hrs of the first sign of rash.

My own GP didn’t believe it would make much difference and he might be right. However its effectiveness may vary depending on the medical status of the patient so do discuss with your doctor if you think you’ve been infected with chicken pox.

For more details on treatment and management of adult chicken pox the NHS library for health care practitioners provides sound and accessible advice.

day 3

admin — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:16:52 +0000

Spots now cover most of my upper body and scalp. There are a few on the face but not too disfigured at present. Flu-like symptoms of painful joints come and go and itch is becoming more noticeable. Think I have a few spots in the throat area as swallowing is painful. continuing to take piriton, ibuprofen and aciclovir (not that it appears to have helped any).

spotty

admin — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 12:17:57 +0000

Overnight a large number of spots have erupted over my back and lower abdomen. There are also a fair few over my scalp. Other than this disappointing development the flu-like symptoms have diminished and I feel fairly well at present. The spots are currently not itching noticeably, though I took a piriton tablet this morning.

Overnight I slept well – though this may be to do with the bedtime cocktail of cognac, anti-viral, ibuprofen and piriton (consult a doctor before commencing this treatment programme). The anti-viral is aciclovir which I had prescribed prior to the onset of the illness – more about that soon. Given the spot coverage it’s difficult to see what impact this drug is having. That said I seem to be generally well and certainly better than many of the reports of adult chicken pox circulating the Internet. We’ll see how things develop…

immunity

admin — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:43:36 +0000

About 90% of adults are immune from chicken pox as they had the disease as a child. in the UK (where i am) there is no routine vaccination against chicken pox so catching the disease is the only route to immunity. Some adults believe they have never caught chicken pox as a child, however as the disease can be very mild in children the only way of knowing for certain is to have a blood test to check your immunity against varicella – the virus responsible. I had this test and I am not immune. At that point there was opportunity to get a vaccination from a private clinic but never got around to it.

I am currently experiencing severe joint paints in the ankle and knees and feeling very cold. There are two suspicious spots on the face but still difficult to know whether they’re the beginning of the rash.

welcome

admin — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:14:44 +0000

I am at the beginning of chicken pox and I am 40 years old so friends, family and the internet have all been telling me how serious it’s going to be. If I’m well enough I will update this blog with details of my illness as it progresses so maybe it will inform other adults suffering from this disease.

I became infected from my one year old daughter about 17 days ago and I am currently experiencing “prodromal” symptoms – quite severe flu like aches and pains. My wife and I are spot watching but it’s difficult to confirm whether any of the blemishes on my 40-year old skin are real chicken pox spots yet.

The aches and pains started yesterday so apparently I can expect 2 or 3 days of this until the chicken pox rash erupts. The symptoms are currently controllable with paracetamol – I felt very rough this morning but currently not feeling bad at all.