What causes chickenpox and how should it be managed?

Chickenpox is caused by infection with the varicella-zoster virus. Management approaches include isolation and protection, symptomatic treatment, antiviral therapy, monitoring for complications, and immune support. Seek immediate medical attention if persistent high fever, lethargy, or difficulty breathing occur.

1. Isolation and Protection: After diagnosis, patients should be isolated until all skin lesions have completely crusted over. Avoid contact with susceptible individuals, maintain good ventilation in living areas, use personal items separately, and disinfect them regularly to prevent viral transmission.

2. Symptomatic Treatment: For fever, physical cooling methods or doctor-prescribed antipyretic medications may be used. Topical anti-itch preparations can help relieve significant itching. Avoid scratching the rash to prevent secondary infections.

3. Antiviral Therapy: In the early stages of illness, antiviral medications may be used under a doctor's guidance to suppress viral replication, shorten the duration of illness, alleviate symptoms, and reduce the risk of complications.

4. Monitoring for Complications: Closely observe changes in condition and watch for signs of complications such as skin infections, pneumonia, or encephalitis. Report any abnormalities to a doctor promptly and cooperate with necessary treatments.

5. Immune Support: Ensure adequate sleep, consume light, easily digestible, nutrient-rich foods, drink plenty of water, strengthen the body's immunity, and promote recovery.

Daily care should include keeping the skin clean and dry, wearing loose, soft clothing to minimize friction on rashes. Ensure sufficient rest and avoid fatigue. Maintain a balanced diet rich in vitamins to help the body recover more quickly.