Communicable Disease Chickenpox

Grand Canyon University
Concepts in Community and Public Health
NRS-427V

May 01, 2016

Communicable Disease Chickenpox
Here is some background on varicella-zoster virus. Chickenpox and Shingles used to be considered two different diseases, but they are both caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) ("CDC chickenpox," 2016). Varicella is the primary infection that causes the chickenpox and the herpes zoster is the virus that lays dormant in the host until reactivation and causes shingles. About 70-90% of all chickenpox cases that are reported occur in children under the age of 10 years old ("CDC chickenpox," 2016). Before the vaccine was introduced in March of 1995, there were 4 million cases …show more content…

The vaccination for chickenpox can be used to decrease the severity of the illness if it is used within three days and up to five days after exposure. The U.S. CDC recommends that children receive two doses of the vaccine. The first dose should be administered to the child when they are 12-15 months old, and the second dose should be given when they reach 4-6 years old. There are risks for side effects to the vaccine they include discomfort at the injection site like swelling and or redness and pain ("The history of vaccines," 2016).
The epidemiologic triangle and how it relates to chickenpox: the Host: people under 15 years old are the highest risk, anyone who hasn’t had the chickenpox is susceptible, the virus can remain in the body and causes shingles in adults; the agent: varicella zoster virus; the environment: transmitted from infected person by coughs, sneezes or from contact with the fluid from the chickenpox blister. The environment or time of year that the virus is most active is in the early winter or spring months (Maurer & Smith, 2013).
The Community Health Nurse plays a vital role in the health and wellbeing of their communities. Their mission includes: * Health Promotion – for the individuals in the community so they have a resource for coping with environmental factors. * Health Protection – providing information on safe