Jurnal Sains Kesihatan Malaysia

Bereda G.

Chickenpox can be defined as a highly communicable viral infection caused by varicella zoster virus; most frequently influences pediatric in five to nine yrs old. The commonly occurred signs and symptoms of chickenpox are comprises vesicular rash appears on the scalp, face and trunk, and then disseminates distally to limbs (centrifugal distribution). The most common complications of chickenpox are bacterial soft-tissue infection, pneumonia, and encephalitis. Encephalitis is a most commonly occurred central nervous system complications expose the pediatric to other problems or death. The main goal chickenpox infection management in children is to alleviate the symptoms such as skin infections, fever, itching etc and making the children confortable. Adequate intravenous acyclovir administration is crucial for successful management of chickenpox, but it must be administered within twenty-four hrs. after the onset of the disease. Management of chickenpox with oral acyclovir given within twenty four hrs of onset of rash may be more effective.