|
Can
Chickenpox Be Prevented?
There
is no need to take vaccinate or take drastic measures to prevent
chicken pox in a healthy child; in fact, since the disease is
much worse in older children and adults than in preschoolers,
many parents feel that it is better to get it over with.
For certain
people, however, chicken pox does constitute a serious threat.
These groups include:
• Children
with leukemia, immune deficiency or another debilitating illness
• Newborns
whose mothers developed chicken pox around the time of delivery
• Adults
who have never had the disease
• Pregnant
women, particularly in the latest stages of pregnancy
People in
these groups should avoid children who are currently ill or have
been in contact with other children who have chicken pox. If exposure
occurs, the doctor may recommend a preventive injection prepared
from the serum of people recovering from shingles.
Reference
Source 63
|
