{"id":9892,"date":"2019-09-04T09:35:12","date_gmt":"2019-09-04T09:35:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=9892"},"modified":"2021-06-22T17:53:31","modified_gmt":"2021-06-22T17:53:31","slug":"15-known-causes-of-varicella-zoster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/15-known-causes-of-varicella-zoster\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Known Causes of Varicella Zoster"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Varicella-zoster is a virus that causes chickenpox. Once chickenpox is exposed to the body, the virus goes through the tissues in the nerves that are near your brain and spinal cord. While it\u2019s near your brain and spinal cord, it will sit there. In certain cases, the virus will move and travel to other parts of the body, such as the nerve fibers of your skin, which can cause shingles. Shingles are rare in children, but common in adults. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most adults are referred by their doctor to get a shingles vaccination. When it comes to varicella zoster, it may not appear until many years later. Varicella zoster is contagious, so it\u2019s important to not be around others who you know have the virus. When children have chickenpox, parents will allow their child to play around other infected children. Their child will become exposed to it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are eight known causes of varicella zoster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Chickenpox is a known Cause of Varicella Zoster.  <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Every person will get the illness. It involves red bumps and itchiness of the skin. It is important to not scratch the area. Place calamine lotion on the spots to reduce the itching. Chickenpox <\/a>is highly contagious and it\u2019s important to not be around others who have not had the illness. It has been reported that some people experience the chickenpox twice in their lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, there is a chickenpox vaccine that will prevent children from getting the illness. Once the chickenpox enters the body, the person can end up with varicella-zoster. It hides out near the spinal cord and brain for a while before it decides to move elsewhere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your risk of getting varicella zoster increases if you have never had the chickenpox or the vaccine. Some people don\u2019t get the chickenpox until later in life, such as in their teen years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Shingles is a known Cause of Varicella Zoster.  <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once you get the chickenpox, the virus goes near the spinal cord and brain. It stays there for a while until it decides to move. When it moves, it goes near the skin fibers, which causes the shingles<\/a>. The shingles can appear anywhere on the body, but it usually appears on the left or right side of the torso. It is a good idea to get a shingles vaccine to avoid getting it in the first place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you ever happen to get the shingles it can be painful. It is an illness that causes death. If the shingles are caught early, treatment can be given to shorten the life of shingles. It can avoid having complications. Some symptoms you might experience with shingles include a red rash that comes to the surface a few days after you experience pain and itching. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the skin will be sensitive to touch, it will be difficult to want to scratch the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Refusing to keep up-to-date with Immunizations is another known Cause of Varicella Zoster.   <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As a child, parents are required to have immunizations done, so that he or she can enter school. Without getting immunizations<\/a>, the child will be able to get diseases quicker. Even if immunizations are given, some children have a weak immune system and can still get viruses. As an adult, you need to make sure that your immunizations are up to date. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only way you can find them is through your primary care physician or the provider who gave you the immunizations as a child. If you can\u2019t find your records, it\u2019s best to have them done all over again. You don\u2019t want to be exposed to diseases that could have been prevented, if you would have just gotten an immunization. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, a TB shot should be given every 10 years. Most immunizations are free at your local health department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Exposing yourself to other people who are infected is a known Cause of Varicella Zoster. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Chickenpox is a contagious <\/a>virus and anyone can get it, especially if you haven\u2019t had it in the past. Even though, it\u2019s rare, you can get the chickenpox twice. It\u2019s important to stay away from anyone who has the chickenpox. If you need to be around the person, protect yourself by covering your mouth and nose with a mask and wearing gloves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chickenpox can cause sneezing and coughing. The airborne droplets can get into your mouth, especially if the person doesn\u2019t cover his or her mouth. It is best to stay away from the person until the illness goes away. If you need to talk to the person, call him or her on the phone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, if you have to bring the person something, place it on the table and leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Coughing and Sneezing is another known Cause of Varicella Zoster.  <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Respiratory airborne droplets stay in the air and can get into other’s mouths. It\u2019s important to cover your mouth when you sneeze and cough. Even if no one is around you when you cough or sneeze, the droplets stay in the air. In far, they can travel at far distances. For instance, if you cough and you\u2019re in the living room, the person in the kitchen can still be exposed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most people don\u2019t wear masks when they are in their homes because they don\u2019t think that their home could ever harm them. Once exposed to the respiratory airborne droplets, you will begin to wonder why all of a sudden you feel sick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children have a bad habit of sneezing and coughing <\/a>without covering their mouths. They\u2019ll sneeze on one another and the next thing you know, the child has given other children a virus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Kissing or Sharing Beverages is another known Cause of Varicella Zoster.  <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When an infected person has chickenpox, they can spread it to the next. The saliva <\/a>from the infected person transfers to the other. A person may not even know that they have varicella zoster. They may not experience any symptoms until days later. Since it might be embarrassing the person may not tell the other person until the other person starts having similar symptoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone kisses, so it would seem odd to ask someone if they\u2019re every had the chickenpox. Varicella zoster is in everyone, especially if they\u2019ve had the chickenpox. So, both parties are exposing each other to it. Even a person who\u2019s had the chickenpox vaccine can get it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s really a condition that can\u2019t be avoided, unless you have a strong immune system. Now, sharing beverages should be avoided, no matter how trusting you are of the other person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Mother to Baby exposure is another known cause of getting Varicella Zoster.  <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Before a woman gets pregnant, she needs to make sure that she has all of her immunizations up-to-date. Pregnancy <\/a>can happen at any time, but if you plan on getting pregnant, have your gynecologist do a thorough examination to make sure that you won\u2019t get the virus or your baby. If a mother does get varicella zoster while pregnant, it won\u2019t cause her to have a miscarriage, her doctor will help her to get through it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the baby is born, the baby may need to stay in the hospital longer to make sure the virus is gone or it hasn\u2019t done damage to many organs. Babies immune systems are weak, so it\u2019s important to take extra care of them. On the other hand, the virus can be gotten when the mother breast feeds her baby. The baby will develop a rash and pus-filled bumps all over his or her skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Touching the Blisters of a person with Shingles can Cause Varicella Zoster.  <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some people touch the blisters because they want to feel it. If you want to touch the blisters<\/a>, use gloves. Someone who has never had the chickenpox vaccine or the chickenpox are exposing themselves to the virus. It is best to just look at the rash and blisters. There is no need to touch it. Children may be curious and touch it, especially if their grandmother or grandfather holds them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Older people may not know that blisters can spread to other people. If you have shingles, don\u2019t allow others to see it, so that they don\u2019t have to ask questions. On the other hand, if the shingles happen to be on your face or arms and if someone kissed you, he or she can be exposed to the virus. It will difficult at first to handle it, but changes have to be made in your life to protect others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Working with Children can be a risk factor for Varicella Zoster. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Varicella-zoster<\/a> is commonly associated with\u00a0 viral infections like shingles and chicken pox, and almost any environment where you\u00a0 are exposed to either people who carry the virus or things that have been near people who are infected with it is likely to increase your risk of contracting it yourself.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many conditions like chickenpox are called \u201cchildhood diseases\u201d because of the fact that people often get them when they\u2019re small children. This has less to do with age and more to do with the fact that their immune systems often can\u2019t fight off the infection in the same ways as that of most healthy adults. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where you are exposed to children who might be carrying the pathogens that spread varicella-zoster regularly, your immune system might be able to handle it in most cases but also might be unable to when your immune system is at a lower point, which means you\u2019re likely to pick it up too.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Improper Disposal of Medical Waste can increase the risk of Varicella Zoster. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The proper disposal of medical waste isn\u2019t just something that you should be thinking about in your average hospital, but it should also be considered in any home environment where there is anyone with a contagious virus or condition present (including varicella zoster). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anything that has been near someone with a varicella zoster infection can be considered contaminated and will have to be disposed of properly or cleaned thoroughly to stop the infection <\/a>from spreading to anyone else in or outside of the household from there.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a few things you can do at home to reduce the risk of spreading the condition via waste. All tissues and other waste should go into a separate bag or bin, which is best tied into several others and disposed of through proper waste disposal: Don\u2019t throw this into your kitchen or outside waste where you can only increase the risk of spreading the virus to someone else, or back to yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Close-quarters living Environments can make Varicella Zoster more likely. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Any close-quarters living environment can put you at an increased risk for developing conditions and infections that everyone else in the area has. This can be a very diverse range of places that includes apartment buildings, boarding schools, hotels, and shelters \u2013 although might  also include places where you don\u2019t actually live, just regularly pass through such as taking the train to work every day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where people are crowded together and there\u2019s not enough space in the room for air to flow properly, there\u2019s likely to be an increased likelihood of infection. There are more things that can increase your risk even further, including a lowered immune system<\/a> at the time of being exposed to any viruses \u2013 and anything infected that you might have touched, which is more likely in close living environments or places frequented by a lot of people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carry alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you where you know you might be exposed to any viruses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. A Lowered Immune System puts you at a higher risk for getting Varicella Zoster. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The body\u2019s immune system is meant to act as the natural safeguard against getting sick, but there are a variety of different factors (including stress and other health conditions) that can suppress how well your immune system functions \u2013 and this can in turn mean that you get sick more often, get sick worse and stay sick for longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have been vaccinated <\/a>and your immune system is functioning fine, you are not as likely to pick up varicella zoster as if your immune system isn\u2019t working as well as it should. Babies, small children, and older people are known to have a compromised immune system by default.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a lot you can do at home to boost your immune system by natural means. Where immune system problems still keep happening after this, you should make an appointment with your doctor and consider the idea that there might be another condition that\u2019s compromising your health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Anyone working in the Service Industry is at an increased risk of Developing Varicella Zoster. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Carers and parents who work with children aren\u2019t the only people who can be considered to be at a much higher risk for contracting infections that are associated with varicella zoster, like chickenpox. Anyone who works with people can be at a higher risk of being exposed to the virus<\/a>, and this includes service industry staff such as waiters or front-of-desk staff who have to work with people in close proximity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyone who works with people should be aware of the increased risk they have of being exposed to viruses like varicella-zoster. Just a few simple precautions can often be enough to reduce your risk of contracting the condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carry wet wipes and hand sanitizer with you and use it regularly throughout the day, especially after you have handled anything that might have been infected. You can reduce your own risk even where people around you aren\u2019t doing the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Exposed Foods could help to spread Varicella Zoster. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not just people and contaminated medical material which can carry traces of the viruses associated with varicella-zoster. You are also at risk of contracting varicella-zoster where you might come into contacted with any contaminated food or produce that might have been touched with someone who has varicella-zoster and might not have washed their hands properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We commonly wash everything that comes from the store before we prepare food, but we don\u2019t just do this to get rid of any pesticide <\/a>traces: We also do it to rid the produce of any other possible contaminants that can include varicella-zoster.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

High-risk areas for contracting viruses like varicella-zoster in this way include places like grocery stores, salad bars, and restaurants. If you already have a lowered immunity, there\u2019s a good reason why you might want to steer clear of the open-air buffet present at the restaurant or hotel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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15. Outbreaks in your area can be a cause of Varicella Zoster. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Outbreaks <\/a>and pandemics are terms that are used to describe any instances where reported cases of a specific infection or illness go particularly high. In cases of an outbreak, everyone can be at risk \u2013 and the virus is likely to be present everywhere that you go for the period of time that the outbreak is known to last for.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should you become aware of any outbreaks happening in your area, start taking more precautions around your health and safety than you normally would. Sometimes doctors or pharmacies will let you know when there\u2019s a common outbreak in the area so that you know what to be prepared for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure that everyone in your family has been vaccinated against common health conditions (like chickenpox and shingles) which can cause varcella zoster, and make sure that everyone sanitizes their hands (and clothing) properly before going in and out of the house or car. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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