Medical information

13/10/2023

Dear Parent’s/ Carers

We have had a case of chicken pox in the Lower Junior Department.

Chickenpox (varicella) is a highly contagious viral disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). The main symptom is a blistering skin rash. Outbreaks are more common in winter and early spring. Children and adults can be immunised against chickenpox.

The symptoms of chickenpox include: 

• low-grade fever 
• general discomfort, illness or lack of wellbeing (malaise) 
• intensely itchy skin rash – appears as small blisters surrounded by irregularly-shaped patches of inflamed skin known as ‘dew drop on a rose petal’ (blisters first form on the body and later on the head and limbs and the blisters usually burst and develop crusts after about five days) 
• ulcers – may develop in certain areas, including the mouth 

Chickenpox is spread by air-borne droplets from the upper respiratory tract (droplets are caused when the infected person coughs or sneezes) or from touching the fluid from the blisters on the skin. An infected person is contagious for one to two days (possibly five days) before the onset of the rash and remains infectious until the blisters form scabs (usually around day five of the illness).

Students should remain at home until the blisters have formed scabs. For chickenpox, the time from infection to the appearance of the rash (incubation period) is around 14 to 16 days. A few days before the appearance of the rash, the person may feel feverish and have a sore throat and headache. The skin may be marked for some months after the rash has cleared.

Further information can be obtained on www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au or please do not hesitate to call me on 9788 2222.

Yours Sincerely,

Jenny Camm

First Aid Officer.