Meet The Friend

Emily was a happy little girl who loved playing with her friends and going to school. One morning she woke up feeling very tired. She noticed tiny red spots on her skin.

Her mom checked on her and noticed that Emily had a fever. She decided to contact Emily's doctor to find out what was wrong.

What Type Of Pathogen?

The doctor examined Emily and explained that she had chickenpox, an infectious disease that is caused by a virus called varicella- zoster virus. 

“A pathogen is a germ that causes an illness,” the doctor explained. “In your case, the pathogen is a virus.”

Emily learned that an infectious disease happens when a pathogen causes an infection in the body. 

How does Chickenpox Spread

Emily wonders how she had caught the virus. The doctor explained that chickenpox is very contagious, which means that it can easily be spread from one person to another. 

The doctor goes on to say that the virus can spread through the air and through contact with fluid from infected blisters. 

The doctor also explained the incubation period: the time between catching a pathogen(virus) and developing symptoms. For chickenpox, this is usually 10–21 days.

Signs and Symptoms of Chickenpox

Emily learned that chickenpox causes symptoms and has signs like fever, tiredness, and an itchy rash. The red spots can turn into fluid-filled blisters and later form scabs. 

The doctor told Emily that she should avoid scratching her blisters because scratching can damage the skin and cause more of an infection 

Most chickenpox illnesses last about four to seven days.  So its best to isolate yourself, and protect those around you.