Smallpox is an infection that is caused by the virus known as variola. Smallpox has been a threatening disease since years and it has been responsible for the huge epidemics across the world. The disease has caused very much suffering and in many cases even deaths. Smallpox is however, not thought to have been eliminated from the existence as in 1980, the WHO accounced that the disease had been wiped out by a bold program and strict following of vaccination.
The smallpox virus attacked humans only and no any other species or living being. Could neither animals nor insects transmit the virus from one living being to another (that is humans only). The disease used to transmit from human to human. Most common way of transmission was person being exposed to someone who is infected with the disease. The person who had an infection was often having skin lesion that were produced by the virus. They were known as pox and they were considered as high risk for contamination. However, a person also could catch the virus even if the person who had an infection has no lesions.
Smallpox was a relatively contagious disease. The virus could be transferred from one person to another in a number of ways. A person could catch the virus by touching the lesions of an infected person. The virus could also be transferred in droplets of moisture produced during coughing or sneezing. In addition, a person could get the virus from books, blankets, utensils, or other objects used by someone with the disease.
Smallpox was relatively fallen in the category of contagious disease. The virus could transfer from one fellow to another in number of ways. A person could get the virus by touching the lesion of a person who was infected. The virus could also be transferred as droplet infection (moisture expelled out while coughing, sneezing or spitting). There were other transporters such as books, utensils, blankets and other objects, which were used by someone with the disease.
The virus generally used to enter the body through the respiratory tract. It then used to pass through an incubation period of 12-14 days. The incubation period stands for the time or a period between the microorganisms entering into the body to the first appearance of the symptoms. During this time, the virus multiplies within the body and travels through the bloodstream in the entire body.
Primary symptoms were used to be fever and chills. They were accompanied with muscle aches and flat reddish-purple rashes on the various sites like chest, abdomen and back. These symptoms used to affect a child for about three days. The rash used to fad and the fever was to diminish.
A day or two later, the fever would return with the bumpy rash that used to begin to appear on face, feet and hands. The rash would then spread to the chest, back and abdomen. Bumpy rash, here, is the rash that is filled with clear body fluid. Over a period of 10-12 days, this clear fluid would turn into the pus and so these bumps would eventually form something called scabs. A small pit would leave when the scab fell off from the skin. Hence, children with miracle escape would terribly scar in this way.
The death from smallpox was generally caused by the complications following the mother disease. For instance, bacteria could easily get into the open skin lesion spreading infection locally and then to the entire body. Pneumonia, bone infections, skin diseases etc were not uncommon.
The severe form of the smallpox was known as sledgehammer smallpox. The term was derived from the nature of the condition as it used to strike the child with great impact and quick action. It used to cause massive, uncontrolled bleeding forms various skin lesions and from mouth, nose and other areas of the body. The disease was so severe that fatality was common among children.
The best way is vaccination. A child is to be given small pox vaccination as per the schedule given by WHO. Once it strikes to a child, there is no perfect cure as it is a pure viral disease and therefore, needs to be self-eliminated.
Precautions can be taken as being in good and hygienic condition. The utensils, clothes and all the materials, items used for daily purpose including baby and child accessories are to be cleaned with disinfectants and are to be dried under sunlight. Keep your child away from all the possible causes to get infections from other children and other persons.
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