Managing A Ubiquitous Virus: Varicella Zoster Virus
Throughout a person’s life, people are exposed to innumerable sources of disease causing microorganisms. Such infectious microorganisms include viruses that attack a weakened human immune system that is unable to overcome the pathogen without assistance. Varicella zoster virus (VZV) targets the immune system through lymph nodes that cause raised skin rashes on the body. It is considered to be a “ubiquitous” virus in that it is commonly seen in many populations (De Paschale 99). Initial contraction of the virus causes varicella/Chicken pox and reactivation of the virus in later years causes herpes zoster/Shingles. Examining the development of Varicella zoster virus into disease, efforts to …show more content…
Although Varicella zoster virus has long been considered a rather harmless virus, it is observed that people with relatively weak immune systems could die from a varicella infection (Gershon 728). Varicella zoster virus infections develop into varicella in children and herpes zoster in elderly adults. Within a person’s lifetime, childhood is commonly the time period in which individuals are exposed to the virus (De Paschale 97). The virus is transmitted by breathing in the secretions from the bumps of skin rash of an infected host and is circulated through the body through the lymph system (De Paschale 98). De Paschale noted that mothers infected with varicella pass on the infection to their fetus within the uterus (97). The consequence of a varicella infection is the immune system is vulnerable to attack by bacterial infection by species such as “Streptococcus or Staphylococcus aureus” (Martino Mota 362). Varicella zoster virus causes several infections including meningitis, pneumonia, and arthritis (Martino Mota 362). After this first bout of varicella, later in life Varicella zoster virus that was once dormant in the nervous system reactivates to herpes zoster (“Varicella Zoster Virus”). Herpes zoster is noted for a painful skin rash that follows the path of the nerves originating from the dorsal root ganglia (De Paschale …show more content…
Martino Mota observed that a single dose of the vaccine led to a general decrease in people requiring hospitalization while the two dose of vaccine safeguarded against outbreaks and future infection (364). Even with much confidence in the ability to render Varicella zoster virus harmless, studies were conducted to determine the efficacy of the vaccine. Researchers deliberated the number of doses of vaccine and whether extensive implementation of vaccines renders them ineffective over the long run. Efficacy of varicella vaccine was largely examined as herpes zoster increased in United States’ population while varicella declined following the first years of universal vaccination (Martino Mota 364). Despite the potential effects of increased incidences of herpes zoster from the wild strain of Varicella zoster virus, it is currently accepted that limiting contact with infected individuals and taking two doses of vaccine once per month over two months can protect most people from varicella (Gershon 736). Vaccinated individuals are relatively immune to Varicella zoster virus provided that they delay contracting varicella in the first place or that they maintain a strong immune system to prevent herpes zoster
Throughout a person’s life, people are exposed to innumerable sources of disease causing microorganisms. Such infectious microorganisms include viruses that attack a weakened human immune system that is unable to overcome the pathogen without assistance. Varicella zoster virus (VZV) targets the immune system through lymph nodes that cause raised skin rashes on the body. It is considered to be a “ubiquitous” virus in that it is commonly seen in many populations (De Paschale 99). Initial contraction of the virus causes varicella/Chicken pox and reactivation of the virus in later years causes herpes zoster/Shingles. Examining the development of Varicella zoster virus into disease, efforts to …show more content…
Although Varicella zoster virus has long been considered a rather harmless virus, it is observed that people with relatively weak immune systems could die from a varicella infection (Gershon 728). Varicella zoster virus infections develop into varicella in children and herpes zoster in elderly adults. Within a person’s lifetime, childhood is commonly the time period in which individuals are exposed to the virus (De Paschale 97). The virus is transmitted by breathing in the secretions from the bumps of skin rash of an infected host and is circulated through the body through the lymph system (De Paschale 98). De Paschale noted that mothers infected with varicella pass on the infection to their fetus within the uterus (97). The consequence of a varicella infection is the immune system is vulnerable to attack by bacterial infection by species such as “Streptococcus or Staphylococcus aureus” (Martino Mota 362). Varicella zoster virus causes several infections including meningitis, pneumonia, and arthritis (Martino Mota 362). After this first bout of varicella, later in life Varicella zoster virus that was once dormant in the nervous system reactivates to herpes zoster (“Varicella Zoster Virus”). Herpes zoster is noted for a painful skin rash that follows the path of the nerves originating from the dorsal root ganglia (De Paschale …show more content…
Martino Mota observed that a single dose of the vaccine led to a general decrease in people requiring hospitalization while the two dose of vaccine safeguarded against outbreaks and future infection (364). Even with much confidence in the ability to render Varicella zoster virus harmless, studies were conducted to determine the efficacy of the vaccine. Researchers deliberated the number of doses of vaccine and whether extensive implementation of vaccines renders them ineffective over the long run. Efficacy of varicella vaccine was largely examined as herpes zoster increased in United States’ population while varicella declined following the first years of universal vaccination (Martino Mota 364). Despite the potential effects of increased incidences of herpes zoster from the wild strain of Varicella zoster virus, it is currently accepted that limiting contact with infected individuals and taking two doses of vaccine once per month over two months can protect most people from varicella (Gershon 736). Vaccinated individuals are relatively immune to Varicella zoster virus provided that they delay contracting varicella in the first place or that they maintain a strong immune system to prevent herpes zoster