HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

Residing In A Hostel, Girl In The Neighbouring Room Has Chicken Pox. Precautions Against Infection?

I stay in a hostel and two girls have chicken pox and one of the girls stays next to my room. i cannot afford to get chicken pox right now as i have my exams coming up from day after. what are the precautions i should take and how can i save myself from not getting it? will vaccination help, if yes then which one? i stay in XXXXX. let me know where i can get the vaccination done
Tue, 26 Mar 2013
Report Abuse
Pulmonologist 's  Response
Hello ,

The virus responsible for chicken pox spreads through air when patient with chicken pox coughs or sneezes. It can also spread from the vesicle by touching the fluid .

But the really bad part is the girl in next room had been spreading the virus through coughs and sneezes 3 days before the rash appeared and you knew she was having chickenpox.

So probably you are already exposed to virus

It usually takes around 2 weeks for the rash to appear after exposure.

Preventive measures after exposure are not 100 % effective , but they may reduce the severity.

You can get varicella vaccination and it may prevent or make the disease less severe.

You can take acyclovir as soon as you notice first vesicle and the disease is cured in few days.

Another approach is to take acyclovir tablets 4 times a day for 7 days starting from 7 day after exposure. it provides around 80% protection.

Varicella immunoglobulin is also available for prevention
Consult dermatologist or physician near to you



If you are not already exposed , avoid exposure by staying away from the patient, not going to her room , not to share bathrooms , not to share towels ,bedsheets etc
I find this answer helpful

1 Doctor agrees with this answer

Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Maruti Karale's  Response
Hello!

Thanks for posting query on HCM.

Chickenpox is an airborne disease that spreads easily through coughing or sneezing of ill individuals or through direct contact with secretions from the rash.

A person with chickenpox is infectious one to two days before the rash appears.They remain contagious until all lesions have crusted over (up to 6-7 days).Crusted lesions are not contagious.

Chickenpox can be prevented by isolating the affected individuals till the infectious period is over i.e. till lesions get crusted and avoiding direct contact with the affected individual.So tell your friends not to have close contact with their colleagues till they get cured of the infection.Use antiseptics for hand wash.

Vaccination is available for chickenpox but it is not a part of routine immunization.Acyclovir can shorten the duration of disease but it is not recommended for prophylaxis.

Consult with the dermatologist for vaccination.

Hope this will help you.

Wish you good luck for your health and exams.


I find this answer helpful

1 Doctor agrees with this answer

General & Family Physician Dr. Sunil 's  Response
Hello!
Avoid direct contact with infected person and keep yourself hygienically clean by regularly washing hands andwear mask while encountering patient to avoid spread of infection via coughing and aerosol.
Best way to avoid Chicken pox is get yourself vaccinated, for 13 years or older one should get vaccinated twice 4 to 8 weeks apart.
If you get rashes or fever immediately contact your doctor.

Hope it will help!

Good luck! Take Care!
I find this answer helpful

3 Doctors agree with this answer


Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 

Related questions you may be interested in


Recent questions on Herpes zoster


Loading Online Doctors....
Residing In A Hostel, Girl In The Neighbouring Room Has Chicken Pox. Precautions Against Infection?

Hello , The virus responsible for chicken pox spreads through air when patient with chicken pox coughs or sneezes. It can also spread from the vesicle by touching the fluid . But the really bad part is the girl in next room had been spreading the virus through coughs and sneezes 3 days before the rash appeared and you knew she was having chickenpox. So probably you are already exposed to virus It usually takes around 2 weeks for the rash to appear after exposure. Preventive measures after exposure are not 100 % effective , but they may reduce the severity. You can get varicella vaccination and it may prevent or make the disease less severe. You can take acyclovir as soon as you notice first vesicle and the disease is cured in few days. Another approach is to take acyclovir tablets 4 times a day for 7 days starting from 7 day after exposure. it provides around 80% protection. Varicella immunoglobulin is also available for prevention Consult dermatologist or physician near to you If you are not already exposed , avoid exposure by staying away from the patient, not going to her room , not to share bathrooms , not to share towels ,bedsheets etc