Difference between chickenpox and smallpox?

Many people confuse chickenpox and smallpox because the symptoms of the two diseases are quite similar. The article will distinguish the two diseases chickenpox and smallpox to help you understand the nature of these two diseases are not the same.

Many people confuse chickenpox and smallpox because the symptoms of the two diseases are quite similar. The article will distinguish the two diseases chickenpox and smallpox to help you understand the nature of these two diseases are not the same.

1. What is chickenpox and smallpox?

- Chicken pot

This disease is caused by an infection with the varucella virus. This is the herpes virus that causes chickenpox. Chickenpox is extremely contagious. The routes of transmission of the virus are through breathing, saliva or fluid from the blisters. When a healthy, normal person comes into contact with an infected person, there is a possibility of touching the blisters and is very susceptible to infection with the virus. People with weakened immune systems such as children and pregnant women are often the two most susceptible to infection.

This disease is common in young children, but adults who have not been vaccinated against chickenpox  can also get it. Adults who get chickenpox are at a higher risk than young children because of the higher likelihood of some serious complications.

The factor that easily distinguishes chickenpox from smallpox is the incubation period. Usually the incubation period of chickenpox is about 14-21 days, at which time the blisters appear. The incubation period of smallpox is much shorter.

Chickenpox can be completely cured with the use of acyclovir.

Chickenpox and smallpox are two diseases with similar symptoms

- Smallpox

The cause of smallpox is a virus of the Poxvirus strain. Therefore, the viruses that cause the two diseases are completely different because they belong to two different strains. Smallpox can be transmitted in a similar way to chickenpox. But after being cured of smallpox, the patient will not have a permanent recurrence for life.

The incubation period of smallpox is shorter than that of chickenpox, from 1 to 2 weeks, symptoms of fever and rash appear.

2. Compare in detail chickenpox and smallpox?

- The same:

Way of spread: contact through respiratory tract, saliva, mucus of vesicles.

- The difference:

Viruses that cause disease:

Chickenpox: Varucella virus, belongs to the herpes strain

Smallpox: Virus of the Poxvirus strain

Danger level:

Chickenpox: Rarely fatal

Smallpox: Many people died from the disease

Incubation time:

- Chickenpox: 14 - 21 days

- Smallpox: 7-14 days

Location of rash:

- Chickenpox: Concentrated on the face, upper body, arms. Less at the hips and down the legs.

- Smallpox: Most concentrated in the face, arms, from the knees down, less on the body.

There is a vaccine to prevent chickenpox, and smallpox has been completely eradicated since ancient times

Existence:

- Chickenpox: Still exist

- Smallpox: Has been completely eradicated since 1980.

Many people still consider chickenpox and smallpox to be one. However, through this article, we must all distinguish and understand these two diseases. Smallpox has been eradicated worldwide, so the symptoms of blisters, rash, fever ... will mostly be symptoms of chickenpox. It is best to see a doctor immediately if you see signs of chickenpox in your child  to avoid possible bad complications.