13 Chickenpox
https://www.cdc.gov/chickenpox/index.html
13.1 Epidemiologic Review
13.1.1 Disease Information
Overview: Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV).
Symptoms: Symptoms typically include an itchy, blister-like rash that eventually scabs. The rash appears on the chest, back and face first before spreading to the entire body. Other symptoms can include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite and headache.
Transmission: Transmission occurs through close contact to an infected individual. A patient is infectious 1 to 2 days prior to rash and until the lesions have crusted (scabbed). Preventing scratching by the patient can help reduce the spread.
Treatment: Treatment is supportive to help alleviate symptoms. Home remedies such as calamine lotion and oatmeal baths can soothe the itch.
Prevention The best prevention method against chickenpox is vaccination.
13.1.2 Demographics
Rates for <1, 5-17, 50-64, and 65+ years of age are not displayed due low case counts.
Cases stratified by race are not displayed due low case counts.
| Ethnicity | Rate per 100k |
|---|---|
| Hispanic or Latino | 6.6 |
| Not Hispanic or Latino | 1.6 |
| Unknown | <5 cases |
People identifying as Hispanic or Latino had a higher rate of chickenpox than people who identified as Not Hispanic or Latino.
Rates for Unknown Ethnicity are not displayed due to low case counts.
13.1.4 Monthly and Historical Comparisons
Data for Utah and the CDC were retrieved from the CDC’s Notifiable Infectious Disease Data Tables and were available up until 2020.