Patients with chicken pox shun treatment in N.Bahr El Ghazal

By Hou Akot Hou

Several patients in Aweil West County of Northern Bahr El Ghazal state suffering from chicken pox are increasingly shunning treatment leaving health officials worried.

 Lual Khamis Lual, a medical officer in Aweil West County told Juba Echo on Wednesday that dozens of people are suffering from the highly contagious ailment but are not on treatment.

“Dozens of children and adults do suffer at home and they smear themselves with mud and never come to the health centers, due to the notion that the medicines don’t heal it which is false,” Lual said.

He advised people to always go for medical help in nearby health centers.

Lual said maintaining basic hygiene is crucial for the affected patients to heal.

One of the patients, Achier Ayaga who suffers from the ailment said she developed rashes, high fever and shivering for days.

“I first started having high fever and coldness for days when I enquired, I was told that it is chicken pox,” Ayaga said.

She later on sought treatment in a health center after having tried to smearing her body with mud for days.

Chicken pox is common among minors and adults, and doctors say It develops rashes all the body, high fever and is a killer disease if it involves the inner part such as stomach and throat when infected.

Chickenpox is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It causes an itchy rash with small, fluid-filled blisters. Chickenpox is highly contagious to people who haven’t had the disease or been vaccinated against it.

Today, a vaccine is available that protects children against chickenpox. Routine vaccination is recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The chickenpox vaccine is a safe, effective way to prevent chickenpox and its possible complications.