smallpox questions

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How is Smallpox different from Chickenpox? Why do people die from it? Was the death rate from smallpox high in the past due to lack of medications to treat it at that point in time, or is it a 'worse' disease. From what I saw at the website recommended in a previous post, the symptoms are much like chickenpox, which, before the vaccine they now give for it, was one of those diseases that everybody got in the spring of their first grade school year. Mothers used to take kids to visit a child with chickenpox so that we would "get it over with."

If they are related diseases, will the chickenpox vaccine give any immunity to smallpox?

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), October 28, 2001

Answers

As an add on to Roses question,how long does a smallpox vaccination last?

-- Judy Schumacher (TootlesTheBrit@aol.com), October 28, 2001.

A smallpox vaccine lasts about 7 years per USA gov't. Check out Lusenet site 'Current News-Homefront Preparations' for further details. Not the same as chicken pox.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), October 28, 2001.

I am confused about all this talk about smallpox booster shots. I am old enough to have had a shot as a child as well as many other family members and friends. The questions is: why were booster shots never given before?

-- Nancy Woodward (NAWoodward@lakewebs.net), October 28, 2001.

As a medical laboratory technologist, I did learn a little in college about the disease. It is a hundred times more serious than chicken pox, and although we have great antiviral medications available now thanks to AIDS and Herpes research, we still are unable to fight any virus as effectively as we can bacteria. Smallpox would still take many lives. Chicken pox even still, rarely, is fatal. As for the vaccine, experts disagree about how long it stays effective. Much of it is determined by the individual's immune response to the vaccine. Personally, I am assuming I'm not protected anymore. Boosters are not given because the disease was irradicated. However, all the stock virus was kept in two labs, one in the CDC in Atlanta, another in the Former Soviet Union. They sold everything else to Saddam, why not Smallpox, too?

-- Debbie Trimble (risingwind@socket.net), October 29, 2001.

WHP says the vaccine lasts from 10 - 15 years depending on your exposure. BUt they have found it can stay active for lfe

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), October 29, 2001.


here is some info on smallpox http://www.mercola.com/2001/oct/20/smallpox.htm

-- Phyllis from the Texas Panhandle (tmblweed@wtrt.net), October 29, 2001.

Thanks, Anne, for the referral to the other forum. There is some good news for those vaccinated years ago. See the message from 10-27 titled, "Good News about Small Pox". As for Rose's original question, I believe the original vaccination for Smallpox was from a weakened form of Cowpox. Chickenpox exposure does not confer immunity to Smallpox. Jack

-- jack (atl.jack@excite.com), October 29, 2001.

From all I've read over the last few days, it seems that many (most?) of the smallpox deaths were related to complications. One of the complications is secondary infection through the open sores. From pictures I've seen, these pustules seem much larger, and more fluid filled than chicken pox. In *really bad* cases, the pox (which can be very scarring) can be so numerous as to cause the top layers of skin to "float" with a layer of fluid under them (like one huge pox). I've experience with this with a particularly bad sunburn once on my shins, and it ain't pretty, and boy does it hurt. The skin will slough off in a sheet. But remember, this is in exceptionally bad cases. Cleanliness is necessary to prevent this secondary infection, and antibiotics exist today that they didn't have in the past, to help keep bacterial infection at bay. Blindness is also a complication as the pox can form on the eyeball, as well. I don't know if all on eyeball will cause blindness, probably depends on where it forms, and be due to scarring.

*If* it were to happen in North America, or the industrialized nations, I think we'd be better off than those in the past, or in less wealthy countries. We generally have good hygenic practices (bodily and environmentally), clean and safe water, an abundance of soap and bleach, and antibiotics. We are much better able to keep patients (even at home) in a relatively clean environment, with disinfected bedding and clothing. We also have the ability to keep patients hydrated with something other than water, ie. Pedialyte, and similar liquids. All in all, I think the psychological effects of wondering if or when could actually be worse in the end.

As for immunity long after immunizations, there was a study done on Liverpool, England early last century, I think. (Can search Google for it) It showed that those over 50 who'd been vaccinated as kids had a much lower incidence of contracting smallpox. Maybe it depends on how healthy you are to start with. The best you can do is whatever you feel will "buck up" your immune system. Eat well, exercise, rest properly, and take whatever you feel will help, ie. Vit. C, herbs, etc. And don't stress too much.

-- Rheba (rhebabeall@hotmail.com), October 29, 2001.


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