Is smallpox the same as chickenpox?

When it comes to smallpox, many people may not know about it, especially many young people nowadays generally do not have much concept about smallpox; but when it comes to chickenpox, most people know about it, because many people usually have suffered from chickenpox when they were young children. However, in reality, people who don’t know much about smallpox often confuse smallpox with chickenpox. So, is smallpox the same as chickenpox? Many people actually want to know this question.

Smallpox and chickenpox are both diseases that affect our human body, and both of them are harmful to our body. So whether it is smallpox or chickenpox, if our friends accidentally get it, it is best to receive treatment as soon as possible. So, let’s talk about the question of whether smallpox is chickenpox.

Smallpox is not chickenpox. Because smallpox and chickenpox are not caused by the same viral infection. Smallpox is caused by smallpox virus infection, while chickenpox is caused by varicella herpes virus infection. The two are not the same disease. Smallpox is highly contagious, has a high mortality rate, and the rash is deep and easily leaves scars. Chickenpox has a low mortality rate and rarely leaves scars.

Smallpox is a highly contagious disease caused by the smallpox virus. People who have never had smallpox or have not been vaccinated against smallpox can be infected, and the mortality rate after contracting the disease is high. The smallpox virus is a type of poxvirus. There is no specific medicine to cure the infection. After recovery, patients will have pockmarks on their faces, hence the name "smallpox". The smallpox virus is brick-shaped, approximately 200 nanometers x 300 nanometers in size, and has strong resistance to dryness and low temperatures. It can survive on scabs, dust, and bedding for several months to a year and a half.

Chickenpox is an acute infectious disease caused by primary infection with the varicella-zoster virus. The infection rate is high. It mainly occurs in infants and young children, and is characterized by fever and the appearance of large numbers of systemic red maculopapular rashes, blisters, and scabs. It is more common in winter and spring. It is highly contagious and can be transmitted through contact or droplets. The incidence rate in susceptible children can reach over 95%, and it is more common in preschool children. The clinical characteristics are the appearance of maculopapular rashes, blisters and crusts in batches on the skin and mucous membranes, and the presence of rashes in different stages at the same time. The disease is a self-limiting disease, and the patient can obtain lifelong immunity after the disease. However, the infection may recur after many years and cause shingles.

To sum up, we know that the so-called smallpox is not chickenpox, and there are many obvious differences between smallpox and chickenpox. The most fundamental difference is actually the different causes of the two diseases. Therefore, in your future life, you must not confuse these two diseases, because if you confuse them, it may cause harm to your body or even life.