Chickenpox

Chickenpox:
Chicken pox is a contagious disease which spreads through air. A person who is infected with chickenpox disease gets skin rashes,red bubbles or fluid-filled blisters with itching and fever. This infection will leave the body in 6-10 days span of time without any medication. The name chicken pox is derived from chicken peas because the bubble rashes will resemble chicken peas.Chicken pox is severe in adult male when compared to women and children. Varicella Zoster Virus(VZV) is the primary cause for chickenpox infection. VZV will stay in the affected body for one month but infectional symptoms will trouble for 6- 10 days only. These type of infections would spread in the months of March & April. In some places it is called Spring fever.

Cultural belief :
In Hinduism, it is believed that Goddess will enter the body and stay for 7 days and leave the body, due to the fury of the Hindu goddess, these infections occur. Medication is treated as severe offense against god. Only treatment is, not to offend god and keep her happy to leave the body.Goddess is considered furious and kind hearted and ability to make infection severe or suppress the severity. Goddess carry a silver broom stick in right hand symbolizes spreading disease, water pot in left hand symbolizes recovering victims with cool water from river ganges, wears a red saree which resembles fear and protection, decorated with garland of neem leaves considered as remedy for infection and rides a donkey is the symbol of determination or stubbornness.

According to ancient texts(Devi Mahatyam) - A demon called Jwarasura spreads bacteria and makes people sick leading to death. To kill the demon, Goddess Parvathi had taken the form of Katyayani and killed the demon and accepted the sickness in affected people into her. Hence, she is called Raktavathi(Goddess of blood infections) because she purified the blood in affected people. She is also called Goddess Kalaratri who rides on donkey at nights and considered as angry form of Goddess Shakti. 

Interesting Facts:

• Worship and litting lamps should be avoided.
• Neem leaves or margosa leaves should spread throughout houses especially at entrance and around the patient bed.
• A mug of water should be kept near to the head of patient. 
• Body bath and eating fried food should be avoided for 7 days.
• Vasanta Navaratri festivals were celebrated in the months of March- April in India on the name of Goddess to appease her anger.

Scientific Reasons :
Worshiping and litting oil lamp in the house should be avoided in the active state of infection because smoke might cause severe itching and leads bacterial infection. Neem leaves have anti-bacterial properties which act as a cure and prevents mosquitoes and flies. Neem leaves which are tied at entrance act as a warning for guests who enters the house. Oil foods and fried foods should be avoided because the chickenpox virus will affect liver and functionality of liver will decrease and the capacity of digesting fats will also decrease in the body and while preparing oily food, smoke emits which causes itching to patient. Keeping a bowl of water near to patient bed will make patient not to go around house which leads spreading virus. Bathing makes severe itching and leads to vigorous infection. So, bathing was prohibited at the course of disease.