Smallpox
Background
- Caused by the variola virus
- Passed through direct contact with the person, with body fluids, as well as with airborne droplets of an infected, symptomatic person
- Most infectious during the first week of symptoms, but will remain infectious until the last pox scab falls off
- Humans are the only known host
- Declared eradicated in 1980 after a global immunization campaign from 1966-1980; last known natural case was in Somalia in 1977; last known cases were in England in 1978 after a laboratory accident
Clinical Features
Workup
Differential Diagnosis
Pediatric Rashes
Pediatric Rash
- Atopic dermatitis
- Bed bugs
- Contact dermatitis
- Drug rash
- Erythema infectiosum (Fifth disease)
- Hand-foot-and-mouth disease
- Henoch-schonlein purpura (HSP)
- Herpangina
- Herpes simplex virus (HSV)
- Infectious mononucleosis
- Meningitis
- Measles
- Molluscum contagiosum
- Roseola infantum
- Rubella (German measles)
- Scabies
- Scarlet fever
- Smallpox
- Varicella (Chickenpox)
Treatment
- IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITIES
- Supportive care
- Vaccination within 72h=effective