Smallpox: Course, Symptoms and Development

Smallpox is a very contagious disease that is caused by the variola virus, the disease was named smallpox because of the small raised bumps that appear all over the body. Smallpox can be mistaken for chickenpox however the disease have many differences in rash appearance, conformity, duration and severity.

There are two types of smallpox. Variola major is a severe form and most common that consists of an extensive rash and very high fever. The variola major smallpox also consists of different forms or versions including the ordinary one which accounts for the majority of cases, the modified one which is milder than the ordinary version and usually occurs in people who have already had the virus and the hemorrhagic or flat versions which are both very severe and very rare. Although the majority of people live from having ordinary variola major, the people who develop hemorrhagic or flat versions have a high fatality rate.

The other type of smallpox is variola minor which is rarely diagnosed and less severe than that of variola major.

Some people are at a higher risk of developing complications from the smallpox vaccine itself and should not be vaccinated unless they are exposed to disease such as:

Women who are pregnant because of risk to the unborn fetus. Women who are breast-feeding because of the risk of passing it to the baby.

People who have skin irritations or diseases such as eczema.

Small children under one year's of age.

People who have immune systems that are impaired.

Any person who suffers from serious allergies that can have life threatening consequences.

Any person who has direct contact with another person who has a weakened or impaired immune system, who is pregnant or who has certain skin conditions.

Any person who suffers from heart conditions or has three or more heart disease risk factors.

Smallpox infections follow a very specific course of contagion and symptoms that can be used to determine how far along the smallpox infection is and when a resolution to the disease can be expected.

On the first day through day 17 - There is no evidence of smallpox and the smallpox is not contagious.

Day 18 through day 21 - There is an acute onset of smallpox symptoms which includes high fever, body aches, headache and malaise. Smallpox is contagious at this point.

Day 22 through day 24 - Smallpox is in its most contagious stage. A rash appears on the tongue and in the mouth, proceeding to the face, arms, legs and feet. Rash appears as raised papules filled with fluid.

Day 25 through day 29 - The smallpox remains contagious and the papules become pustules that are round and firm as though they are covering small pellets.

Day 30 through day 34 - The smallpox pustules begin to crust and scab over, however the disease is still contagious.

Day 35 through day 40 - The smallpox disease remains contagious however the scabs have started to fall off and will continue to do so over the next 3 weeks. The dried up pustules will leave pitted scars, that may fade over time.
After 40 days - The smallpox disease is no longer contagious and the majority of all the scabs have resolved.

There is no medical treatment for smallpox however there are supportive treatments that can be done in order to alleviate dehydration problems, pain, antibiotics for infection and medications to relieve itching and to help dry pustules.

If you think someone you or someone you know may have smallpox you should seek medical attention immediately, smallpox is a disease that must be reported to the Center for Disease Control.

References for this article include:

www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/infection-control
www.medscape.com/viewarticle/447730_3
smallpox.phages.org/