The Smallpox category is a sub-category of the Infections (Bacterial and Viral) category.

Smallpox - Symptoms and Remedies

Smallpox is a condition caused by two varieties of a virus; Variola minor and Variola major. It results in maculopapular skin rashes that later become raised fluid-filled blisters. The V. major virus infection results in a more serious disease than the V. minor virus.

Brief History

It’s a disease that used to kill approximately 400,000 people every year in Europe during the last years of the 18th century. This was largely due to the ease of transmitting it from one person to another through saliva droplets, clothing and beddings. Similarly, the virus can stay alive for as long as 24 hours in favorable conditions and 6 hours in unfavorable conditions. However, the condition has since 1979 been declared eradicated through massive vaccination campaigns by WHO in the 19th and 20th centuries. Presently, only laboratory samples of the virus remain for research purposes.

Signs and Symptoms

The incubation period of the V. major since inhalation is 12 days after which the victim manifests the following signs;

• Diarrhea
• Excessive bleeding
• Malaise
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Muscle pain and back aches
• Severe headache
• Vomiting
• Pink rashes

Home remedies for Smallpox

Generally, start by keeping the victim in bed in a room that is well ventilated and has moderate temperature. The victim should be offered plenty of fluids, especially lemon juice, due to the diarrhea problem. Similarly, keep him/her on a light diet composed of vegetables broth and oatmeal. Hot fomentations will ease back aches and muscle pains. An enema herb will ease the victim’s bowel movement. The victim should also be bathed in goldenseal tea, preferably mixed with Vaseline, to stop the pustules from pitting. A mixture of yellow dock root and goldenseal root tea also helps.

In addition, a hot bath containing some grated ginger root has been found effective in cleansing the infection from the body. Ginger, cinnamon, red raspberry tea, prickly ash, lobelia and cayenne will help the victim relax. However, any herbal supplement should always be taken with the consent of a physician.

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