What is Chickenpox?
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Treatment and Management
Preventing Chickenpox:
Vaccines and Other
Chickenpox is an infection that causes a skin rash.
The disease is caused by a virus called the varicella-zoster virus.
Most people will get infected by the virus when they are young or
have not been vaccinated against the Chickenpox vaccine.
Coming in contact with someone who has Chickenpox.
Breathing air from an infected person who sneezes or coughs.
The classic symptom of Chickenpox is a rash that turns into itchy, fluid-filled blisters
that eventually turn into scabs. The rash may first show up on the chest, back, and
face and then spread over the entire body, including inside the mouth, eyelids, or
genital area. It usually takes about one week for all of the blisters to become scabs.
Other typical symptoms that may begin to appear one to two days before the rash
include:
Children usually miss 5 to 6 days of school or childcare due to
Chickenpox.
The diagnosis of Chickenpox is primarily based on the signs and symptoms.
Healthcare providers can often look at a child's skin and know if they have
Chickenpox.
Confirmation is by examination of the fluid within the vesicles, scraping
of lesions that have not been treated, or by blood for proof of an acute
immunologic response.
Blood tests are used to identify a response to acute infection (IgM), previous infection, and subsequent immunity (IgG).
Avoid scratching
Relieve the itch and other symptoms
