Chickenpox
Chickenpox is a highly contagious infection caused by varicella-zoster virus. It usually causes an itchy blistering rash and fever.
About chickenpox
Chickenpox is a highly contagious infection caused by varicella-zoster virus. It usually causes an itchy blistering rash and fever.
What can cause it?
Chickenpox is caused by varicella-zoster virus and spreads through respiratory droplets and direct contact with blister fluid.
Adults, pregnant patients, newborns, and immunocompromised people have greater complication risk.
What a patient may notice
Symptoms vary from person to person. Possible signs may include:
- Fever, fatigue, or poor appetite
- Itchy spots that become fluid-filled blisters
- New crops of rash over several days
How clinicians find the cause
The typical rash is often diagnosed clinically. Laboratory confirmation may be needed in pregnancy, severe illness, outbreaks, or unusual presentations.
Treatment and next steps
- 1
Supportive care includes fluids, itch control, and fever management with age-appropriate clinician guidance.
- 2
Antiviral medicine may be recommended early for patients at higher risk.
- 3
Children and teenagers with chickenpox should not receive aspirin because of the risk of Reye syndrome.
Supporting recovery
- Avoid scratching, keep nails short, and use gentle baths or clinician-approved itch relief.
- Stay away from pregnant, newborn, and immunocompromised people until all lesions have crusted.
What to expect
Most otherwise healthy children recover without complications, often within about 5 to 10 days. Adolescents, adults, pregnant patients, newborns, and people with weakened immune systems have a greater risk of severe illness. After recovery, the virus remains inactive in the body and may later reactivate as shingles.
Possible complications
- Bacterial infection of scratched skin lesions, which may lead to scarring or deeper infection
- Pneumonia, brain inflammation, unsteady walking, or other nervous-system complications
- Severe infection during pregnancy or in a newborn or immunocompromised person
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Arrange an evaluation when symptoms are new, worsening, interfering with normal activities, or not improving as expected.
Trouble breathing, severe headache, confusion, stiff neck, difficulty walking, dehydration, or rapidly worsening skin redness needs urgent care.Get emergency help for severe trouble breathing, new chest pressure, fainting, seizure, sudden weakness on one side, uncontrolled bleeding, blue or gray lips, or a person who is difficult to wake.
Ways to lower risk
- Varicella vaccination is the best prevention for eligible people.
- Isolation during the contagious period limits spread.
Trusted health information
This CHS patient-education page uses original wording and links to MedlinePlus for additional information.