For mild cases low fever for a short period of time and only a little rash, less than 30 spots , children can go to school or child care if they feel well enough to take part in regular activities, and if the facility permits.
Pregnant women can develop severe chickenpox. Most adult women are already protected against chickenpox by antibodies in their blood. If you are thinking of getting pregnant and have not had chickenpox, you should be vaccinated.
If you are pregnant and have not had chickenpox, call your doctor right away if you are exposed to chickenpox. Your doctor may want to give you a special type of immune globulin VariZIG that has antibodies to chickenpox to help prevent you from getting a severe infection.
The best way to protect your child from chickenpox is vaccination. If your child is not yet vaccinated and comes in contact with another child or family member who has chickenpox, they may still be protected if they are vaccinated right away. If your child has an immune system disorder and comes in contact with chickenpox, call your doctor right away.
The doctor can give a special type of immune globulin VariZIG with a large concentration of antibodies to chickenpox to help prevent infection, or early treatment with an antiviral drug. Last updated: May Home Health conditions and treatments Current: Chickenpox. Chickenpox Chickenpox varicella is a common, preventable childhood infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus.
What are the symptoms? Chickenpox begins with a fever , aches and pains. Within 1 or 2 days your child will get a rash. The rash is usually itchy and can make your child uncomfortable. It appears on the scalp and face, spreading quickly down the body and onto the arms and legs.
The spots start as flat pink spots that turn into small water blisters. Treatment is about controlling the itching from the rash and other symptoms related to the viral illness. There are many medications and creams that you can buy from your local pharmacy to help with the itching. It can be difficult to make sure children drink enough when they are unwell. To prevent dehydration, give your child sips of drinks water is best , jelly, icy poles, soup and other fluids often.
Children with chickenpox may have a fever and can feel tired and irritable. Taking paracetamol cab help, but do not give your child aspirin or ibuprofen.
See our fact sheets Pain relief for children and Fever in children. Children with a very severe infection or with underlying serious medical conditions may be given anti-viral medication if they have been exposed to chickenpox.
If your child is unwell with a fever and a skin rash small bright red spots or purple spots or unexplained bruises that does not turn to skin-colour blanch when you press on it, this may be a sign of meningococcal infection see our fact sheet Meningococcal infection. Children and adults can get chickenpox, but it is more common in children.
Chickenpox is highly contagious, which means it is very easy to catch. It can be spread by having direct contact with the person who has chickenpox, especially by touching the liquid from the blisters. Chickenpox is also spread by the fluids that are coughed or sneezed into the air.
If your child has chickenpox, they are infectious to others from one to two days before the rash first appears up until the last blisters have dried up. Some members of the family may need to stay away from the child during this infectious stage.
Anyone taking long-term oral steroids or who is immunocompromised has a weakened immune system e. Children with chickenpox should not go to child care, kindergarten or school until the last blister has dried.
The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Home Infections. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Symptoms of chickenpox Complications of chickenpox How chickenpox is spread Diagnosis of chickenpox Treatment for chickenpox Chickenpox and shingles Immunisation against chickenpox Where to get help.
Symptoms of chickenpox The symptoms of chickenpox include: low-grade fever general discomfort, illness or lack of wellbeing malaise intensely itchy skin rash — appears as small blisters surrounded by irregularly-shaped patches of inflamed skin. The blisters first form on the body and later on the head and limbs.
They usually burst and develop crusts after about five days ulcers may develop in certain areas, including the mouth and vagina. Complications of chickenpox The possible complications of chickenpox include: scarring — chickenpox can leave pockmark scars on the skin cellulitis — a type of bacterial infection of the skin pneumonia — infection and inflammation of the lung can occur in adults and can be fatal encephalitis — inflammation of the brain, usually mild, but sometimes severe bleeding disorders — these are rare, but can be fatal death — in rare cases.
Complications of chickenpox during pregnancy Nine out of ten pregnant women have immunity against chickenpox. The complications for the unborn and newborn baby include: scarring of the skin, eye defects, small limbs and neurological abnormalities if the mother is infected in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy shingles in the first few years of life if the mother is infected between weeks 20 and 36 of pregnancy chickenpox in the newborn if the mother is infected up to four weeks before the birth more severe effects for the newborn if the mother is infected within seven days of the birth.
How chickenpox is spread Chickenpox is spread by: breathing in airborne droplets from the upper respiratory tract of an infected person these droplets are made airborne when the infected person coughs or sneezes touching the fluid from the blisters on the skin of a person with chickenpox this is a less common way to contract chickenpox. High-risk groups for chickenpox People at increased risk of catching or having complications from chickenpox include: newborn babies — there is an increased risk of severe illness in the first 28 days of life pregnant women who have not had chickenpox or been immunised for chickenpox people who have a weakened immune system — such as people with leukaemia or Hodgkin lymphoma, or those taking immunosuppressive medications, are at risk of longer and more serious illness.
Diagnosis of chickenpox Chickenpox is usually diagnosed by physical examination. Treatment for chickenpox In cases of severe illness, treatment with an antiviral medication may be needed.
Treatment aims to relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of complications. Options may include: bed rest drinking extra fluids to avoid dehydration paracetamol to bring down the fever — aspirin should be avoided because of a possible increased risk of complications lukewarm baths with baking soda or oatmeal added to the water — a cup of oatmeal can be put into an old, clean pair of panty hose, then tied and left in the bath while the water runs creams or lotions, such as calamine lotion, to reduce the itching — if you have a skin problem such as eczema, you may need to ask a health professional about other creams you can use avoidance of salty or citrus foods wearing mittens to prevent scratching — these can be worn by babies and young children.
Chickenpox and shingles As well as causing chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus can cause shingles in some people who have had chickenpox. Immunisation against chickenpox Immunisation against chickenpox can be achieved with either of two vaccines. Immunisation against chickenpox — from 14 years of age The combination MMRV vaccine is not recommended for people aged 14 years and over.
Who benefits most from chickenpox immunisation? People who benefit most from immunisation include: children adults not immune to chickenpox those who have not been immunised and have not had chickenpox , especially parents with young children and people in 'at-risk' occupations such as teachers, childcare workers and healthcare workers anyone not immune to chickenpox who lives or has contact with someone with a weakened immune system. Pregnancy and chickenpox immunisation If you are thinking of becoming pregnant or are early in your pregnancy, your healthcare professional can check your chickenpox immunity with a blood test.
Where to get help In an emergency, always call triple zero Emergency department of your nearest hospital Your GP doctor Local government immunisation service Maternal and Child Health Line 24 hours Tel. Patients, healthcare providers, and visitors with varicella or herpes zoster can spread VZV to susceptible patients and healthcare providers in hospitals, long-term-care facilities, and other healthcare settings.
In healthcare settings, transmissions have been attributed to delays in the diagnosis or reporting of varicella and herpes zoster and failures to implement control measures promptly. Although all susceptible patients in healthcare settings are at risk for severe varicella and complications, certain patients without evidence of immunity are at increased risk:.
Healthcare providers should follow standard precautions plus airborne precautions negative air-flow rooms and contact precautions until lesions are dry and crusted. If negative air-flow rooms are not available, patients with varicella should be isolated in closed rooms with no contact with people without evidence of immunity. Patients with varicella should be cared for by staff with evidence of immunity. Varicella used to be very common in the United States.
In the early s, an average of 4 million people got varicella, 10, to 13, were hospitalized, and to died each year. Varicella vaccine became available in the United States in Each year, more than 3. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Chickenpox Varicella.
Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. For Healthcare Professionals. Minus Related Pages. On This Page. Incubation Period and Prodrome The average incubation period for varicella is 14 to 16 days after exposure to a varicella or a herpes zoster rash, with a range of 10 to 21 days.
Characteristic pancorporeal varicella lesions in an unvaccinated person. Breakthrough varicella on the abdomen of a vaccinated child. X-ray of pneumonia caused by varicella. Related Pages. Related Links. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
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