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Common Health Questions About Chickenpox | NHS
What is Chickenpox?
Chickenpox, known medically as varicella, is a highly contagious viral infection that primarily affects children but can occur at any age. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus and is characterized by a distinctive red, itchy rash that forms small, fluid-filled blisters. Although the illness is generally mild in children, it can be more severe in adults and those with weakened immune systems.
What are the Symptoms of Chickenpox?
The initial symptoms of chickenpox often include fever, fatigue, and a general feeling of being unwell (malaise). Following these early symptoms, the characteristic rash develops, typically starting on the face, chest, and back before spreading to other parts of the body. The rash progresses from red spots to itchy blisters that eventually burst and form crusts. The entire illness usually lasts around 5 to 10 days.
Is Chickenpox Dangerous?
For most healthy children, chickenpox is a mild illness that resolves without complications. However, certain groups, such as newborns, pregnant women, adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems, are at higher risk of developing severe complications. These can include bacterial infections of the skin, pneumonia, and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
How is Chickenpox Spread?
Chickenpox spreads easily from person to person through direct contact with the rash or through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can also be spread by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching one’s mouth or nose. People with chickenpox are contagious from about two days before the rash appears until all the blisters have crusted over.
How Can Chickenpox Be Prevented?
Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent chickenpox. The NHS offers the chickenpox vaccine primarily to those who are in close contact with people at high risk of severe disease. Good hygiene practices, such as regular handwashing and avoiding close contact with infected individuals, also help reduce the spread of the virus. Additionally, people with chickenpox should stay home from school or work until they are no longer contagious.
How is Chickenpox Treated?
Treatment for chickenpox focuses on relieving symptoms. Over-the-counter medications, such as paracetamol, can reduce fever and pain. Avoid giving aspirin to children with chickenpox, as it can lead to a rare but serious condition called Reye's syndrome. Calamine lotion and antihistamines can help alleviate the itching. In severe cases, antiviral medications may be prescribed. It is also important to keep fingernails short to minimize skin damage from scratching and to keep the skin clean to prevent secondary infections.
Common Health Questions About Chickenpox | NHS
What is Chickenpox?
Chickenpox is an illness that makes you feel sick. It usually happens to children, but adults can get it too. A virus called the varicella-zoster virus causes chickenpox. It makes a red, itchy rash with small blisters. Children usually don't feel too bad, but adults and people who are already sick might feel worse.
What are the Symptoms of Chickenpox?
You might first get a fever and feel really tired. You might also feel like you are coming down with a cold. After that, a rash appears. The rash starts on your face, chest, and back. Then it spreads to other parts of your body. The rash starts as red spots. These spots turn into itchy blisters that can burst and dry up. You can feel sick for 5 to 10 days.
Is Chickenpox Dangerous?
For most healthy kids, chickenpox is not too serious. But for babies, pregnant women, grown-ups, and people who are already sick, it can be more serious. They might get skin infections, lung infections (pneumonia), or brain swelling (encephalitis).
How is Chickenpox Spread?
Chickenpox spreads easily. You can catch it if you touch someone with the rash or breathe air when they cough or sneeze. You can also get it by touching things the sick person has touched and then touching your mouth or nose. People with chickenpox can spread it two days before they get the rash and until all their blisters dry up.
How Can Chickenpox Be Prevented?
The best way to avoid chickenpox is to get the vaccine. The NHS gives the vaccine to people who are around others who could get very sick from chickenpox. Good habits like washing your hands and staying away from sick people can help too. If you have chickenpox, stay at home so you don't spread it to others.
How is Chickenpox Treated?
To feel better when you have chickenpox, you can take medicine to lower fever, like paracetamol. Never give aspirin to children with chickenpox because it can be very dangerous. Using calamine lotion and medicine for allergies (antihistamines) can stop the itching. Doctors might give special medicine if it's very bad. Keep your nails short so you don't scratch too hard. It's also important to keep your skin clean to stop infections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chickenpox is a common infectious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It is characterized by an itchy rash with small, red spots and blisters.
Chickenpox is highly contagious and spreads through close contact with an infected person, through respiratory droplets, or from direct contact with the fluid from the blisters.
Symptoms include an itchy rash with red spots and blisters, fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, and headache.
For most people, chickenpox is not serious, but it can cause complications such as bacterial infections of the skin, pneumonia, and encephalitis, especially in babies, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.
Chickenpox is usually diagnosed based on the characteristic rash and symptoms. In some cases, a healthcare professional may take a sample from a blister for testing.
Chickenpox typically lasts about 7 to 10 days from the onset of the rash until the blisters have crusted over and scabbed.
Most people only get chickenpox once and then become immune. However, the varicella-zoster virus remains in your body and can reactivate later in life as shingles.
Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms. This may include using paracetamol for fever, calamine lotion or cooling gels for itching, and antiviral medications in severe cases.
Seek medical advice if the person with chickenpox has trouble breathing, has a fever lasting more than 48 hours, develops severe pain, or if they belong to an at-risk group such as newborns, pregnant women, or people with weakened immune systems.
Yes, chickenpox can be prevented with the varicella vaccine. It is not routinely given in the UK but may be recommended for certain high-risk groups.
Yes, there is a vaccine for chickenpox available, but it is not part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule in the UK. It is given to certain high-risk individuals and healthcare workers who are not immune.
To care for someone with chickenpox, ensure they stay hydrated, manage their fever and itching, keep their nails short to prevent scratching, and keep them isolated to prevent the spread of the virus.
Yes, pregnant women can get chickenpox, and it can be serious for both the mother and the unborn baby. If you are pregnant and exposed to chickenpox, seek medical advice immediately.
If you suspect your child has chickenpox, consult with your GP for advice on managing symptoms and confirm the diagnosis. Keep them home from school or nursery to prevent spreading the infection.
Yes, while most cases are mild, chickenpox can cause complications like bacterial skin infections, pneumonia, and encephalitis, particularly in at-risk groups such as newborns, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.
Chickenpox is a sickness that you can catch from germs called the varicella-zoster virus. It gives you a red, bumpy rash that is very itchy. The rash looks like little red spots and blisters.
Chickenpox can spread easily. You can catch it if you are near someone who has it. You can also get it if they cough or sneeze on you, or if you touch the liquid from their spots.
You might have:
- An itchy rash with red spots and blisters
- A fever (feeling very hot)
- Tiredness (feeling very sleepy)
- No hunger (not wanting to eat)
- A headache (your head hurts)
Here are some things that can help:
- Ask an adult for help.
- Use a cold, damp cloth on your head.
- Rest a lot.
- Drink water.
- See a doctor if you do not feel better.
Chickenpox usually isn't dangerous. But sometimes it can cause problems like skin infections, lung infections, and brain swelling. This is more likely to happen to babies, women having a baby, and people who get sick easily.
Doctors can tell if you have chickenpox because of the spots and how you feel. Sometimes, a doctor might take a bit of the blister to test it.
Chickenpox usually lasts 7 to 10 days. This is from when the rash starts until the blisters dry up and form scabs.
Most people get chickenpox only one time. After that, they cannot get it again. But the same virus stays in your body. It can wake up and cause a different illness called shingles when you are older.
When you are sick, the doctor wants to make you feel better. They can give you:
- Paracetamol if you have a fever. It helps bring your fever down.
- Calamine lotion or cooling gels if you are itchy. They help stop the itching.
- Special medicine if you are very sick. This medicine fights the virus.
Go to the doctor if the person with chickenpox is having a hard time breathing, has a fever for more than two days, feels really bad pain, or if they are a baby, pregnant, or have a weak body that gets sick easily.
You can stop chickenpox if you get a special shot called the varicella vaccine. In the UK, not everyone gets this shot. But some people who are more likely to get sick might be told to have it.
Yes, there is a vaccine to stop chickenpox. But, in the UK, not all children get it as a regular part of their vaccines. Some people who need it most, like healthcare workers or certain people who might get very sick from chickenpox, do get the vaccine.
When taking care of someone with chickenpox, make sure they drink lots of water, help them keep their fever and itching under control, keep their nails short so they don't scratch much, and keep them away from others so they don't spread the virus.
Yes, pregnant women can get chickenpox. It can be bad for both the mom and the baby inside her. If you are pregnant and near someone who has chickenpox, talk to a doctor right away.
If you think your child has chickenpox, talk to your doctor. They can help you understand the symptoms and find out for sure if it is chickenpox. Keep your child at home from school or nursery until they are better. This stops other people from catching it.
Yes, chickenpox is usually not too serious. But sometimes it can cause problems like skin infections, lung infections, and brain swelling. Newborn babies, pregnant women, and people who are already sick can have more trouble with chickenpox.
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