Chickenpox is a preventable illness caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It was very common before the varicella (chicken pox) vaccine was introduced. It is extremely contagious, but the rash that it produces is usually harmless and disappears on its own.
While you can get chickenpox at any age, most cases occur before the age of 14. Anyone who’s had the disease once is usually immune for life, although they can still get shingles, a painful skin rash caused when the varicella-zoster virus becomes active again, even many years after they’ve had chickenpox.
Chickenpox usually occurs during the school year; it is less common during the summer months. Since the introduction of the chickenpox vaccine, many children never get chickenpox.
The varicella-zoster virus may be spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes or by direct contact with the blisters (lesions) of someone infected with chickenpox or shingles.
The risk of getting chickenpox is higher for people who have had contact with an infected person, are under 12 years old, have a weakened immune system, or who work or spend time in a school or daycare facility.
Once someone is infected, the virus usually incubates for 14 to 16 days before a rash appears, although incubation can last from 10 days to 21 days. There are no symptoms during incubation and a person doesn’t become contagious until 1 to 2 days before the rash appears. The person remains contagious until all the blisters have dried and scabs have formed.
To prevent the spread of the virus to others, people who have or are suspected to have chickenpox should avoid public places, such as school, until they feel well enough to perform their normal activities. Certain settings may have more specific policies regarding when to return following chickenpox infection.
In most cases, treatment is directed at relieving symptoms until the illness goes away on its own. Non-medical therapy includes:
Your doctor may advise a variety of medical treatments:
If you’ve never had chickenpox, try to stay away from anyone who’s infected until all their blisters have dried and scabs have formed. People at high risk who have been exposed to the chickenpox virus should see their doctor immediately, as they may need immune globulin (antibodies against varicella zoster). This will provide temporary protection for about 3 weeks against the development of chickenpox or its complications. People most prone to the illness include those with low resistance to diseases, such as newborns, people who have AIDS, or people taking corticosteroids, transplant medications, or cancer medications.
A vaccine against chickenpox is available. In Canada, the chickenpox vaccine is part of the recommended immunization schedule. It can be administered alone or in a combination vaccine with measles, mumps, and rubella, depending on your age. The chickenpox vaccine contains a live but weakened form of the varicella-zoster virus. The vaccine causes the immune system to make antibodies that defend you from future infection by the virus. It is 94% to 98% effective in children.
The vaccine sometimes causes a slight fever and pain and swelling at the injection site. In up to 5% of cases, a mild chickenpox-like rash may appear around the injection site. This is most likely to occur in people with weakened immune systems. Because this rash may be contagious, you should avoid contact with high-risk people such as pregnant people.
The vaccine isn’t recommended for pregnant people, people who are feeling ill and have a fever above 38.5°C, people with active untreated tuberculosis, those with blood disorders or a suppressed immune system, or those with severe allergic reactions to neomycin (an antibiotic) or gelatin.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For information on a given medication, check our Drug Information database. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2026. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Chickenpox
Pharmasave uses cookies to provide a personalized experience, analyze traffic, improve site performance, and provide social media features. By using our site, you agree to our privacy policy.