Chickenpox is a mild and common childhood illness that most children catch at some point.

 

Chickenpox (known medically as varicella) is a mild and common childhood illness that most children catch at some point.  It is caused by a virus called the varicella-zoster virus and it spreads quickly and easily from someone who is infected.

 

It causes a rash of red, itchy spots that turn into fluid-filled blisters. 

 

The chickenpox virus is spread most easily from someone who has the rash. The blisters are very itchy and break open easily, which can contaminate surfaces or objects. The virus may then be transferred by touching the surface or object, then touching your face.

 

The virus is also contained in the millions of tiny droplets that come out of the nose and mouth when an infected person coughs or sneezes. This can also contaminate surfaces or objects.

 

It normally takes 14 days for the symptoms of chickenpox to show after you have come into contact with the virus. However, this can vary from person to person –from as little as 7 days, up to 21 days. This is called the "incubation period".

Someone with chickenpox is most infectious from one to two days before the rash appears, until all the blisters have crusted over. This usually takes five to six days from the start of the rash.

 

Some children have only a few spots, but other children can have spots that cover their entire body. These are most likely to appear on the face, ears and scalp, under the arms, on the chest and belly, and on the arms and legs.

 

Symptoms of chickenpox 

 

The most commonly recognised chickenpox symptom is a spotty, blistering red rash that can cover the entire body.

 

Before the rash appears, you or your child may have some mild flu-like symptoms, including:

 

• feeling sick

• a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or over

• aching, painful muscles

• headache

• loss of appetite

 

These flu-like symptoms, especially the fever, tend to be more common and worse in adults than in children.

 

The spots normally appear in clusters and tend to be behind the ears, on the face, on the chest, belly, arms and legs and even the scalp.  However, the spots can be anywhere on the body, even inside the ears and mouth, on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet and inside the nappy area.