What to do if you have symptoms:
- If you or your child has symptoms of chickenpox, call your healthcare provider immediately and keep yourself and/ or your child at home away from others.
- Stay home and away from other people and from public settings until you or your child has been cleared by a healthcare provider OR all blisters have crusted over.
- Pregnant women who are not immune and get exposed, certain exposed newborn infants and exposed persons with weakened immune systems should see their healthcare provider right away about possible treatment.
What is Chickenpox?
Chickenpox is an infectious disease caused by the varicellazoster virus, which results in a blister-like rash, itching, tiredness, and fever.
What are the symptoms of chickenpox?
The most common symptoms of chickenpox are rash, fever, headache, and loss of appetite. The rash usually develops on the trunk and face, and then spreads to the rest of the body. The rash first appears as many small, itchy, red bumps which turn into fluid-filled blisters. Several different groupings, or crops, of these blisters can appear over the following few days. Chickenpox illness lasts about five to ten days. Most children are uncomfortable for the duration of the disease. Children should be kept out of school or childcare until all blisters are dried and crusted over.
When and for how long is a person able to spread chickenpox?
Persons with chickenpox are contagious for one to two days before the rash appears and continue to be contagious until all the blisters are crusted over, usually in four to seven days after rash onset.
How is chickenpox spread?
It is spread from person to person by direct contact or through the air by coughing or sneezing. It is highly contagious. Direct contact spread of the virus occurs when a non-immune person is exposed to the fluid from blisters of a person who either has chickenpox or shingles. A person who has never had chickenpox will develop chickenpox when exposed to the virus for the first time, including exposure to shingles.
Complications:
In most cases of chickenpox, in otherwise healthy children, bed rest, fluids, and control of fever are recommended. Children with chickenpox should not receive aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs, e.g., naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)] for reducing fever because of the possible risk of Reye’s syndrome or necrotizing fasciitis, a dangerous skin/tissue infection.
Complications of chickenpox are rare but can occur. Bacterial infections, as well as pneumonia, can occur in infants, adults, pregnant women, and immune compromised persons. Diarrhea and dehydration are also a risk. Consult with a healthcare provider about medicines for controlling fever and if further treatment is needed for serious cases of chickenpox.
How are pregnant or immunocompromised people protected after an exposure?
There is a special vaccination (VariZIG) that can be used to protect people at risk for complications who cannot be vaccinated using the traditional vaccine.
Vaccines
A vaccine to prevent chickenpox is available. The vaccine is recommended for all non-immune, healthy persons over 12 months of age. A second dose of the vaccine is recommended between four to six years of age. Two doses of the vaccine are required to enter schools in Washington State.
Immunization Information
- For children (birth to six years)
- For preteens and teens (7-18 years)
- For college students
- For adults
- For travelers
Immunization Frequently Asked Questions
Prevention
Get vaccinated. It is impossible to predict who will have a mild case of chickenpox and who will have a serious or even deadly case of the disease. The vaccine is safe and effective.