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Are you
Chickenpox aware?

Chickenpox is highly contagious. Whilst it is usually a mild disease, there can be serious complications. Read on to find out more about chickenpox. Be chickenpox aware.

Toy rabbit with chickenpox

Chickenpox:
The Basics

The medical name for chickenpox is varicella because it is caused by the varicella zoster (VZ) virus. It’s a highly infectious disease, which means it’s easy to catch from someone who already has chickenpox.

The good news is that, in most cases, once you’ve had it, your body is able to protect you from catching it again.

of adults in the UK are immune to chickenpox because they had the disease as a child.

Spotting
Chickenpox

Girl having temperature taken

Fever

The illness usually starts with fever, aches and pains and feeling out of sorts.

Child with chickenpox rash

Rash

Then, an itchy, spotty rash develops, turning from spots to blisters to scabs and crusts. The number of spots can vary from person to person; some people hardly have any, while others are covered head to toe.

A chickenpox scab

Infection

The infection is spread in the fluid found in chickenpox blisters and the droplets in the coughs or sneezes of someone with the infection.

Chickenpox is contagious from one to two days before the rash appears and until all the blisters have scabbed over. This usually takes about five days. Other diseases can cause rashes, so you shouldn’t simply assume it’s chickenpox.

Managing spots
and itching

In healthy children, chickenpox will not usually require medical treatment. Your pharmacist can advise about medicines that may help relieve itching or reduce pain and discomfort. If complications develop, your doctor will decide on the appropriate treatment.

If you need to book a doctor’s appointment, tell the receptionist that your child has chickenpox. You may need to arrange a special appointment time to avoid infecting other patients.

Avoid using ibuprofen for chickenpox unless advised to do so by your doctor. You also shouldn’t give aspirin to children under 16.

Don’t scratch! It can cause skin infections or permanent scarring. If your child can’t stop scratching, keep their fingernails short and put gloves or socks on their hands, especially at night.

Speak to your pharmacist about using cooling creams or gels to relieve itching.

Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. Try ice lollies if your child isn’t drinking. A diet of soft, cold foods is best if chickenpox sores develop in the mouth.

More information about chickenpox can be found via the NHS website*:

*This link will direct you to a thirdparty website. MSD does not endorse or recommend any content on this site but signposts this as a reputable source for additional information.

Don’t pass it on!

The medical name for chickenpox is varicella because it is caused by the varicella zoster (VZ) virus. It’s a highly infectious disease, which means it’s easy to catch from someone who already has chickenpox.

The good news is that, in most cases, once you’ve had it, your body is able to protect you from catching it again.

Duck with red dots alongisde three smaller ducks.

A little one with chickenpox will need around 5 days at home so you may have to take time off work to look after them.

If you are due to take a flight, you may not be allowed to fly until the last blister has scabbed over, so check with the airline. If you are not contagious but the rash is still present, you may need a doctor’s certificate.

Girl waving her arm under 5 days at home icon

Be aware of
high-risk groups

Chickenpox is usually mild, but occasionally it can lead to serious complications, especially in adults, pregnant women, newborn babies and people with weakened immune systems.

People in these high-risk groups are more likely to experience complications such as secondary infections. It’s rare to get chickenpox when you’re pregnant, and the chance of it causing complications is low. If you do get chickenpox when you’re pregnant, there’s a small risk of your baby being very ill when it’s born. Speak to a GP if you have not had chickenpox and have been near someone with it.

It’s important to seek medical advice if you are in one of these groups and think you may have chickenpox.

A child holding her forehead taking her temperature

Possible
complications

If you develop a skin or lung infection, you will need treatment with antibiotics. In severe cases, you may need to be hospitalised.

For people at high risk of complications, doctors sometimes prescribe medications to shorten the duration of the infection and reduce the risk of complications. These should be given within 24 hours of the first appearance of the rash.

Animated image of a child with a chickenpox rash

Infections caused by harmful bacteria getting into the skin, making it red, swollen and painful

Animated image of a pregnant lady

Problems during pregnancy, including the infection spreading to the unborn baby

Animated image of a child coughing

Lung infections (pneumonia), which can cause a persistent cough, breathing difficulties and chest pain

There may not always be signs of chickenpox complications. However, you should look out for swollen or painful skin, difficulty breathing or dehydration.

If you see any possible signs of complications, contact your GP or NHS 111 immediately.

When to contact
your GP?

Chickenpox is usually mild and clears up in about a week. However, some people can become seriously ill and need to see a doctor.

Contact your GP or NHS 111 if:

  • You’re not sure if it’s chickenpox
  • You get chickenpox as an adult
  • You’re exposed to chickenpox while you’re pregnant or breastfeeding
  • You think your newborn baby has chickenpox
  • You’re exposed to chickenpox and have a weakened immune system
  • You see signs of complications
  • The symptoms haven’t started to improve after six days
  • Your child has chickenpox and is dehydrated
  • Chickenpox symptoms suddenly get worse
  • Skin around the chickenpox blisters is hot, painful and red (note that redness may be harder to see with darker skin tones)

You should also get advice if you are originally from a country near the equator and have been exposed to chickenpox, as you may need treatment to stop you becoming seriously ill.

Stock image of Healthcare Professionals

Although most children recover well from chickenpox, there can be further complications and consequences:

Scarring

Missed holidays & events

Time off work

These disruptions to family life are made worse when siblings pass the disease to one another.

*Parents of children who had experienced chickenpox

Child and father taking her temperature

Parents* miss on average 4 days of work per child with chickenpox

These disruptions to family life are made worse when siblings pass the disease to one another.

*Parents of children who had experienced chickenpox

We want to hear from you

After visiting this site, has your knowledge and understanding of chickenpox as a disease increased?

Frequently asked questions

Below are some answers to the most commonly asked questions about chickenpox:

Chickenpox is highly contagious. You can catch chickenpox by being in the same room as someone with the disease, or by touching clothes or bedding that has fluid from the blisters on it.

The rash usually takes between 1 and 3 weeks to appear after being exposed to chickenpox.

Chickenpox is contagious from one to two days before the rash appears, and until all the blisters have scabbed over. This takes about five days, and means no school and no nursery during this time.

Chickenpox is contagious from one to two days before the rash appears, and until all the blisters have scabbed over. This takes about five days, and means no school and no nursery during this time. Parents may need to take time off work to look after children at home.

Chickenpox is highly contagious, which means it’s easy to catch from someone who already has it. This puts siblings at risk of infection if they have not already had chickenpox.

You cannot get shingles from someone with chickenpox. When people get chickenpox, the virus remains in the body. It can be reactivated later and cause shingles if someone's immune system is lowered. This can be because of stress, certain conditions, or treatments like chemotherapy.

You can get chickenpox from someone with shingles if you have not had chickenpox before.

Chickenpox is contagious from one to two days before the rash appears, and until all the blisters have scabbed over. If you are due to take a flight, you may not be allowed to fly until the last blister has scabbed over, so check with the airline. If you are not contagious but the rash is still present, you may need a doctor’s certificate. It may also be worth checking if your travel insurance company will cover any costs incurred if you or a family member contracts chickenpox abroad and is unable to fly home at the expected time.
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February 2023
GB-VVX-00294
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