Read more about the complications of chickenpox. Complications of chickenpox are rare in healthy children. The most common complication is where the blisters become infected with bacteria. A sign that the blisters have become infected is when the surrounding skin becomes red and sore. If you think that your child's blisters have become infected, contact your GP as the child may need a course of antibiotics.
Very rarely, chickenpox can lead to more serious complications involving the nervous system brain and spinal cord in children. These include infections of the brain encephalitis , the protective membranes around the brain meningitis or part of the brain called the cerebellum cerebellitis.
Seek medical advice as soon as possible if your child develops any of these symptoms after having chickenpox. Chickenpox can be more serious in adults than in children. Adults with the virus are more likely to be admitted into hospital.
If you smoke, your risk of developing lung problems is much higher. Although it is more serious in adults, most people will still make a full recovery from the chickenpox virus. For example, your risk of developing pneumonia is slightly higher if you're pregnant, especially if you smoke. The further you are into your pregnancy, the more serious the risk of pneumonia tends to be. If you get chickenpox while you're pregnant, there is also a small but significant risk to your unborn baby. If you are infected with chickenpox during the first 28 weeks of your pregnancy, there is a risk that your unborn baby could develop a condition known as foetal varicella syndrome FVS.
This syndrome is rare. If you are infected with chickenpox 7 days before or 7 days after giving birth, your newborn baby may develop a more serious type of chickenpox. In a few severe cases, this type of chickenpox can be fatal.
See your GP urgently if you're pregnant or have given birth in the last 7 days and you think you may have chickenpox, or if you've been exposed to someone who has chickenpox. If your immune system is weak or does not work properly, you are more susceptible to developing infections such as chickenpox. This is because your body produces fewer antibodies to fight off the infection.
Immunosuppressive medication such as steroid tablets may be used if, for example, you have an inflammatory condition such as rheumatoid arthritis , lupus or certain blood conditions. If you have a weakened immune system, you're also more at risk of developing complications from chickenpox. These complications include:. See your GP urgently if you have a weakened immune system and you've been exposed to the chickenpox virus.
For more information, read about how to stop the spread of chickenpox. If your child has chickenpox,it is recommended that you inform their school or nursery, and keep them at home for 5 days.
If you have chickenpox, stay off work and at home until you're no longer infectious, which is until the last blister has burst and crusted over. This usually happens five or six days after the rash begins. If you or your child have recently been exposed to the chickenpox virus, you may not be able to visit friends or relatives in hospital. Telephone the ward to check first. If you or your child have chickenpox, you may not be allowed to fly until 6 days after the last spot has appeared.
You and your child should be safe to fly once you're past the infectious stage and all of the blisters have crusted over. However, it's best to check the policy of your airline first. Inform the airline as soon as chickenpox is diagnosed. It is also important to let your travel insurer know if you or your child has chickenpox. You need to make sure that you'll be covered if you have to delay or cancel your holiday, or if you need to extend your stay until your child is well enough to fly home.
Chickenpox can sometimes be spread through contact with objects that have been contaminated with the virus, such as children's toys, bedding or clothing. If someone in your household has chickenpox, you can help stop the virus spreading by wiping any objects or surfaces with a sterilising solution and making sure that any infected clothing or bedding is washed regularly.
There is a chickenpox vaccine that is used to protect people who are most at risk of a serious chickenpox infection or of passing the infection on to someone who is at risk. The vaccine is not suitable for pregnant women. Avoid getting pregnant for 3 months after having the vaccine. The vaccine is also not suitable for people with weakened immune systems.
Home Illnesses and conditions Infections and poisoning Chickenpox. Chickenpox See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1. About chickenpox 2. Symptoms of chickenpox 3. Causes of chickenpox 4. Diagnosing chickenpox 5. Treating chickenpox 6. Complications of chickenpox 7.
Preventing the spread of chickenpox. About chickenpox Chickenpox is a mild and common childhood illness that most children catch at some point. Children usually catch chickenpox in winter and spring, particularly between March and May. What to do To prevent spreading the infection, keep children off nursery or school until all their spots have crusted over. Chickenpox treatment Chickenpox in children is considered a mild illness, but your child will probably feel pretty miserable and irritable while they have it.
In most children, the blisters crust up and fall off naturally within one to two weeks. When to see a doctor For most children, chickenpox is a mild illness that gets better on its own.
However, some children can become more seriously ill with chickenpox and need to see a doctor. Contact your GP straight away if your child develops any abnormal symptoms, such as: if the blisters on their skin become infected if your child has a pain in their chest or has difficulty breathing Chickenpox in adults Chickenpox may be a childhood illness, but adults can get it too.
The best way to protect infants and children against chickenpox is to get them vaccinated. The varicella-zoster virus also causes shingles. After chickenpox, the virus remains in the body dormant.
People get shingles when VZV reactivates in their bodies after they have already had chickenpox. People with shingles can spread VZV to people who have never had chickenpox or never received the chickenpox vaccine. This can happen through direct contact with fluid from shingles rash blisters or through breathing in virus particles that come from the blisters.
If they get infected, they will develop chickenpox, not shingles. It takes about 2 weeks from 10 to 21 days after exposure to a person with chickenpox or shingles for someone to develop chickenpox. Keep fingernails short to decrease the likelihood of scratching. Complications can happen from chickenpox. They are more common in adults and people with weak immune systems.
Complications may include:. If your symptoms get worse or you have new symptoms, call your healthcare provider. You should tell your provider as quickly as possible if you get these symptoms:. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. What causes chickenpox? Who is at risk for chickenpox? Most people who have had chickenpox will be immune to the disease for the rest of their lives.
However, the virus remains inactive in nerve tissue and may reactivate later in life causing shingles. Very rarely, a second case of chickenpox does happen. Blood tests can confirm immunity to chickenpox in people who are unsure if they have had the disease. What are the symptoms of chickenpox? Symptoms may include: Fatigue and irritability one to two days before the rash begins Itchy rash on the trunk, face, scalp, under the armpits, on the upper arms and legs, and inside the mouth.
The rash appears in several crops. It starts as flat red spots and progresses to raised red bumps that then become blisters. Feeling ill Decreased appetite The initial symptoms of chickenpox may resemble other infections. How is chickenpox diagnosed?
There are certain other circumstances when you should also contact your GP, if you think you have chickenpox or may have been exposed to it. These include if you're pregnant, have a newborn baby, or you have a weakened immune system.
There are treatments you may be able to take that can help to make your symptoms less severe. See Treatment section for more information. If you do need to see a doctor, let your GP surgery know that you may have chickenpox when you contact them.
If you need to be seen, they may want to keep you away from other patients. For instance, they may ask you to wait in a different room to their usual waiting room. Chickenpox is highly contagious. You remain infectious until all your spots crust over usually about five days after the rash appears. If you think you have chickenpox, keep away from young babies, pregnant women and anyone with a weakened immune system. This might include people having cancer treatment or taking steroids.
If your child has chickenpox, keep them off school or nursery for at least five days from when the rash first appears, and until the spots have all crusted over. There are some simple things you can do at home though to ease your symptoms. These include the following. If your skin is very itchy in places, you can try using cool or wet compresses to ease the itch.
Some people find that an oatmeal or cornflour bath helps. You may also find that calamine lotion soothes the itching, but be careful as it can dry out your skin. It also stops working once the lotion dries on your skin. You may find that moisturising emollient creams and ointments can ease the itching too. You can buy this medicine over the counter from a pharmacy. Children older than two months can take junior paracetamol such as Calpol. Always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine, and if you have any questions, ask your pharmacist for advice.
This includes if you're pregnant, have a newborn baby, or have a weakened immune system. There are two main types of treatment your doctor may be able to give you. Taking anti-virals within 24 hours of your rash first appearing may help to reduce your symptoms and mean you recover faster. This is called a varicella zoster immunoglobulin VZIG injection. Antibodies are proteins that help your immune system to fight bacteria and viruses.
The antibodies are unlikely to stop you having chickenpox, but they may make your symptoms milder. Complications of chickenpox are rare.
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