Understanding Chickenpox: Symptoms, Duration and Key Facts

What is chickenpox?

Chickenpox (varicella) is an infection caused by the varicella‑zoster virus. It commonly affects children but can occur at any age. The infection produces a characteristic itchy, blistering rash and is usually self‑limited in healthy individuals. It can be more serious in infants, adults, pregnant people, and immunocompromised individuals.

What happens and how long it lasts

• Early symptoms: fever, headache, tiredness, loss of appetite.

• Rash: red spots appear and turn into fluid‑filled blisters. New spots can keep appearing for several days.

• Blisters break and crust: the blisters burst, dry out, form scabs, and then heal.

• Typical duration: most people recover in about 10–14 days from the first symptoms.

Incubation and contagiousness

• Incubation period: about 10–21 days after exposure (no symptoms while the virus multiplies).

• Contagious period: from 1–2 days before the rash appears until all blisters have formed scabs.

• Chickenpox is spread by direct contact with an infected person and by airborne droplets from coughing or sneezing.

Seasonality

• Chickenpox is most commonly seen in late winter and early spring, though it can occur year‑round.

Immunity and the virus later in life

• After chickenpox, most people are immune for life.

• The virus, however, can remain dormant in nerve tissue and may reactivate later as shingles.

• Shingles is a painful, localized rash usually on one side of the body.

  • Shingles itself does not cause shingles in others, but fluid from active shingles blisters can spread the virus to someone who has never had chickenpox or the vaccine and that person could develop chickenpox (not shingles).

  • Transmission from shingles stops once the shingles blisters have crusted.

Name Origin

• The name “chickenpox” does not refer to chickens. It likely comes from old words meaning “small,” because it was seen as a milder illness than smallpox.

Medicine and symptom control

Aspirin has been associated with Reye’s syndrome in children and adolescents who develop chickenpox. This association is documented in clinical literature.

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is commonly used to manage fever and discomfort associated with chickenpox.

Some observational reports have suggested a possible link between the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, and an increased risk of serious skin and soft-tissue infections during varicella. Clinical perspectives on this matter vary.

Information on appropriate symptom management may be obtained from a healthcare professional or pharmacist.

Typical Complications

• Most cases resolve without problems, especially in healthy children.

• Complications are more likely in adults, infants, pregnant people, and people with weakened immune systems. Possible complications include secondary bacterial skin infections, pneumonia, encephalitis, dehydration, and rarely, severe systemic illness.

Key practical points

• Avoid contact with people who are susceptible (unvaccinated, pregnant people, newborns, immunocompromised) until all blisters have crusted.

• Don’t pick or scratch scabs this increases the risk of infection and scarring.

• If you are unsure about medications or management, ask a healthcare professional.