Chickenpox

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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

In a typical scenario, a young child is covered in pox and out of school for a week. The first half of the week the child feels miserable from intense itching; the second half from boredom. Since the introduction of the chickenpox vaccine, classic chickenpox is becoming less and less common.

When someone becomes infected, the pox usually appear 10 to 21 days later. People become contagious 1 to 2 days before breaking out with pox. They remain contagious while uncrusted blisters are present, usually less than a week after breaking out.

Once someone catches chickenpox, the viral infection usually lasts for a lifetime, with the virus kept in check by the immune system. About 1 in 10 adults will experience shingles when the virus re-emerges during a period of stress.

Most cases of chickenpox occur in children younger than ten. The disease is usually mild, although serious complications sometimes occur. Adults and older children usually get sicker than younger children do.

The pox are worse in children who have other skin problems, such as eczema or a recent sunburn.

Complications are more common in those who are immunocompromised either from an illness (such as AIDS) or from certain medicines (such as chemotherapy). Some of the worst cases of chickenpox have been seen in children who have taken steroids during the incubation period, before they have any symptoms. These children are usually being treated for asthma.