chickenpox

Chickenpox, also called varicella, is a contagious viral infection that primarily affects children and involves the skin and immune system. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which spreads through respiratory droplets and direct contact with the fluid inside chickenpox blisters. Symptoms usually appear 10 to 21 days after exposure. Precise prevalence estimates are not well established, but the condition is widely recognized worldwide. Most healthy children recover fully with proper care.

The hallmark of chickenpox is a very itchy, scattered skin rash made up of small fluid-filled blisters (vesicles). These blisters often start on the trunk or face and then spread outward, forming new crops over several days before crusting over. Fever, headache, tiredness, and muscle aches frequently accompany the rash, and some individuals feel generally unwell for a few days before and after the skin lesions appear. Not all individuals experience every symptom, and severity varies considerably from one person to another.

Chickenpox results from infection with the varicella-zoster virus, not from an inherited genetic change. Because it is caused by a contagious pathogen rather than a gene variant, it is not passed from parent to child through DNA. Anyone without immunity can develop the infection after exposure, although childhood is the most common age of onset.

Currently, management focuses on supportive care and symptom relief. Typical measures include maintaining hydration, using fever-reducing or pain-relieving medications as advised by a healthcare professional, and applying soothing lotions or recommended antihistamines to reduce itching. Keeping fingernails short and clean and encouraging gentle skin care help prevent secondary bacterial infection of the blisters. Individuals remain contagious from about one to two days before the rash until every blister has fully crusted, so staying home and limiting contact during this period protects others. Treatment is tailored to each person’s age, overall health, and symptom severity, and families should discuss specific recommendations with their healthcare team.

In otherwise healthy children, chickenpox is usually self-limited, and most recover within a week or two without long-term problems. Complications such as bacterial skin infections, pneumonia, or inflammation of the brain can occur, particularly in infants, adolescents, adults, or people with weakened immune systems, but these are uncommon. Overall outcomes depend on the individual’s health status and timely supportive care.