Chickenpox Symptoms

A common and highly infectious childhood disease is chickenpox. The varicella-zoster virus causes this itchy and painful infection. However, individuals who have not had chickenpox in their childhood or have not taken vaccinations against this disease may develop this itchy rash in their adult years. Those who have not taken a chicken vaccine shot, may develop chickenpox at some point of their life. This virus affects individuals with a weak immune system like newborn babies, pregnant women, teenagers and even adults. Once a person contracts chickenpox, he will never suffer from another bout of chickenpox. The virus will however remain dormant in the nervous system of the individual for life. If it ever gets active, it will lead to shingles, that is, a painful viral infection. We shall have a look at the different chickenpox symptoms that will help you spot this infection in your child as soon as it makes an appearance.

chickenpox Symptoms in Toddlers
chickenpox symptoms in toddlers usually comprises a distinct red rash with mild flu-like symptoms. Once the baby contracts the virus, he will begin to exhibit the symptoms within 10 to 21 days of infection. You will observe that the baby becomes tired and show slight fever before the actual chickenpox symptoms in toddlers appear. The baby will have a cough or runny nose and within 2 to 3 days a rash will appear on the scalp, face and trunk. This itchy rash may spread all over the body. The red skin bumps will soon develop fluid filled blisters with a pink base. These blisters will dry up with time and form brown crusts. A toddler may develop over 250 to 500 blisters on his/her body.

chickenpox Symptoms in Children
The chickenpox symptoms in children is not very different from the chickenpox symptoms in toddlers. The child suffers from an itchy skin rash. The child develops a fever, sore throat, headache, and feels sick 2 to 3 days before the appearance of the red red rash all over the body. The child has a fever that is about 100° - 102°F or higher in some cases. The rash appears on the scalp, mouth, nose, ears, back, abdomen and near the genitals. The small red bumps look like tiny pimples or insect bites. Soon they form blisters filled with fluid. The blisters soon burst open forming open sores. These open sores dry out to form brown colored blisters.

chickenpox Symptoms in Adults
The chickenpox symptoms in adults are more severe as compared to chickenpox symptoms in children. The chickenpox symptoms in adults include a fever, headache and body aches. Soon, the rash appears anywhere on the body. These red itchy bumps all over the body make life extremely uncomfortable. These rashes appear either in three or more than three waves in succession. These blisters are filled with a clear fluid, that soon bursts. The open sores dry and form crusts.

Is chickenpox Contagious?
chickenpox is extremely contagious and is spread by sneezing, coughing, and sharing food as well as drinks. People with chickenpox do not even know they are spreading the virus as the contagious period occurs before the chickenpox symptoms appear. The virus spreads through direct contact when one comes in contact with the blisters of an infected individual. In children, coughing and sneezing is the most common form of transmission. The virus undergoes an incubation period of 10 to 21 days after entering the body of a healthy individual. The infected person is highly infectious 2 days before the symptoms of chickenpox appear. The person remains infectious till the last blisters finally form scabs. Thus, one should keep infected children away from school for about 1 week. One may even develop chickenpox after coming in contact with a person with shingles.

This was all about the chickenpox symptoms. chickenpox treatment includes relieving the severe itching one suffers from. You can give your child or ask the infected person to take a cool bath with baking soda or colloidal oatmeal sprinkled in the water. Avoid picking or scratching on the blisters and sores to avoid secondary infections. The doctor may prescribe antihistamines to reduce itching. Acyclovir is the choice of drug for treating chickenpox. One can prevent chickenpox by getting vaccinated with the chickenpox vaccine. Speak to your doctor about the possible chickenpox vaccine side effects. Hope the above information on chickenpox symptoms was helpful for you in understanding the signs of this itchy infection.