How old is your brain? Take our FREE brain age test! Specially developed for those over 45!

MORE ABOUT

MORE ABOUT

CONDITIONS A-Z

Chicken Pox - Symptoms

Chicken Pox Symptoms

The most noticeable symptom of chicken pox is the red, itchy rash of fluid filled blisters.

Mild flu-like symptoms usually occur before the appearance of the rash, and may cause fever, body aches, headache, nausea and loss of appetite. These symptoms are generally more pronounced in adults than they are in children.

The rash usually appears on the stomach and back and then spreads to the face and arms and legs. The rash starts as small, itchy, red spots.  Fluid filled blisters (dew drop) develop over the area of redness. This 'dew drop on a rose petal' lesion is typical of chicken pox. The blister breaks down in around 12-14 hours and crusts over within 14 days.

Chicken pox blisters are very contagious and it is typical for new skin blisters appear every day for several days.

chickenpox

The number of blisters in a person with chicken pox varies. Though usually ranging in number from 100 to 300, older children and adults are prone to develop significantly more lesions. Chickenpox symptoms are usually more severe when caught from household members rather than from community contact.

People with conditions like sunburn or eczema may also suffer a more severe symptoms from chicken pox. Besides affecting the skin, blisters may also appear in the eyes, mouth, and vagina.

Remember that it is important to contact your doctor if you are pregnant or have a weakend immune system and have been in contact with someone that has chicken pox, even if you don't have any symptoms.

Chicken Pox Complications

Although chicken pox is generally a mild disease with uneventful recovery, a small number of people may develop complications. Newborns, people with weak immune systems and adults form a high-risk group.

The most common complications are skin infections and pneumonia.

Other more serious complications include encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and hepatitis. Reye’s syndrome is a serious complication that may be induced by treating chicken pox with aspirin.

Chicken pox may occasionally be problematic for pregnant women, causing stillbirths, birth defects, or infection of the newborn during childbirth.

____________________________________________________________________________

Related Pages:

___________________________________________________________________________

Twitter_ButtonFamily Health Guide brings you daily news from well-regarded sources such as JAMA, BMJ, Lancet, BMA, Leading Universities, plus articles from our own editorial team. Join the 100,000 people following @famhealthguide

______________________________________________________________________

More From FamilyHealthGuide

foetusProtein crucial for successful pregnancy. Healthy embryos contain a unique protein that directs attachment and helps the mother adapt to pregnancy... read more


Bee_Venom_Therapy12 Bizarre Health Fads that never made it. When it comes to our health, we're often ready to try almost any new potion that even a complete stranger suggests... read more


Hangover_myths10 Hangover Myths Debunked: Almost everyone you know seems to have a sure fire theory about how to have a big night out and still avoid the dreaded hangover...read more

 

Dying_for_too_little_sleepDying For Too Little Sleep: People who sleep for fewer than six hours each night are 12 percent more likely to die prematurely than those who get the recommended 6-8 hours... read more

 

abs7 Myths of Abdominal Training: The abs are the definition of a problem area when it comes to exercise and weight loss. Even on the most stringent diets, the midsection can be the hardest area to target... read more


pomegranate10 Foods to get you 'in the mood' From time immemorial, human beings have pursued ways to enhance their sex lives, and have never hesitated to go that extra mile...read more

 

Image source: DESOTODOCS



NEWS
Help take the hassle out of daily injections Help take the hassle out of daily injections
In the following video TV's Dr Christian ....
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
The book “The Seven Habits of Highly E ....
Natural pain relief that mimics medicinal marijuana Natural pain relief that mimics medicinal marijuana
A newly discovered molecular mechanism h ....
Gum disease linked with Alzheimer's Disease Gum disease linked with Alzheimer's Disease
Gum disease may increase the risk of cog ....
Active Families = Healthy Children Active Families = Healthy Children
The best way to prevent your kids from g ....
FEATURES
Save your pet from diabetes Save your pet from diabetes
You can help your pets stay diabetes fre ....
Diet and Lifestyle Tips to Help Prevent Cancer Diet and Lifestyle Tips to Help Prevent Cancer
There are more than 293,000 new cases of ....
Is food really making you ill? Is food really making you ill?
Our daily diet is regularly blamed for c ....
The Healing Power of Food The Healing Power of Food
The immune system is a complex and fanta ....
Benefits of Meditation and How to Get Started Benefits of Meditation and How to Get Started
More and more of us are learning to medi ....
MOST READ

Expert Medical Blogs

Latest Articles