Chicken pox is a viral disease that is usually found in children but can affect adults. The varicella-zoster virus causes the disease. The most common symptom of disease is a rash composed of numerous itchy blisters that often burst and develop into crusts. The rash commonly develops on the face, chest and back. However, chicken pox often manifests with symptoms that can mimic the common cold or the flu. Patients will often complain of these flu-like symptoms prior to the development of the rash. Patients who have been exposed to the varicella-zoster virus and who develop flu-like symptoms will most commonly develop chicken pox.
Fever
Patients infected with the varicella-zoster virus often develop a fever, reports the University of Maryland Medical Center. The fever can begin a couple of weeks prior to the rash or manifest simultaneously with the rash. Most commonly it is a low-grade fever, but in some children the fever can reach 105 degrees Fahrenheit. The varicella-zoster virus causes the release of fever-causing chemicals. The higher temperature increases the efficiency of the immune system and helps slow down viral reproduction.
Malaise
Chicken pox can often cause malaise, according to the Mayo Clinic. Malaise is the overreaching feeling of unease and discomfort. Patients can also complain of irritability. These symptoms mimic the body discomfort and fatigue that is commonly attributed to the cold. The virus leads to minor muscle damage, which causes the malaise. Malaise manifests with the other flu-like symptoms of the disease and therefore can occur before or after the typical chicken pox rash develops.
Headache
Headaches can be a symptom of chicken pox, states The New York Times Health Guide. Headaches are often seen in viral diseases, such as the flu and the common cold. The headaches are usually mild and are easily treated with over-the-counter medications. The headache is usually felt prior to the development of the typical rash. Headaches are typically a sign of the initial infection with the varicella-zoster virus.
Cough
A cough can be a symptom of viral diseases like the flu or chicken pox. The cough is a dry, non-productive cough that can be painful, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. After the initial exposure, patients will often develop the cough in 10 to 20 days. As the virus replicates, it irritates the tissues of the throat and respiratory tract. This irritation stimulates the patient's cough reflex. This symptom resolves as the disease progresses.
