Chickenpox is an illness commonly experienced in childhood. Symptoms include fever, flu-like symptoms and itchy blisters that cover the body. MedlinePlus explains that the illness is highly contagious but can be prevented or made less severe by getting vaccinated against the disease. Rarely, complications can occur with chickenpox, including encephalitis, pneumonia and bacterial infection.
Varicella-zoster
The virus that causes chickenpox is called varicella-zoster and belongs to the same family as other herpes viruses. Varicella-zoster is also the virus responsible for causing shingles in adults, explains MedlinePlus. Information provided by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases explains that shingles occurs due to re-activation of the varicella-zoster virus in adults who had chickenpox earlier in life.
Spread of Disease
Chickenpox is highly contagious and can be spread by contact with the bodily fluids of an infected individual, explains information provided by the Directors of Health Promotion and Education. This occurs when there is contact with broken chickenpox blisters or when the infected person coughs or sneezes into the air and doplets carrying the virus are inhaled by another.
Time Frame
MedlinePlus explains that chickenpox appear from 10 to 21 days following infection by varicella-zoster. Additionally, exposed individuals may transmit the virus to others for two days before any chickenpox appear and remain contagious until all blisters have crusted over. The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases says that this usually takes from five to seven days.
