Feeling unwell
Fever, aches, and reduced appetite may occur before or around the time the rash appears.
Understand the illness. Prepare your questions.
Clear information about chickenpox.
Learn the basics, recognize reasons to seek care, and organize what you want to discuss with a healthcare professional.
When to get medical help →General education, not a diagnosis or personalized medical advice.
Call ahead before attending a clinic: explain that chickenpox is suspected so staff can reduce exposure to others. Do not delay emergency care.
The basics
What is chickenpox?
Chickenpox is a highly contagious infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It can affect children and adults. A healthcare professional can assess a suspected infection; other illnesses can also cause a rash.
Spots, blisters, scabs
Itchy spots may become fluid-filled blisters and then scabs. New spots can appear alongside older lesions.
Appearance varies
Spots may look pink, red, darker, or similar to surrounding skin. They can be harder to see on darker skin.
Know when to act
When to get medical help.
Seek emergency help now
Difficulty breathing, confusion, or difficulty waking someone requires urgent emergency assessment.
Do not use this page or its notes tool to decide whether a serious symptom can wait.
Contact a clinician promptly
- Fever persists, symptoms worsen, or the skin becomes hot, painful, or leaks pus.
- There is a stiff neck, trouble walking, repeated vomiting, or severe abdominal pain.
- The person is a baby, adolescent, adult, pregnant, or immunocompromised.
After exposure, seek prompt advice if pregnant, immunocompromised, or not immune. Preventive treatment may be time-sensitive.
Protecting other people
Exposure and contagiousness.
Before and after the rash
Symptoms typically begin 10–21 days after exposure. A person can spread chickenpox 1–2 days before the rash until every lesion has crusted.
Vaccinated people with lesions that do not crust remain contagious until no new lesions appear for 24 hours.
School, work, and close contact
Stay away from others while contagious, especially newborns, pregnant people, and those with weakened immunity. Follow local public-health and school or workplace instructions about returning.
Ask a clinician if you are unsure whether you remain contagious.
Comfort and treatment
Caring for someone with chickenpox.
Comfort measures
Offer fluids, use cool baths, and keep nails short to limit scratching. Ask a pharmacist about suitable itch relief.
Watch for worsening symptoms rather than relying only on how the rash looks.
Medication precautions
Never give aspirin to children with chickenpox. Avoid ibuprofen unless a clinician advises it. Ask about age-appropriate acetaminophen/paracetamol and follow dosing instructions.
Antivirals may be appropriate for some people and work best when started early. Contact a clinician promptly.
Prevention
Ask about vaccination and immunity.
Vaccination helps prevent chickenpox and severe disease. Eligibility and schedules vary by location and medical circumstances; ask your local clinician or public-health service. Do not intentionally expose anyone to chickenpox.
After infection, the virus can remain in the body and later reactivate as shingles.
A useful conversation starts with good notes
Prepare for your appointment.
Select questions and record what you have noticed. This tool does not assess symptoms or recommend treatment. Entries stay on this page, are not transmitted by this tool, and disappear when you refresh or leave.
Your appointment notes
Complete the fields and choose questions, then select Create my notes.
Printed notes may contain sensitive health information. Keep them somewhere private.
Common questions
Chickenpox FAQs.
Can adults get chickenpox?
Yes. Adults without immunity can get chickenpox, and complications are more likely than in healthy young children. Seek prompt clinical advice for suspected infection.
Can vaccinated people still get it?
Yes, although illness is usually milder. They can still spread the virus.
Can someone get chickenpox twice?
It is possible but uncommon. Have a new or unexplained rash assessed rather than assuming the cause.
Is this website a medical service?
No. Chickenpox.org provides general educational information. It does not diagnose illness, provide individualized treatment, or replace professional care.
Further reading
Public-health sources.
This overview draws on the resources below. Chickenpox.org is not affiliated with these organizations. Consult the original guidance and local health services for recommendations relevant to you.
CDC: About chickenpox → CDC: Chickenpox treatment and when to seek help → NHS: Chickenpox symptoms and care →