HealthInfo Canterbury

Chickenpox

Koroputa hei

Chickenpox is a viral infection caused by a virus called varicella-zoster.

You can catch chickenpox at any age, but it is most common in tamariki (children) under 10. For most tamariki, chickenpox is a mild disease, but some can get seriously sick. It is usually more severe for adults and pregnant women and their unborn babies. Also, people with a weakened immune system.

Chickenpox spreads very easily from person to person. It is usually spread through the air by coughs and sneezes. You can also catch it by touching something (like a door handle) that has the virus on it.

You will not notice any symptoms of chickenpox until 10 to 21 days after you catch the virus. The virus never leaves your body and stays resting (dormant) in your nerves. It can come back later in life as shingles.

Symptoms of chickenpox

Chickenpox usually starts with cold-like symptoms followed by a high temperature and itchy skin.

Flat or slightly raised red spots occur a day or 2 after the first symptoms. The spots are mostly on the head and chest to start with, but they may spread to the arms and legs. The spots may fill with fluid, forming small blisters. The blisters dry out and form scabs after about 7 days.

Self-care for chickenpox

The treatment for chickenpox aims to reduce the symptoms. It includes rest, soothing creams for the itchiness, and paracetamol for the pain and fever.

Do not take anti-inflammatory (NSAID) pain relievers such as ibuprofen for chickenpox. They can cause severe and life-threatening skin and soft tissue infections.

Getting help with chickenpox

See your general practice team if:

• you are not sure what the rash is
• you are pregnant
• you have a weakened immune system
• you or your tamaiti (child) are unwell with high fever, breathing problems, drowsiness or headache
• you or your tamaiti are struggling to drink enough
• the spots or the skin around them get inflamed.

Your general practice team may recommend antiviral drugs such as valaciclovir and aciclovir. They may recommend antibiotics if you also have a bacterial infection called cellulitis.

Preventing chickenpox

The chicken pox vaccine can protect tamariki and adults against chickenpox. The vaccine may also prevent or reduce the symptoms of chickenpox if you get it within 3 to 5 days of being exposed to someone with the disease.

The vaccine is free for tamariki:

• aged 15 months
• aged 11 years, if they have never had chickenpox or been vaccinated against it.

  HealthInfo recommends the following pages

• Immunise NZ – Varicella (chickenpox)

  Provides information about chickenpox and chickenpox in pregnancy. It also has information about the benefits and risks of immunisation.

• KidsHealth – Chickenpox

  Information about chickenpox in children.

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed May 2022.

Sources

Page reference: 49693

Review key: HICHI-49693