Chickenpox is a highly contagious childhood rash illness caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Because the chickenpox vaccine is part of the national schedule in our country (two doses since 1 September 2026: at 12 and 48 months), the disease has become far less common than it used to be; even so, it still occurs in unvaccinated children.

Symptoms

After mild fever and fatigue, a rash develops that starts on the trunk and spreads to the face, scalp and the whole body. The typical course of the rash is: first a red bump → a fluid-filled blister → clouding → crusting. The simultaneous presence of lesions at different stages is characteristic of chickenpox. Severe itching accompanies it.

Contagiousness

It begins 1–2 days before the rash appears and continues until all the blisters have crusted over (usually 5–7 days). During this period the child should not be sent to school or daycare. It spreads through the respiratory tract and the fluid in the blisters.

Home Care

  • Nails should be kept short; an antihistamine may be used on a doctor's advice to reduce scratching
  • A lukewarm shower may be taken; blisters should not be popped, and no scrubbing (loofah/exfoliation) should be done
  • For fever, aspirin must never be given (risk of Reye's syndrome); ibuprofen is also best avoided, and paracetamol is preferred
  • Loose cotton clothing

When Should You See a Doctor?

Increasing redness and pain around the lesions (bacterial superinfection), a high and persistent fever, vomiting, drowsiness, loss of balance, rapid breathing, or a history of exposure in an infant younger than 3 months require urgent evaluation. Smallpox, on the other hand, is a completely different disease from chickenpox that has been eradicated worldwide; it does not occur today.

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Related articles: Vaccination schedule · Rash illnesses in children

This article is for general information purposes only; it does not replace diagnosis and treatment. For any concerns about your child's health, be sure to consult a specialist in pediatrics.

Uzm. Dr. Hasan Keleş — Specialist in Pediatrics, Gaziantep