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What is Chickenpox?

CHICKEN POX: Patient Information. What is Chicken Pox? Chicken pox is a highly contagious viral disease that is spread by direct contact or breathing in germs from someone's cough or sneeze. Two weeks after exposure, chicken pox spots appear on the body.
What are the signs and symptoms? The following symptoms will occur 10-21 days after exposure to chicken pox: 1.Low grade fever. 2.Runny nose, slight cough. 3.Decrease in appetite. 4.Headache. 5.Tired, rundown feeling. These symptoms usually occur 24-48 hours before the spots appear on the body. When the spots first appear they will start on the chest, back, or face, and eventually are seen over the entire body. The spots may occur in the mouth as white ulcers, and as ulcers in the ears and eyes.
How is Chicken Pox treated? 1.Baking soda bath. 2.Calamine lotion as needed to skin. 3.Benadryl liquid or capsules taken by mouth for itching. 4.Acetaminophen (Tylenol) for fever above 102 degrees = No Aspirin!!!! 5.For sores in mouth, rinse with warm water - hydrogen peroxide mouth rinses. Keep the sores clean by bathing daily. If the sores look infected, wash them well and apply Neosporin or Bacitracin ointment 4 times a day.
What else do I need to know about Chicken Pox? 1.Chicken pox is spread by direct contact or breathing in from nose and throat secretions. 2.Crusts do not contain the virus. 3.Crusting occurs in 5 to 10 days after breakout. 4.Children are not to go to school for at least 7 days - until all sores are crusted. 5.Trim nails and do not scratch. 6.Bathe daily. 7.Let scabs fall off by themselves. 8.Call if your symptoms are persistent.
1996 - LSUMC Family Medicine Patient Education Home Page

A typical case of chickenpox

Severe skin infection with chickenpox

Necrotizing fasciitis with chickenpox

Hemorrhagic chickenpox
Photos used with permission from Merck

Why is it called chicken pox?

From Parents Place on ivillage.com Answered by Robert Steele, MD when asked by a 7 1/2 year old boy named Benjamin. "...When chicken pox was first described, it was noted that the pox lesions looked more like they were placed upon the skin rather than being a part of the skin themselves. In fact, people long ago felt they looked like chick peas placed upon the skin. The Latin word for chick peas is cicer which is the original word that chicken pox got its name....."


Date last modified: October 16, 2007