Chickenpox (Varicella)  

Chickenpox (Varicella)

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Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease

caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). The
virus spreads easily from people with
chickenpox to others who have never had the
disease or never been vaccinated. If one person
has it, up to 90% of the people close to that
person who are not immune will also become
infected. The virus spreads mainly through close
contact with someone who has chickenpox.

A person with chickenpox is considered

contagious beginning 1 to 2 days before rash
onset until all the chickenpox lesions have
crusted (scabbed). Vaccinated people who get
chickenpox may develop lesions that do not
crust. These people are considered contagious
until no new lesions have appeared for 24
hours.

The varicella-zoster virus also causes shingles.

After chickenpox, the virus remains in the body
(dormant). People get shingles when VZV
reactivates in their bodies after they have
already had chickenpox. People with shingles
can spread VZV to people who have never had
chickenpox or never received the chickenpox
vaccine. This can happen through direct contact
with Ouid from shingles rash blisters or through
breathing in virus particles that come from the
blisters. If they get infected, they will develop
chickenpox, not shingles.

It takes about 2 weeks (from 10 to 21 days) after

exposure to a person with chickenpox or
shingles for someone to develop chickenpox. If
a vaccinated person gets the disease, they can
still spread it to others. For most people, getting
chickenpox once provides immunity for life. It is
possible to get chickenpox more than once, but
this is not common.

"Chickenpox Parties"—Don't Take

the Chance

In the past, some parents participated in

“chickenpox parties” to intentionally expose
their unvaccinated children to a child with
chickenpox in hopes that they would get
the disease. CDC strongly recommends
against hosting or participating in these
events. Chickenpox can be serious and can
lead to severe complications and death,
even in healthy children. There is no way to
tell in advance how severe your child’s
symptoms will be. So it is not worth taking
the chance of exposing your child to
someone with the disease. The best way to
protect infants and children against
chickenpox is to get them vaccinated.

For more information about how to prevent

chickenpox, see Prevention and Treatment.

Related Page

Chickenpox Signs and Symptoms

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Page last reviewed: April 28, 2021

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