Varicella (Chickenpox) Disease

What is Varicella?

• Varicella, also known as chickenpox, is a contagious disease that causes an itchy rash of blisters.
• A person with chickenpox may have as many as 500 blisters.
• The rash can spread over the whole body.
• Chickenpox can be serious and life-threatening especially to babies, adolescents, adults, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.

What are the symptoms?

• The most common symptom of chickenpox is the itchy rash of blisters that can appear all over the body.
• Other symptoms can occur 1-2 days before there rash appears.
• Those symptoms include:
  --Fever
  --Headache
  --Feeling tired
  --Decreased appetite

How does Chickenpox spread?

• Chickenpox spreads easily, by having direct contact with a person with the disease.
• It can also spread by touching the blisters of a person who has chickenpox.
• It can also spread through tiny droplets that get into the air when someone who has chickenpox breathes or talks.
• Chickenpox can spread as early as 1 to 2 days before the infected person's rash appears to until all the blisters have formed scabs.

Where can I find more information?

• Ask your doctor, or contact your local county health department
• Email the Alabama Department of Public Health, Immunization Division, at [email protected]
• Go to cdc.gov and type 'Varicella' in the SEARCH box.
• Read, print, and share our Varicella Fast Fact Flyer to learn more about pertussis disease and vaccines.

Resources

• Varicella and Breakthrough Varicella presentation
• Varicella & Shingles: Overview of VZV Disease and Vaccination for Healthcare Providers presentation
• Varicella Vaccine Information Statement