Chickenpox

Chickenpox is most common in children under the age of 10. Children usually catch chickenpox in winter and spring, particularly between March and May.

Symptoms

Chickenpox causes a rash of red, itchy spots that turn into fluid-filled blisters. They then crust over to form scabs, which eventually drop off.

Chickenpox spots

The spots normally appear in clusters and tend to be:

behind the ears on the face over the scalp on the chest and belly on the arms and legs

But, the spots can be anywhere on the body, including:

inside the ears and mouth on the palms of the hands soles of the feet inside the nappy area.

The rash starts as small, itchy red spots. These develop a blister on top and become very itchy after about 12 to 14 hours.

After a day or two, the fluid in the blisters gets cloudy and they begin to dry out and crust over.

After 1 to 2 weeks, the crusting skin will fall off naturally.

New spots can keep appearing in waves for 3 to 5 days after the rash begins. So, different groups of spots may be at different stages of blistering or drying out.

Before chickenpox spots appear

Before the rash appears, you or your child may have some mild flu-like symptoms, including:

feeling sick a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or over aching, painful muscles headache generally feeling unwell loss of appetite

These symptoms, especially the fever, tend to be more common and worse in adults than in children.

Contacting your doctor about chickenpox

For most children, chickenpox is a mild illness that gets better on its own.

Chickenpox tends to be more severe in adults than children. Adults have a higher risk of developing complications.

Contact your GP practice if: You or your child develop any abnormal symptoms, such as: the skin around the blisters becomes hot, red and painful, (redness may be harder to see on brown or black skin) pain in the chest or difficulty breathing signs of dehydration, such as fewer wet nappies, drowsiness and cold hands and feet blisters on their skin become infected any of your or your child’s symptoms suddenly get worse or You have been in contact with someone who has chickenpox, or you have chickenpox symptoms and: you are pregnant or have given birth in the last 7 days you have a weakened immune system (the body’s defence system) your baby is less than 4 weeks old you are breastfeeding If your GP is closed, phone 111.

Contact your GP practice if: you’re not sure if you or your child has chickenpox you’re worried about your child Tell the receptionist you think it might be chickenpox before going in to a GP practice.