10 Signs and Symptoms of Chicken Pox
For most people, it’s just a mild illness, but the chickenpox virus cannot be treated
with antibiotics.
It has to just run its course.
Those infected with the chickenpox virus will experience discomfort and itchiness.
In only a matter of days, the rash will spread over the entire body.
Chickenpox is very contagious.
However, since most of us are either vaccinated or have had chickenpox when we were younger,
most of us are at low risk of catching the virus.
There is still a slight risk, however, especially for those of us who either have children or
work with children.
Nevertheless, if you fall into this category and still end up getting chickenpox, the good
news is that your symptoms will be much less severe, causing you to have a much milder
fever than normal and far fewer blisters.
Newborns and non-vaccinated individuals are the most at risk of catching chickenpox.
Chickenpox only tends to last 5 – 10 days and is usually a minor virus.
There are rare cases, however, when chickenpox can become more serious and lead to further
complications.
Some complications that can go hand-in-hand with the virus include dehydration, inflammation,
pneumonia, bacterial infections, toxic shock syndrome, and inflammation of the brain (encephalitis).
Additionally, catching chickenpox during pregnancy can cause issues for the baby, including birth
defects, limb abnormality, and low birth weight.
The threat of this is increased if a woman catches the virus closer to delivery (a week
or several days prior to delivery); which can cause a potentially life-threatening infection
for the baby.
So after all this, what are some indicators of chickenpox that one should look out for?
Here’s a list of the 10 signs and symptoms of chickenpox.
1.
Fever
Fever will likely be the earliest indicator of chickenpox.
Generally, a fever will occur 2-3 days before an outbreak of a visible rash occurs.
2.
Phase 1 – Rash
Needless to say, the primary and most noticeable symptom of chickenpox is a rash.
The rash tends to spread quickly over the whole body (on and inside the mouth, included)
and appears in bunches.
The rash appears between 10-21 days after contacting the virus, and is transferred via
contact with individuals with the rash, or through airborne transmission by coughing
and sneezing.
The rash develops in 3 phases.
The first phase is the rash, coming in pink or reddish bumps on the skin, that spread
quickly over several days.
3.
Phase 2 – Blisters
The next phase of chickenpox is the appearance of fluid-filled bumps that resemble blisters.
These appear on the area of the rash, and once they emerge, they will start to leak
and cause intense itchiness.
This is when the battle to resist incessantly itching begins.
4.
Phase 3 – Scabs
The third (and last) phase is when the rash begins to scab up, causing scabs all over
the body in the areas the rash previously was.
These scabs can take as long as 5-7 days to fully heal.
5.
A Continuing Rash
As previously mentioned, the rash comes in different stages, all coming at different
times.
It’s quite normal for someone with chickenpox to have several different stages of chickenpox
on their body at the same time.
This means that it’s possible to have a rash, blisters and scabs all at once until
the virus runs its course.
6.
Loss of Appetite
Regardless of age, those affected by chickenpox will lose their appetite.
This can be particularly dangerous for babies and young children, who require constant food
and nourishment to stay healthy.
It’s very important for parents to be on the look out for a lack of wet diapers, which
could be a sign of dehydration.
7.
Nausea
In addition to losing your appetite, you might find yourself feeling nauseous, and potentially
vomiting as well.
These are all symptoms of chickenpox.
Since chickenpox can also develop inside the mouth, a bland diet is generally a good idea,
and will help with the nausea.
Again – It’s very important to drink plenty of liquids when suffering from chickenpox,
regardless of age.
Lack of sufficient fluid intake can potentially result in hospitalization due to dehydration.
8.
Fatigue
A lack of energy and extreme tiredness, otherwise known as fatigue, is another symptom of chickenpox.
It’s a good idea to stay home and rest as much as possible during this time, allowing
the illness to run its course.
Not only is rest very important for recovery, but this will also reduce your chances of
spreading the virus to other people who are more vulnerable to the virus.
Doctors recommend that children suffering from chickenpox take 5-6 days off of school
or daycare.
9.
Headaches
Be it from the lack of food, fever, or just being sick in general, headaches are a common
symptom experienced by those suffering from chickenpox.
Drinking plentiful amounts of water will often help with these headaches.
It’s very important to note: Do not take aspirin when suffering from the chickenpox
virus, as doing so could result in Reye’s syndrome, which is a rare but serious condition
that can cause the brain and liver to swell.
Instead, ibuprofen or acetaminophen is recommended, but you should consult with your doctor before
taking any kind of over-the-counter painkiller.
10.
Body Aches
Feeling tired and sick, combined with the constant itching, can cause aching in general
across large portions of the body.
The majority of doctors will recommend a cool bath with baking soda or uncooked oatmeal
in the water to help relieve the itching, but a regular bath can also help calm and
sooth the body.