Chickenpox
- Chickenpox Overview
- Chickenpox Causes
- Chickenpox Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Chickenpox Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Next Steps
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
Chickenpox Overview
Chickenpox, also known as varicella, is a highly contagious and self-limited infection that most commonly affects children between 5-10 years of age. The disease has a worldwide distribution and is reported throughout the year in regions of temperate climate. The peak incident is generally during the months of March through May. Lifelong immunity for chickenpox generally follows the disease. If the patient's immune system does not totally clear the body of the virus, it may retreat to skin sensory nerve cell bodies where it is protected from the patient's immune system. The disease shingles (also known as "zoster") represents release of these viruses down the length of the skin nerve fiber and produces a characteristic painful rash. Shingles is most commonly a disease of adults.
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Chickenpox
Skin Rashes in Children Introduction
A rash is a reaction of the skin. It can be caused by many things, such as a drug reaction, an infection, or an allergic reaction. Many different agents can cause similar rashes because the skin has a limited number of possible responses. Very often the associated symptoms in addition to the rash help make the diagnosis, such as a history of tick bites, exposure to other ill children or adults, recent antibiotic use, environmental exposures, or prior immunizations.
Most rashes caused by viruses do not harm your child and go away over time without any treatment. However, some childhood rashes have serious or even life-threatening causes. As a parent, you should be familiar with these rashes. Many rashes can look the same, making it difficult to know the exact diagnosis. Whenever you have a concern, see your doctor immediately.
Bacterial and Viral Rashes
Many childhood diseases...
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Varicella »
Varicella, commonly known in the United States as chickenpox, is caused by the varicella-zoster virus.
