What Increases Your Risk

You are at risk for chickenpox if you have not had chickenpox or the vaccine and you:

• Live with someone who has chickenpox.
• Are indoors for more than 1 hour with someone who has chickenpox.
• Are in the hospital and share a room with someone who later develops chickenpox or are cared for by a staff member who later develops chickenpox.
• Have an impaired immune system.

Some people also are at increased risk of complications from chickenpox, such as newborns, teenagers, adults—especially pregnant women—and those who have impaired immune systems.

After you have had chickenpox or the vaccine, you become immune to the virus. It is possible that you may have a slight reaction after reexposure, such as a few spots and a slight fever. But you are not likely to get chickenpox more than once.

When To Call a Doctor

Call your doctor right away if you or your child with chickenpox has:

• A severe headache or constant vomiting, sensitivity to bright light, or unusual sleepiness or confusion. These may be signs of inflammation of the brain (encephalitis).
• Problems breathing or persistent coughing. These may be signs of varicella pneumonia.
• Red, warm, and sore skin, or if the chickenpox rash changes to bigger open sores. These may be signs of serious skin infection.

Call your doctor if you or your child with chickenpox has any of the following:

• A fever of more than 102°F (38.9°C) that lasts longer than 2 days
• Severe itching that cannot be relieved by home treatment
• Chickenpox rash on the eyeball
• A rash that lasts longer than 2 weeks

If you are older than age 12 and have not had chickenpox or don't know if you have had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine, call your doctor if you have been in contact with someone who has chickenpox. This is especially important for pregnant women and for people with impaired immune systems, no matter what age they are.

If you or your child has chickenpox, call your doctor to make an appointment and to discuss whether you should take any precautions when you arrive to avoid spreading the infection. For example, office staff may take you directly to an exam room upon your arrival rather than have you wait in the lobby.

Who to see

The following health professionals can diagnose and treat chickenpox:

• Family medicine physician
• Pediatrician
• Nurse practitioner
• Physician assistant
• Internal medicine doctor

If severe complications develop, you may be referred to a specialist. For example, you may see a pulmonologist for lung problems. But most healthy children and adults do not develop serious complications from chickenpox.

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.