Varicella can be serious especially in persons with weakened immune systems, such as pregnant women, persons with HIV infection, persons receiving cancer chemotherapy or other immunosuppressive medications for arthritis, asthma, allergies, or organ transplant. Persons with a weakened immune system should contact their doctor as soon as possible if they are exposed.

Since Varicella is highly contagious, it is best to stay home when you have Varicella. You should contact your doctor for advice regarding the antiviral medication. If you develop confusion, vomiting, persistent fever beyond 3 days, cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, or extreme skin pain you should also contact your doctor.

By demonstrating a verbal history verified by a healthcare provider; by vaccination with two doses of Varivax; or by a blood test that shows immunity to varicella.

Chickenpox is an infectious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which results in a blister-like rash, itching, tiredness, and fever. The rash appears first on the trunk and face, but can spread over the entire body causing between 250 to 500 itchy blisters in unvaccinated persons. Prior to use of the varicella vaccine, most cases of chickenpox occurred in persons younger than 15 years of age and the disease had annual cycles, peaking in the spring of each year.

Varicella causes a rash characterized by fluid filled, blister-like “vesicles” that are very itchy and usually spread from the chest, abdomen, and face to the limbs. There may be a mild fever and fatigue 1-2 days prior to the onset of the rash. The vesicles usually last from 3 to 7 days, then they dry up and scab over.

Herpes viruses have two main characteristics: they stay with you for life, and they cause spreading skin eruptions. The virus that causes chickenpox and shingles fits that description perfectly.

Yes. Transmission may occur from person to person from infected rspiratory tract secretions. Transmission may also occur by respiratory contact with airborne droplets or by direct contact or inhalation of aerosols from vesicular fluid of skin lesions of acute Chickenpox (Varicella) or Shingles (Herpes Zoster).

Persons with Varicella are contagious from 5 days prior to the rash until all of the blisters are scabbed over.

Yes, complications of Varicella include serious bacterial infection of the blisters, brain swelling (encephalitis), and pneumonia. 1 out of every 60,000 cases of Varicella will end in death. Children with Varicella should not take aspirin as there is a chance of developing Reye’s syndrome. A latent form of Varicella called Herpes Zoster or “Shingles” can occur later in life long after a person had primary Varicella.

There is a vaccine for Varicella. The vaccine, given within 72 hours of exposure to Varicella, may prevent getting the disease. The vaccine is 2 doses 1 month apart for persons >12 yrs old. Only 1 dose is needed for children less than or equal to 12 yrs old. The vaccine cannot be given to persons with weakened immune systems as it is a live attenuated vaccine.

Having Varicella as a child usually protects you for life. There have been cases of people getting Varicella more than once, but this is unusual. If you are unsure if you have had Varicella you can get a blood test called a Varicella titer. It is available at the Student Health Center.

The incubation period (time from exposure to onset of disease) is 14 to 16 days with a range of 10 to 21 days.

Yes, the vaccine is thought to provide some protection from getting the disease if given within 72 hours of exposure. It may be of some benefit up to 5 days after exposure. The benefit of receiving the vaccine at this time would provide protection from future exposures.

Persons who are unsure of their history of Varicella should get the Varicella titer. The 1 dose vaccine is recommended in this age group.

virus. However, scientists do know that it more commonly occurs in people over age 50, and in those who have a weakened immune system brought on by an illness such as cancer and certain medical treatments such as chemotherapy.

Hospitals should develop guidelines for management of vaccinated health care workers who are exposed to varicella. Seroconversion after varicella vaccination does not always result in full protection against disease.

A huge number of providers have expressed their concern and confusion about the long-term effects of varicella vaccination. The article by Watson in the June issue of Pediatric Annals discusses this further.

Yes. Many of the deaths and complications from chickenpox occur in previously healthy children and adults. From 1990 to 1994, before a vaccine was available, about 50 children and 50 adults died from chickenpox every year; most of these persons were healthy or did not have a medical illness (such as cancer) that placed them at higher risk of getting severe chickenpox. Since 1999, states have been encouraged to report chickenpox deaths to CDC.

Available data suggest that the risk of vaccine virus transmission from healthy vaccinated persons is very low and occurs only if the vaccinated person has a rash. With the currently licensed single-antigen varicella vaccine, there have been 5 documented cases of transmission resulting in 6 secondary infections. Four of the cases of transmission occurred from healthy vaccinated children and the fifth occurred from an immunocompetent adolescent.