Human Body: What is chickenpox?

Chickenpox is a strain of the Varicella zoster virus, which many of us have experienced during our youth. Most prominent in children under ten, the virus is contracted through coughing and sneezing or transferred on shared objects, which makes schools a prime location.

The most famous symptom is the appearance of small itchy red spots, which vary in size from 10-20 millimetres (0.4-0.8 inches) across. The extent can vary but in most cases they cover the face, arms, legs, stomach and back. These develop into fluid-filled blisters and are often accompanied by a fever. The blisters burst, scab over and fall off within a few days, but new waves of spots can emerge to replace them; it usually takes one to two weeks for the body to regain control. Chickenpox is rarely serious but it is important not to interfere with the scabs as infection can make it more severe.

A vaccine is only offered in extreme circumstances when an individual may have a weak immune system or be particularly vulnerable to the disease.

After the outbreak, chickenpox doesn’t disappear entirely. The disease lies in a dormant state within the body as your immune system keeps it under wraps. The infection can break out again later and reappear as shingles. A rash builds up on a certain point of the body and the symptoms return, most commonly in people over 50. On average, three in every 1,000 people contract shingles in the UK each year.