Chickenpox

Chickenpox is caused by the virus Varicella zoster. It’s spread through infected hosts through viral shedding of the vesicles it creates on the skin. Early signs include mild febrile illness, then the appearance of an itchy rash that quickly develops vesicles over 2-5 days.

After an outbreak, the virus lays dormant in the body. it is the cause of the condition known as shingles later in life as a remergence of this same virus from dormancy.

The illness begins with mild fever, headache, and malaise, followed by a very itchy rash. The rash progresses from red spots to fluid-filled blisters that crust over, and lesions at different stages are typically present at the same time across the trunk, face, and scalp.

Diagnosis is usually clinical, based on the characteristic itchy vesicular rash with lesions at different stages of healing. Laboratory confirmation by viral PCR or detection of antibodies is reserved for atypical or severe cases and for immunocompromized patients.