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Chickenpox (Varicella)
- Topic Overview
-
Health Tools
- Cause
- Symptoms
- What Happens
- What Increases Your Risk
- When To Call a Doctor
- Exams and Tests
- Treatment Overview
- Prevention
- Home Treatment
- Medications
- Other Places To Get Help
- Related Information
- References
- Credits
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.
Watchful Waiting
Watchful waiting is a wait-and-see approach. If you know that you or your child has been in contact with someone who has chickenpox, watch for the first symptoms (such as fever, feeling sick, decreased appetite, headache, cough, and sore throat). These symptoms usually appear between 14 and 16 days after contact with the infected person. Call your doctor as soon as symptoms or signs appear.
Who To See
The following health professionals can diagnose and treat chickenpox:
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.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: July 30, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | Susan C. Kim, MD - Pediatrics Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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