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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff
The best-known signs of chickenpox are:
- A red, itchy rash that initially may look like insect bites
- Small, liquid-filled blisters that break open and crust over
The chickenpox rash occurs in three stages. First, there are raised pink or red bumps (papules). These bumps will turn into fluid-filled blisters (vesicles). And, finally, the vesicles will crust over and scab. It's possible that all three of these stages may occur at once.
The rash may be preceded by or accompanied by:
- Fever
- Abdominal pain or loss of appetite
- Mild headache
- General feeling of unease and discomfort (malaise) or irritability
- A dry cough
- Headache
Common sites for the rash include the face, scalp, chest and back. The rash can also spread across your entire body, even into your throat, eyes and vagina. New spots continue to appear for several days. In healthy children, the disease is generally mild.
When to see a doctor
If you suspect that you or your child has chickenpox, consult your doctor. He or she can easily diagnose chickenpox by examining the characteristic rash and by noting the presence of accompanying symptoms. Your doctor can also prescribe medications to lessen the severity of disease and treat complications, if necessary. Be sure to call ahead for an appointment, to avoid waiting and possibly infecting others in a crowded waiting room.
Also, be sure to let your doctor know if any of these complications occur:
- The rash spreads to one or both eyes.
- The rash gets very red, warm or tender, indicating a possible secondary bacterial skin infection.
- The rash is accompanied by dizziness, disorientation, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, tremors, loss of muscle coordination, worsening cough, vomiting, stiff neck or a fever higher than 103 F (39.4 C).
