Chickenpox
Chickenpox Chickenpox (varicella) is a common, preventable childhood infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It’s most common in young children and is usually mild, but can be very uncomfortable for your child. When adolescents and adults get it, they can be very sick. Chickenpox is very dangerous for people with immune system problems like leukemia, or for people taking medications that weaken the immune system. What are the symptoms? Chickenpox begins with a fever , aches and pains. Within 1 or 2 days your child will get a rash. The rash is usually itchy and can make your child uncomfortable. It appears on the scalp and face, spreading quickly down the body and onto the arms and legs. The spots start as flat pink spots that turn into small water blisters. New spots will form even after others turn into blisters. Some children only get a few blisters, but others can have as many as 500. Blisters dry up and form scabs in 4 or 5 days. Most children lose the