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Chickenpox is a highly contagious and common childhood disease caused by a virus in the herpes family of viruses called the varicella virus. The varicella virus can remain in the body for decades and become active again, usually in adults, causing herpes zoster (shingles). Shingles involves the occurrence of painful skin sores along the distribution of nerves across the trunk or face. The August 17, 2005, issue of JAMA includes an article reporting that use of the varicella vaccine to prevent chickenpox has greatly reduced medical expenses related to chickenpox. This Patient Page is based on one published in the February 18, 2004, issue of JAMA.

SYMPTOMS

• Itchy blisters on a red base, progressing to scabs, appear along with newer blisters, mainly on the trunk, face, and scalp and last 5 to 10 days
  
• Fever
  
• Headache
  

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RELATED ARTICLE

Impact of Varicella Vaccination on Health Care Utilization
Fangjun Zhou, Rafael Harpaz, Aisha O. Jumaan, Carla A. Winston, and Abigail Shefer
JAMA. 2005;294(7):797-802.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT