Chickenpox: symptoms, how long it lasts and treatment

The NHS says the main symptom of chickenpox is an itchy, spotty rash, which can be anywhere on the body. Before or after the rash appears you might also have a high temperature, aches and pains and generally feel unwell, and lose your appetite.

The NHS says chickenpox happens in 3 stages, though new spots can appear while others are becoming blisters or forming a scab. Spots can be harder to see on brown and black skin.

The NHS says there are things you can do to treat chickenpox yourself at home without needing to see a GP. NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries (CKS) says that for treatment of symptoms, paracetamol, topical calamine lotion and, in some groups, chlorphenamine can be considered.

• Drink plenty of fluids (ice lollies can help if your child is not drinking).

• Take paracetamol to help with pain and discomfort.

• Cut your child's fingernails and put socks on their hands at night to stop scratching.

• Use cooling creams or gels from a pharmacy, and speak to a pharmacist about antihistamine medicine for itching.

• Bathe in cool water and pat the skin dry; dress in loose clothes.

• Do not use ibuprofen unless a doctor says to, as it may cause serious skin infections.

• Do not give aspirin to children under 16 years.

• Do not scratch the spots, as scratching can cause scarring.

The NHS says chickenpox usually gets better on its own after 1 to 2 weeks. You will usually need to stay off school, nursery or work until all the spots have formed a scab, usually 5 days after the spots first appeared. NICE CKS says vesicles appear in crops, and crusting usually occurs within 5 days, with crusts falling off after 1 to 2 weeks.

The spots start appearing around 1 to 3 weeks after you caught chickenpox, according to the NHS.

Yes. The NHS says you can spread chickenpox to other people from 2 days before your spots appear until they have all formed scabs, which is usually 5 days after they appeared. NICE CKS says transmission is by personal contact or droplet spread, and that up to 90% of susceptible close contacts develop the disease.

The NHS says you can catch chickenpox from being in the same room as someone with it, touching things that have fluid from the blisters on them, or someone who has shingles if you have not had chickenpox before. You cannot catch shingles from someone who has chickenpox.

The NHS says not to go near newborn babies or anyone who is pregnant or has a weakened immune system, as chickenpox can be dangerous for them.

Chickenpox is an acute infectious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus, according to NICE CKS. It predominantly occurs in childhood and is characterised by a blistering rash, often with fever and malaise.

CKS notes the virus persists in nerve cells, and years later it can reactivate and cause shingles (herpes zoster). Chickenpox is usually a self-limiting disease in healthy children.

Chickenpox can be more serious in pregnancy. The NHS says to get help from NHS 111 now if you are pregnant and have been near someone with chickenpox, and not to go near anyone who is pregnant if you have it.

NICE CKS lists severe maternal chickenpox and fetal varicella syndrome as complications in pregnancy, and neonatal chickenpox if varicella occurs in later pregnancy. It says to seek immediate specialist advice if a pregnant woman is infected. The Welsh Medicines Advice Service says pregnant women with chickenpox, or exposed to it, should be referred to their midwife or GP or NHS 111 for urgent assessment, and that chickenpox in pregnancy is a serious condition for both mother and baby.

Some people may be able to take medicine to prevent complications from chickenpox, which the NHS says needs to be started within 24 hours of the spots appearing. Contact the GP surgery before you go in if you think you might have chickenpox, so that others are not exposed.

The NHS says chickenpox is usually not serious but can be serious for some people. See a GP if you are not sure it is chickenpox, or you are breastfeeding and have chickenpox symptoms, and contact the surgery before you go in.

The NHS says to get help from NHS 111 now if any of the following apply, and to call 111 for advice for a child under 5.

• The symptoms get worse, such as red, hot or painful skin around the blisters.

• Your child has chickenpox and shows signs of dehydration, such as fewer wet nappies.

• You have been near someone with chickenpox and you have a weakened immune system or you are pregnant.

• You think your newborn baby has chickenpox or has been near someone with chickenpox.

• You have chickenpox and you are more short of breath than usual.

• You or your child have any other symptoms you are worried about.

NICE CKS lists bacterial skin infection as the most common complication, especially in young children, lung involvement, which is more common in adults, and severe disseminated disease with pneumonia, encephalitis, hepatitis and bleeding problems in people with weakened immune systems. It says antiviral treatment can be considered for an adult or adolescent aged 14 or over who presents within 24 hours of the rash starting, particularly if severe or at risk of complications.

The NHS says children are now offered the MMRV vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox (varicella). They are offered 2 doses, at 12 months and 18 months old, and older children born on or after 1 January 2020 are also offered 1 or 2 doses. You may also be offered the chickenpox vaccine on the NHS if there is a risk you could spread the virus to someone with a weakened immune system, for example if you live with someone having chemotherapy.

Most people with chickenpox are managed at home with advice from a pharmacist, and the NHS says you usually do not need to see a GP. NHS 111 is the route for worsening symptoms, babies, pregnancy or weakened immunity.

Some people choose to see a private GP for reassurance, particularly adults. In general terms the same advice applies, including staying away from people at risk. In pregnancy or with a weakened immune system, urgent assessment through a midwife, GP or NHS 111 should not wait for a private appointment.