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Symptoms of Chickenpox

Authors:
  • Cynthia M. Johnson, MA
Publication Type:

Condition InDepth

Symptoms of Chickenpox

Symptoms start 10 to 21 days after a person has come in contact with the virus.

Before the rash, a person may have:

  • Fever
  • General feeling of discomfort
  • Headache
  • Belly pain

A person will then get a rash that turns into itchy, fluid-filled blisters. It may spread over the whole body, including the mouth, eyelids, and genitals. The blisters will burst and scab over in 4 to 7 days. The scabs fall off in about 3 weeks.

References

  • Chickenpox. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/chickenpox.
  • Chickenpox. Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: https://familydoctor.org/condition/chickenpox.
  • Chickenpox (varicella). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/chickenpox.
  • Kennedy PGE, Gershon AA. Clinical features of varicella-zoster virus infection. Viruses. 2018;10(11):609.

Contributors

  • April Scott, NP
Last Updated:
2022-11-01

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This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.