This is highly contagious exanthematous illness caused by Varicella Zoster virus (herpes group)

Clinical features

• Incubation period is approx 15 days

• This starts with mild fever and constitutional features like body ache, runny nose

Skin features

• Centripetal distribution ( more over the chest/ back)

• Lesions occur as crops and appear simultaneously

• Lesions presents papules/ vesicles/ crusting

• Lesions can be itchy and painful

• The lesions erupt for about 5-7 days

Remember

Chickenpox is contagious about 2 days before onset of rash until crusting of them.

Never give salicylates in chickenpox as they can develop Reye’s syndrome

Lab tests

• Tzanck tests- the ruptures vesicles are fixed on a slide and stained to look for multinucleated giant cells

• Virus culture

Treatment

• Acyclovir is prescribed if nervous involvement, immunocompromised

• Itching can be treated with oral or intravenous antihistamine

Prevention

• Vaccination- 12 months of age onwards

• Passive immunity- immunoglobulin in immunocompromised, neonates whose mother developed varicella 5 days or less before birth