Chickenpox

Alternative names:

varicella

Symptoms:

• achy and feverish (one day prior to rash)
• a skin rash or lesion on the chest, back, shoulders, scalp, or other areas
• lesions on the mouth, vagina, rectum, eye, or other mucus membranes
• the rash changes over several hours to fluid-filled blisters
• crusting, after the blister breaks, occurs two to four days
• crusts become progressively darker with time
• scabs fall off in about nine to 13 days
• itching, may be severe

Signs and tests:

The appearance of the rash is sufficient to establish the diagnosis.