Chickenpox Symptoms

Of all the diseases associated with childhood, chickenpox is one of the most contagious. Vaccinations have helped to limit the number of cases, but even people who have been vaccinated sometimes contract the virus that causes the condition.

The most notable aspect of the illness is the outbreak of blisters. A child with chickenpox may be covered with several hundred or over a thousand blisters, which are filled with fluid. Beneath the blisters are tiny red spots. Often times, the sores appear on the head first and then begin to span out over the entire body. The numbers of skin blemishes can vary significantly from case to case. Some people have very few noticeable signs. The marks can appear almost anywhere on the body, including the mouth and eyelids. People with existing skin conditions are predisposed a larger outbreak.

Though the condition looks frightening, children usually recover rather quickly and without complications. If the pox become infected, most often from scratching, they may take longer to heal and can eventually leave a scar.

Generally, the things kids complain of when they catch the virus are vague. They may say they have a stomach ache or a headache. They may develop a fever and not feel like eating. These symptoms can precede the skin irritations by a couple days or more.

Here is an extensive list of things to watch for with the disease: cough, fever, abdominal pain, joint pain, decreased appetite, rash, blisters, skin lesions, itching, bumps and increased body warmth that is noticeable to the touch.

Children who have been inoculated against the virus and still develop the disease usually recover much more quickly and have very few pox marks on their skin. The number may be less than a couple dozen, which is small compared to what is possible.