What are the symptoms of chicken pox?

After a susceptible adolescent is exposed to an individual who is contagious with chicken pox, there is an incubation period of ten to twenty-one days prior to the onset of symptoms. Although symptoms may vary, one to two days prior to the onset of the chicken pox rash, an adolescent may experience malaise, fever, headache and loss of appetite. The chicken pox rash usually appears first on the scalp, face, chest or back. Typically 250 to 500 lesions occur over a five-day period that are initially very itchy and red. The lesions evolve from fluid filled vesicles that become cloudy, then finally crust and dry out. Most patients feel the sickest around day four of the rash when fever, itchiness and other discomfort peaks. The sores may also appear on mucous membranes including the eye, throat, vagina and anus. Around seven days after the onset of the chicken pox rash, most sores are dried and crusted, and the adolescent may return to his or her usual activities. The complications of ...  more

The symptoms of chicken pox are a red, irritating, itchy rash on the skin. It usually crops up first on the abdomen, back, or face and then spreads all over the body. The rash starts as red itchy bumps that look like an insect bite or sting and then turn into fluid-filled blisters. They then eventually break open into open sores and then finally start to heal over, leaving dried-out brownish-looking scabs that will fade over time, but possibly will leave scars. The sores usually appear over the period of 2-4 days and can be more severe if your child has any kind of skin disorder. Some children can contract a fever as well as abdominal pain. Younger children usually have milder symptoms and/or less blisters. Some parents report a running nose just before the illness starts which theythink is the beginning of a cold or allergies.  more

I got it last year (aged 25) and I was shocked when the doc told me. I had been feeling dizzy and kinda flu-like and I noticed a few heat spots on my neck and tummy. I went to the doc that afternoon (hadn't looked in a mirror since getting up in the morning) and was told I had chicken pox. I looked in the mirror at the doc's and was horrified to see I was covered in red blotches all over my face! Honestly I had thought it was a heat reash and a bit of a fluey bug. Be very careful around your little one as chicken pox is more dangerous to adults. If he does have it at least he won't remember it and it is milder in children, just be prepared for a very unhappy baby til they go away! Calamine lotion is good for cooling the 'pox' but something like Zovirax is great as the ingredient in that is ideal for zapping those spots! And it is impossible not to itch and end up with a few scars. That's what I hated most.  more