What is chickenpox?

Chickenpox, also known as varicella, is an infectious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus.

Chickenpox can affect people at any age. The disease is more serious in pregnant women and people with weak immune systems.

If you've had chickenpox, it can come back later in life in the form of shingles (herpes zoster).

What are the symptoms of chickenpox?

Chickenpox symptoms usually start around 2 weeks after infection with the chickenpox virus.

Look out for an itchy red rash that turns into blisters which burst and form a hard crust.

Often, chickenpox will also cause flu-like symptoms such as:

• headache
• fever — a temperature of 38°C or higher
• sore throat

These symptoms last between 10 and 21 days.

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

How can chickenpox affect my unborn baby?

Infection during pregnancy can also affect the health of your baby.

The effect on your baby depends on many factors, including how many weeks pregnant you are.

There's no evidence that getting chickenpox in your first trimester will increase your chance of miscarriage.

Chickenpox in the first 28 weeks of pregnancy carries a small chance of your baby developing fetal varicella syndrome (FVS).

Fetal varicella syndrome can cause:

• skin scarring
• eye problems
• small limbs
• brain and nerve problems

Your doctor will suggest that you have a detailed ultrasound scan 5 weeks after infection.

Chickenpox, labour and birth

If you're infected in your last 4 weeks of pregnancy, the virus may be active in your baby at birth. This happens in about 1 in 2 babies.

You can breastfeed with chickenpox if you're well enough and wish to do so.

Your baby is more likely to get severe chickenpox if you get it a week before or after giving birth.

Your doctor may treat your baby with antibodies and antiviral medicine after birth. This helps to stop them getting the disease.

What causes chickenpox?

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus.

How is chickenpox spread?

Chickenpox is very contagious. It spreads quickly in people who have contact with an infected person and aren't immune. You become immune to chicken pox through previous vaccination or past infection.

A person with the chickenpox virus can spread the disease in 2 ways:

1. You can spread chickenpox before you know you are sick. Before the rash appears, the virus spreads through cough droplets that travel through the air.
2. Once you have symptoms, the virus can spread through contact with the fluid in the blisters.

You can spread chickenpox until all your blisters have dried up and formed a crust. This is usually about 5 to 6 days after your symptoms start, but can be as long as 3 weeks.

You shouldn't meet up with other pregnant women and infants until your blisters have crusted over.

When should I see my doctor?

If you are pregnant and think you may have chickenpox, you should call your doctor straight away.

Do not go to the clinic since you might infect other people in the waiting room. Rather, call your doctor and they will let you know the safest way to see them.

If you're pregnant and have been near someone with chickenpox, you should also contact your doctor or midwife. You might be given antibodies to protect you from infection.

If you get this injection within 10 days of exposure, it may lower your chance of catching chickenpox. If a rash does develop you should contact your doctor or midwife.

Chicken pox is a notifiable disease. This means that the doctor who diagnoses chicken pox needs to report the case to the local health authorities. They will take steps to prevent or control an outbreak.

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How is chickenpox diagnosed?

Chickenpox is diagnosed based on your symptoms, including the rash. Sometimes a blood test or the testing of samples from the rash is needed.

How is chickenpox treated?

There is no special treatment for chickenpox.

Most people with chickenpox have mild symptoms and get better quickly, but chickenpox can still be uncomfortable.

Self-care at home

You can manage your symptoms at home by:

• taking paracetamol to lower a fever — always follow the instructions on the packet
• keep hydrated with water and other fluids
• getting plenty of rest

Your local pharmacy will have medicines and creams that can help relieve your itching.

Medicines for chicken pox

Chickenpox can be treated with antiviral medicine.

If you have been exposed to chickenpox, your doctor may suggest an injection of antibodies.

Chickenpox is a virus so it can't be treated with antibiotics.

What are the complications of chickenpox during pregnancy?

The most common complication is varicella pneumonia, which affects up to 2 in 10 pregnant women with chickenpox. This happens one week after the development of the rash.

You have a higher chance of getting varicella pneumonia if you:

• have more than 100 skin blisters from the rash
• smoke
• have a respiratory (lung) disease
• are immunosuppressed

You also have a higher chance of getting encephalitis (brain inflammation) or hepatitis (liver inflammation) if you get chickenpox while pregnant.

How can chickenpox be prevented?

The best way to protect yourself against chickenpox is by getting the vaccine. Most vaccinated people will not get chickenpox. People who do get infected usually have a milder form of chickenpox with:

• fewer blisters
• a lower fever
• a quicker recovery

The chickenpox vaccine will also protect you against getting shingles later in life.

Vaccination during pregnancy isn't advised.

I'm planning a pregnancy — should I be vaccinated?

If you are planning a pregnancy, you should see your doctor for a pre-conception health check.

If you've never had chickenpox or the vaccine, now is a good time to get vaccinated.

Your partner might also want to consider getting the vaccine. It's advised that all adults who have never had chickenpox or the vaccine get vaccinated.

Timing is important for pre-pregnancy vaccination. The 2 doses of the chickenpox vaccine are given at least 4 weeks apart. The second dose should be given at least one month before you stop using contraception.

Resources and support

Speak with your doctor or child health nurse for more information on Chickenpox in pregnancy.

Health translations have information in English and other languages about the measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox vaccine.