Chickenpox

Symptoms

People with chickenpox have small blisters (like a rash) on their skin.

These can be very itchy.

Other symptoms of chickenpox are:

• tiredness
• fever
• general aches and pains.

How long chickenpox lasts

If there are no complications:

• adults generally have the chickenpox infection for 3–7 days
• children are usually ill for about 5–10 days.

Teenagers and adults are more likely to have complications or feel sicker from chickenpox than children.

Treatment

Most people with chickenpox don’t need to see their doctor. Here are some things you can do to get through it (or help your child get through it):

• Take a lukewarm bath every 3–4 hours for the first few days. Add 4 tablespoons of baking soda, cornstarch or oatmeal to the water but do not use soap as it can dry out your child’s skin.
• Applying a soothing cream (emollient) such as Alpha Keri or fatty cream may help to relieve the itching. Calamine lotion is not recommended as it may dry out the skin.
• Put a towel-covered ice pack or cool, moist washcloth on itchy areas for 20–30 minutes. (Don’t share the towel or washcloth with anyone else.)
• If the itching is severe or is making it hard to sleep, take an antihistamine.
• Trim your fingernails and wash your hands often to prevent the rash from becoming infected if you scratch it.
• Take a pain reliever such as paracetamol for headache, fever or general aches and pains.

When you need to see the doctor

Infected blisters

Children often find it hard not to scratch the blisters and this can cause some of them to get infected. If this happens, you should take them to the doctor as antibiotics might be needed.

Serious complications

In very rare cases chickenpox can lead to pneumonia or problems with the kidneys, heart or joints. The nervous system may be affected, which may cause irritation and swelling in the brain (such as meningitis).

If you or a family member has any of the following symptoms with chickenpox, see your doctor or call an ambulance immediately:

• High fever
• Severe headache
• Sensitivity to light (light hurts your eyes)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stiff neck
• Confusion
• Sleepiness, difficulty waking or unconsciousness
• Convulsions (fits, seizures).

Call Healthline 0800 611 116 if you are unsure what you should do.

Chickenpox in pregnancy

Chickenpox during pregnancy can cause poor growth of the baby or even stillbirth.

It can spread to the baby during birth. 

If you’re pregnant and think you have been exposed to chickenpox, you should have a blood test to check whether you’re immune. If you aren’t immune, your doctor may give you an injection that can prevent chickenpox or make it less severe.

Prevention

The vaccine for chickenpox was added to the National Immunisation Schedule on 1 July 2017.

Immunisation

One dose of chickenpox vaccine is free for children aged 15 months. It is also free for children turning 11 years of age who have never been infected with or previously immunised against chickenpox.

Those with medical conditions that put them at high risk of chickenpox, such as patients before organ transplant or after chemotherapy, are eligible for two free doses of chickenpox vaccine, regardless of age.

For everyone else, chickenpox immunisation is available in New Zealand at a cost. Talk to your doctor if you’d like the chickenpox vaccination for you or your child.

Vaccine

The chickenpox vaccine on the National Immunisation Schedule is Varilrix.  Detailed information about the vaccine is published on the Medsafe website.

Making a decision about immunisation

Effectiveness

One dose of the vaccine will protect around four out of five people from any kind of chickenpox and almost everyone from severe chickenpox.

Some people who have been vaccinated may still get chickenpox, but they will have a milder illness.

Vaccination provides long term but probably not lifelong immunity to chickenpox. 

Risks associated with chickenpox

• Every year in New Zealand about 60,000 people catch chickenpox. Several hundred people need hospital treatment, and one or two people either die or suffer from long-term disability as a result of chickenpox.
• The severity and risk of complications is greater for adults. Complications can include severe skin infection, pneumonia and inflammation of the brain, kidney problems and sometimes death.
• Pregnant women and their babies are at greater risk of harm from chickenpox.  Chickenpox is also dangerous for people whose immune systems are weak, and people with liver or kidney problems.
• The lesions may leave mild scarring in some skin types.  Chickenpox can lead to shingles many decades after the initial disease.

Risks associated with the vaccine

• Common reactions following immunisation include fever and tenderness, similar to other childhood vaccines.  As with any vaccine, a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) occurs extremely rarely.  
• Some people may experience a mild rash similar to chickenpox between 5 and 26 days after immunisation.  In rare cases, this can be contagious – keep any blisters covered and stay away from anyone at risk of severe disease, such as people with weakened immune systems, babies or pregnant women.

Who shouldn’t have the vaccine?

You shouldn’t get immunised against chickenpox if you:

• are pregnant
• have a severe allergy to the vaccine or its ingredients, or an immune deficiency condition.

If you have further questions, talk to your doctor or practice nurse or call the Immunisation Advisory Centre free helpline 0800 IMMUNE (0800 466 863).