The infection is contagious from the incubation period which begins with about 10 to 21 days before the rash and until the last blisters have crusted.

In most of the cases for young patients the infection does not lead to complications. Age is very important for the way this disease is curing. For older people, complications such as hemorrhagic disease or secondary infections may occur.

The vaccination of children avoids the acquiring of the virus in childhood. This fact is not really helping the children because, when they become adults they are more exposed to develop chicken pox and the complications at an older age are unavoidable.

Usually no symptoms, except fever, occur before the blister rash. The blister rash goes through the next stages: in the beginning only red spots appear. After their appearance the red spots begin to increase until they develop into small blisters. Within less than a week blisters break and form a crust. Itching is severe in this last stage.

Blisters appear in many cases on the scalp and in the mouth. After their appearance they spread all over the body especially over the shoulders, chest and back. Depending on every case their number may be reduced or they can be hundreds spread on the body.

The specialist should be consulted if problems appear. If the rash involves an eye or if high fever is lasting, treatment is necessary. Other complications are nausea, possible secondary infections or even pneumonia and neurological problems.

Not so many treatments are known for this virus. Acyclovir is the most used treatment for chicken pox. Combined with natural treatments such as brown vinegar and oatmeal baths or soups of carrot and coriander the treatment usually helps. For patients with a more complicated form of infection hospitalization is needed.

Special cases of people who are not allowed to take the vaccine are treated with varicella zoster immune globulin (VZIG). This treatment is usually prescribed in order to prevent the infection with the varicella virus. It is recommended especially for newborn infants, whose mothers acquired the infection before the transfer of the antibodies was done, and also for pregnant women or people with weak immune system.

Anyway it is recommended for someone that acquired chicken pox to see a specialist in order to avoid as much as possible the complications that this infection may cause.