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How long does chickenpox last?

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

Chickenpox is an infection that more or less everyone knows about. It is caused by the herpes zoster virus and is very contagious. It usually appears in childhood, but some do not suffer until adulthood, which is much more severe. It is highly infectious, although chickenpox vaccines currently exist, and it is not as common as it used to be. It is characterized by a rash all over the body of pimples or water-filled blisters that are better not to touch, although they are constantly itchy and challenging to endure so as not to scratch.

In some cases, a fever may also appear. It is hazardous in premature babies under one year of age or in those born after the mother had chickenpox during pregnancy. By not having treatment as such, you have to let it pass on its own, which can last a long time. how long does chickenpox last

Why does chickenpox occur?

Chickenpox is a contagious infection caused by the zoster virus that usually occurs in children, although it can appear at any age and more if it has been infectious. It is said that people who have had it are not as susceptible to being infected as those who do not, and in adulthood, it is much more severe than in children.

Currently, there is a vaccine usually given at 12 or 18 years of age against chickenpox and can help prevent it in 80% of cases, thus preventing its spread.

It is characterized by the appearance of pimples all over the body that gives a constant itching sensation, although small water-filled blisters are also widespread. It is essential not to scratch, as it could be a mark, and many people who suffered from it in their day have small scars from chickenpox. The water bubbles break easily and create a crusting wound, but they will fall off in a few days. If this happens, it is best not to touch the scab. It can also lead to fever, but it does not occur in all cases.

It is common for adults or those with the lowest defenses to suffer complications, such as pneumonia or even encephalitis (brain inflammation) due to chickenpox.

Very young children under six months or even one year old are irritable with complications due to their low defenses, as are premature babies. However, healthy children between the ages of 12 and 14 are the least likely to suffer complications.

Chickenpox contagion

Chickenpox is contagious and spreads through pimples or blisters until they dry up and are no longer dangerous or even from a sneeze or cough through the air. In addition, it is contagious from the incubation period until it is suffered.

Chickenpox usually occurs (if it occurs) only once in a lifetime; although a tiny percentage of people relapse, it is not shared. When chickenpox reappears in adults, it is not called chickenpox, but herpes virus or shingles, a reactivation more severe than chickenpox.

Chickenpox symptoms

The intensity and symptoms vary significantly from one person to another, but the most common symptoms are:

  • Eruption. There may be a few loose pimples in some cases, while there is a more substantial rash all over the body in others.
  • Fever. Fever does not always appear, but if there is, it can reach 40 °.
  • In some cases, a headache occurs.
  • Stomach pain may also appear.

How many days does chickenpox last

Chickenpox can last a long time, considering that you have to count the incubation time and illness.

The incubation time is from the moment of infection until the first symptoms of chickenpox appear and usually lasts from 8 to 28 days. You can spend a month incubating chickenpox without realizing it. The usual thing is that the incubation lasts approximately two weeks, between 14 and 16 days. The person who has been infected begins to notice the symptoms two weeks after contact with the infected person.

The peak level of contagion is during the 24 to 72 hours before the first eruption, that is, up to three days before the first symptoms, during incubation. And all the time that the person is suffering from chickenpox, it will be contagious until the moment when all the pimples have disappeared or have crusted over.

The affected person may feel poor appetite or stomach pain during this period, even a general malaise.

Once the rash and the first symptoms appear, chickenpox usually has 4 to 7 or 10 days of evolution in which the inflammation is more intense at first, and little by little, the pimples disappear or form a scab. In adults, the duration maybe a few days longer than in children.

Chickenpox in adults

Chickenpox is more dangerous in adults than in children since it can lead to complications such as pneumonia or inflammation of the brain, which could be fatal.

When a person who is not vaccinated has not suffered chickenpox during childhood, they should be cautious if their child or a child around them has it. Extreme precautions must be taken.

The symptoms are pretty severe in adults, and they may have high fevers and much stronger rashes. In addition, it usually lasts a few days longer than in children.

If it is suffered while pregnant, the risk is even more significant since it could lead to congenital infection.

Chickenpox treatment

Chickenpox is not treated as such, but it goes away. The body of a healthy child can fight chickenpox on its own. What can be done is to make him feel as comfortable as possible and get rid of the infection in the best way possible. Yes, creams or lotions can be prescribed to relieve itching.

When the person suffering from it is an adult or adolescent who also has a lung condition, then antiviral drugs will be administered.

There is also a vaccine against chickenpox that can prevent the disease in up to 80% of cases. This vaccine can also be applied within 72 hours after exposure to the virus, and, in this way, its spread, complications, and reinfection in the form of herpes zoster are avoided.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to How long does chickenpox last, we recommend that you enter our Skin, Hair and Nails category.

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