Chickenpox guidelines for children with low resistance to infection

Key points below

For children with low resistance to infection

What is chickenpox?

Chickenpox is a contagious disease. This means it can be passed from person to person. Some children have a low resistance to chickenpox. Their bodies aren't able to fight off germs. This may be due to medicine they are taking or an illness they have.

How is it spread?

Chickenpox can be spread to others even before your child gets a rash. If your child sits by, plays with, or lives with someone who has chickenpox, they may also get it. It is contagious for 24 to 48 hours before you see the first spot on your child’s skin.

What are the symptoms?

Children with chickenpox normally start with a fever and cold symptoms. These may include a runny nose, watery eyes, or feeling tired. Within a day or two, a skin rash will appear. The rash may start on the stomach area, chest, back, or scalp. It then spreads over the rest of the body.
The skin rash or spots normally start within 10 to 21 days after your child is exposed to someone with chickenpox. The rash can be small red spots, fluid-filled spots, or raised red areas. Scabs will form over the spots. Chickenpox is contagious until all the spots have scabs on them.
After your child has chickenpox, they normally become immune to the disease. This means that once children get chickenpox, they probably won't get it again.

Important information

If your child has had chickenpox or had the vaccine in the past, they may have antibodies to fight the virus. Talk with your doctor if your child is exposed.
If your child gets chickenpox they may need to stay in the hospital for IV antiviral medicine or other treatment.
Do not bring your child or their siblings to the clinic if they have recently been exposed to, or have the chickenpox. Call your doctor/clinic for follow-up.

For more information: See the Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Chickenpox - Fact Sheet for parents. Go to: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/varicella/fs-parents.html

ALERT

Call your child’s doctor, nurse, or clinic if you have any questions or concerns or if your child has a low resistance to infections and:

Was sitting, playing or living with someone who had the chickenpox rash.
Was near someone 24 to 48 hours before breaking out in a rash.
Breaks out in the chickenpox rash.
Has special health care needs that were not covered by this information.