Chickenpox is caused by a virus called varicella zoster virus, a member of the herpesvirus family, which also causes shingles. Chickenpox is extremely contagious and can spread by direct contact, droplet transmission and airborne transmission. When someone becomes infected with chickenpox, it appears between 10 and 21 days later. The person becomes contagious 1 to 2 days later the outbreak and remain contagious while blisters are without crust. When you catch chickenpox, the virus stays in the body for life, kept in check by the immune system. About 1 in every 10 adults have herpes zoster. Complications are more common in those who are immunocompromised due to illness or medicines like chemotherapy. Some of the worst cases of chickenpox have been seen in children who have taken steroids during the incubation period, before they have any symptoms.

Symptoms
Most children with chickenpox symptoms such as fever, headache, stomach pain or loss of appetite. These symptoms last 2 to 4 days after the outbreak.
The average child has between 250 and 500 small blisters. These usually appear first on the face, trunk or scalp and then spread to the rest of the body. After 2 days the blisters turn into scabs. Chickenpox sometimes appears in the mouth, vagina and eyelids. Children most at risk are those suffering from other skin problems like eczema, they can have up to 1,500 blisters.
Some vaccinated children may show mild case of chickenpox usually have fewer blisters and recover much faster.

Treatment
In most cases it is enough to keep children comfortable while their own bodies fight the disease. Oatmeal baths in lukewarm water provide a comforting layer on the skin. An oral antihistamine can help relieve itching, as well as topical lotions. Trim the fingernails short to reduce secondary infections and scarring.
Antiviral medicines have been developed that are safe. To be effective, they usually must be started within the first 24 hours of the rash. For most children, that apart from this, are healthy is possible that the benefits of these medicines may not outweigh the cost. Adults and adolescents at risk for more severe symptoms, may benefit if the case is seen early in its course.
For those with skin diseases, lung conditions or those that have recently taken steroids, antiviral drugs can be of great importance. The same is also true for children and adolescents should take aspirin consistently.
A person who may have chickenpox, you should not take aspirin, because its use has been associated with Reye Syndrome. Ibuprofen is associated with more severe secondary infections. We ingest paracetamol.