Is it bad if adults get chicken pox?

Is it bad if adults get chicken pox?

The risk of hospitalization and death from chickenpox (varicella) is increased in adults. Chickenpox may cause complications such as pneumonia or, rarely, an inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), both of which can be serious.

What is chicken pox in adults called?

Shingles is a viral infection that results from the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox. It typically affects a single sensory nerve ganglion and the skin surface that the nerve supplies. Anyone who has had chickenpox can later develop shingles.

Why is chicken pox so bad for adults?

That means that if an adult who never contracted chickenpox starts breaking out in the little itchy blisters, they’re more likely to suffer side-effects such as pneumonia (an infection in the lungs), hepatitis (an infection in the liver), and encephalitis (an infection in the brain).

Is there a chickenpox vaccine for adults?

The chickenpox vaccine is recommended for all children under age 13 who have not had chickenpox. It is also recommended for all adolescents and adults who have not been vaccinated and have not had chickenpox. If you have had chickenpox, there is no need for you to get the vaccine.

What is the incubation period for chickenpox in adults?

The average incubation period for varicella is 14 to 16 days after exposure to a varicella or a herpes zoster rash, with a range of 10 to 21 days. A mild prodrome of fever and malaise may occur 1 to 2 days before rash onset, particularly in adults. In children, the rash is often the first sign of disease.

How contagious is chickenpox in adults?

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes the chickenpox infection. Most cases occur through contact with an infected person. The virus is contagious to those around you for one to two days before your blisters appear. VZV remains contagious until all blisters have crusted over.

How long do chicken pox in adults last?

Anyone who has not had chickenpox or gotten the chickenpox vaccine can get the disease. Chickenpox illness usually lasts about 4 to 7 days. The classic symptom of chickenpox is a rash that turns into itchy, fluid-filled blisters that eventually turn into scabs.