Chickenpox Information for Families

Chickenpox, also known as varicella, is a very contagious rash illness caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). VZV stays dormant in the body can reactivate later in life to cause shingles (herpes zoster).

Chickenpox causes a fever and an itchy rash that starts on the torso and face and then spreads all over the body. The rash has fluid-filled blisters that last for 3 to 7 days before they scab. People with chickenpox are contagious from two days before the rash starts until the entire rash scabs over.

Chickenpox spreads by touching someone with the rash or through the air. People with shingles can also pass the virus that causes chickenpox to others. People can get chickenpox up to three weeks after they are exposed. Someone who is vaccinated or who has had this illness probably will not get chickenpox. However, vaccinated people sometimes get mild cases.  People with mild symptoms can still spread chickenpox to others.

People with chickenpox should stay home until the entire rash scabs over. If the rash does not scab, they should stay home until no new spots appear within 24 hours. Someone with chickenpox should avoid contact with infants, pregnant women, and anyone with a suppressed immune system.

Frequently asked questions about chickenpox: https://dph.georgia.gov/chickenpox-family-faqs

Prevention

Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent chickenpox. Before the vaccine, chickenpox used to be a very common illness among children. Since the vaccine was introduced in the United States in the 1990s, the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths has decreased. The number of chickenpox outbreaks nationwide has also gone down since then.

Chickenpox Vaccine 

Children should get one chickenpox vaccination when they are 12 months old and another when they are four years old. Healthy people 13 years and older who have never had chickenpox or been vaccinated should get two doses of the chickenpox vaccine four to eight weeks apart. More information about chickenpox vaccines can be found below. 

• The Chickenpox Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) includes a description of the disease, who should get the vaccine and when, who should not be vaccinated, and potential side effects. Find a copy of the VIS on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website: https://www.cdc.gov/chickenpox/vaccines/index.html.
  • Visit the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) website to find a copy of the Chickenpox VIS in a language other than English: http://www.immunize.org/vis/vis_chickenpox.asp
• A shingles vaccine is also available to help prevent shingles (herpes zoster), visit the CDC webpage on shingles vaccination to learn more: https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/hcp/vaccine-considerations/index.html

Reporting 

• All individual cases and outbreaks of chickenpox should be reported to the Georgia Department of Public Health. Find out more about what needs to be reported, who needs to report diseases, and how to report at the following link: Reporting Chickenpox 

Additional Resources

• CDC Chickenpox Webpage
  • General information from the CDC about chickenpox, including transmission, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Also includes photos and kid-friendly fact sheet 
• CDC Shingles/Herpes Zoster Webpage
  • General information from the CDC about shingles/herpes zoster.

Page last updated: 12/03/2024