Cause
“varicella” virus

Mode of transmission
• person to person by direct contact, droplet or air borne spread of fluid or secretions from persons with chickenpox
• contagious 5 days before and 5 days after the appearance of blisters

Signs and symptoms
• appearance of reddish skin lesions which later become blisters on the 3rd - 4th day of fever
• weakness
• muscle and joint pains
• sudden onset of fever

Immediate treatment
• chickenpox rashes will disappear in 1-2 weeks time even without treatment

Prevention and control
• Avoid crowded areas during epidemics
• Isolate known cases
• Vaccine is available as precautionary measure and as per doctor’s advise.

Those who had the disease before are already immune and will not have the disease again.