What is chickenpox?
Varicella, or chickenpox, is a vaccine preventable virus caused by varicella zoster and is one of the classic childhood diseases, occurring in children under the age of ten. It is also one of the most contagious. Chickenpox consists of hundreds of itchy, fluid-filled blisters throughout the surface of the body. The blisters eventually burst and can scar the skin. Sometimes complications may arise, such as skin infections or pneumonia, causing hospitalization. In the United States, there are less than 4 million cases of chickenpox annually with approximately 4,000 to 9,000 cases that have serious complications, causing about 100 deaths. These deaths usually occur in individuals with weak immune systems, newborns, and adults. Chickenpox cases are more severe in adults and, although it is rare for adults to get the chickenpox, they account for over half the deaths. In adults, the varicella virus can also cause shingles, which is the re-emerging of chickenpox after many years.
