What is the infectious agent that causes chickenpox?
Chickenpox is caused by the varicella zoster virus. The same virus causes both chickenpox (varicella) and shingles (zoster). Varicella zoster virus is a member of the herpes virus family. How do people get chickenpox? Chickenpox spreads from person to person by direct contact with fluid from broken chickenpox blisters or through the air by coughing or sneezing. Chickenpox is so contagious in its early stages that an exposed person who has not had chickenpox has a 70% to 80% chance of getting the disease. After infection, the virus stays in the body for life. Although people cannot get chickenpox twice, the same virus causes shingles. A person with shingles can spread the virus to an adult or child who has not had chickenpox, and that person can develop chickenpox. What are the signs and symptoms of chickenpox? Chickenpox typically produces a mild fever and an itchy outbreak of blisters on the scalp, face, and torso. The blisters dry and become scabs in 4 to 5 days. The blisters occur i
