What Is The Prodrome Like?
The prodrome is the time when the infected patient feels ill but has not yet developed the rash. It lasts between 2 to 4 days. Patients can become violently ill, and initial symptoms include a fever ranging from 101 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, fatigue, myalgias (muscle aches), headache, chills and possibly nausea and vomiting. Patients during the prodrome are often extremely ill and unable to function or get out of bed. What Does Smallpox Look Like? The initial rash begins within the mouth and throat (a reason why this disease is so contagious). This is followed by red bumps forming centripetally (face and mid-body, spreading out onto the extremities). By the 4th day, the bumps turn into blisters containing a milky looking fluid with a central depression (envision a belly-button appearance within each blister). The pustules are all the same age, as they develop at the same time, so they look similar. They are also quite painful. Around Day 5, the blisters become filled with pus. The pat
