What Is the Incubation Period of Chickenpox?

The chickenpox, also known as Varicella, is a disease that is caused by a virus called varicella-zoster. Before a vaccination was made available in 1995, in the United States the disease was responsible for taking an estimated 100 lives per year. Now it is estimated that only 1 in 50 people who catch the chickenpox virus have complications from the disease.

Incubation Period

• The average time it takes to become infected with chickenpox after being in contact with someone who has the virus is between 10 and 21 days, although the virus generally shows up between 14 and 16 days.

How It Is Contracted

• Chickenpox is an airborne virus that transfers infectious particles derived from either skin lesions or from the respiratory tract. Chickenpox is contagious a day before the rash begins to develop.

Symptoms of Chickenpox

• The first signs of the virus are usually what look to be insect bites: red bumps that look irritated and feel itchy. A fever usually accompanies the chicken pox, followed by many more red bumps that can be located on any part of the body, including the mouth and tongue. These bumps turn into dry blisters within a couple of days, after which they crust over and heal. The entire process takes about 7 days. While the chickenpox virus is active, an estimated 200 bumps will develop and heal.

Average Age

• Adults do not generally become infected with the virus; the average age of those who develop chickenpox is between 9 and 11. Children ages 1 through 6 who are not vaccinated are at the highest risk for developing Varicella.

Chickenpox While Pregnant

• The danger of birth defects is extremely high if a mother contracts the chickenpox while pregnant, especially during the early ages of pregnancy.

Antibiotics

• The chickenpox cannot be cured using antibiotics; however, if the open bumps caused by the virus become infected, medication may become necessary.