Chickenpox (Adult)

Chickenpox is a very contagious illness caused by a virus. Symptoms include fever and an itchy red rash of small blisters that form all over the body. Blisters may appear on the scalp, face, and in the mouth or vagina. New blisters will appear over the first several days.

Chickenpox in adults can have more complications than in children. These include skin infection, pneumonia, hepatitis, infection of other parts of the body, and respiratory failure. In rare cases it can be fatal. Chickenpox is spread by touching the blisters or by breathing in virus particles. The contagious period ends when all blisters have crusted over. This is usually about 1 week after the illness begins.

Most children older than 1 year and adults who have never had chickenpox can be vaccinated to prevent this illness. The illness usually goes away in a few days, but the virus that causes chickenpox remains in the body. Many years or decades later this can result in shingles. 

Home Care

Follow these guidelines when caring for yourself at home:

• You may use acetaminophen or ibuprofen to control pain and fever, unless another medicine was prescribed. If you have chronic liver or kidney disease, talk with your healthcare provider before using these medicines. Also talk with your provider if you’ve had a stomach ulcer or gastrointestinal bleeding. Don’t give aspirin to anyone younger age 18 who is ill with a fever. It may cause severe liver damage.
• You can relieve itching and pain by mixing cool water with cornstarch, baking soda, and commercial oatmeal bath powder. The oatmeal bath powder is available without a prescription. Use this mixture as a compress for the area. This will soothe the skin. Calamine or another anti-itch lotion may help.
• Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine available at grocery stores and pharmacies. You can use this medicine to ease itching over large areas of skin unless a prescription antihistamine was given. Use lower doses during the day and higher doses at bedtime. This is because the drug may make you sleepy. Loratidine, cetirizine, or fexofenadine are other antihistamines that you may use. They cause less drowsiness and are good choices for daytime use.
• Bathe daily. Wash the rash with soap to stop infection.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your healthcare provider, or as advised, if the above tips don’t bring relief.

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