What can be done to prevent the disease?

Chickenpox can usually be prevented with the varicella vaccine. The vaccine is routinely recommended for most children. The vaccine is strongly recommended for adolescents and adults who have never had chickenpox. People at high risk for severe chickenpox may be given varicella-zoster immune globulin.

What are the long-term effects of the disease?

The most common long-term effect is scarring of the skin. Normal chickenpox can leave temporary marks on the skin that take 6 to 12 months to fade.

The most common complication of chickenpox is bacterial infection, such as cellulitis, of the skin. The virus can sometimes cause pneumonia, inflammation of the liver, and an infection of the central nervous system. Chickenpox is a serious disease for adults, people with autoimmune problems, and newborns whose mothers had chickenpox right around the time of delivery.

What are the risks to others?

If a person has chickenpox, it can be highly contagious to a person who has not had VZV. The contagious period begins about 2 days before the rash develops. The person is generally contagious as long as the blisters have fluid in them or until they crust over.