symptoms tend to appear 14 to 16 days after the initial exposure but can occur anytime from 10 days up to 21 days after contact with the virus. chickenpox is characterized by one to two days of mild fever up to 102 f general weakness and a rash often the first sign of the disease. rarely a person may have the disease without the rash. the rash of chickenpox develops in crops with raised red spots arriving first progressing to blisters that burst forming open sores before crusting over. this process usually starts on the scalp then the trunk (its area of greatest concentration) and finally the arms and legs. any area of skin that is irritated (by diaper rash poison ivy eczema sunburn etc. ) is likely to be hard hit by the rash. the rash is typically very itchy (pruritic).
what are the signs and symptoms of chickenpox?