chickenpox (varicella) a viral illness characterized by a very itchy red rash is one of the most common infectious diseases of childhood. it is usually mild in children but adults run the risk of serious complications such as bacterial pneumonia. people who have had chickenpox almost always develop lifetime immunity (meaning you can't get it again). however the virus remains dormant in the body and it can reactivate later in life and cause shingles. because the chickenpox virus can pass from a pregnant woman to her unborn child possibly causing birth defects doctors often advise women considering pregnancy to confirm their immunity with a blood test.
what is chickenpox?