call your health professional immediately if you or your child with chickenpox develops: a severe headache or constant vomiting sensitivity to bright light or unusual sleepiness or confusion. these may be signs of inflammation of the brain ( encephalitis ). problems breathing or persistent coughing. these may be signs of varicella pneumonia. red warm and sore skin or if the chickenpox rash changes to bigger open sores. these may be signs of serious skin infection. call your health professional if you or your child with chickenpox has any of the following: a fever of more than that lasts longer than 2 days severe itching that cannot be relieved by home treatment chickenpox rash on the eyeball a rash that lasts longer than 2 weeks if you are older than age 12 and have not had chickenpox or don't know if you have had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine call your doctor if you have been in contact with someone who has chickenpox. this is especially important for pregnant women and for people with impaired immune systems no matter what age they are. if you or your child has chickenpox call your doctor before you go into the office to make an appointment and to discuss whether you should take any precautions when you arrive to avoid spreading the infection. for example office staff may take you directly to an examination room upon your arrival rather than have you wait in the lobby. watchful waiting watchful waiting is a wait-and-see approach. if you know that you or your child has been in contact with someone who has chickenpox watch for the first symptoms (such as fever feeling sick decreased appetite headache cough and sore throat ). these symptoms usually appear between 14 and 16 days after contact with the infected person. call your health professional as soon as symptoms or signs appear. who to see the following health professionals can diagnose and treat chickenpox: family medicine physician pediatrician nurse practitioner physician assistant if severe complications develop you may be referred to a specialist. for example you may see a pulmonologist for lung problems. but most healthy children and adults do not develop serious complications from chickenpox. to prepare for your appointment see the topic making the most of your appointment. webmd medical reference from healthwise this information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information. © 1995-2011 healthwise incorporated. healthwise healthwise for every health decision and the healthwise logo are trademarks of healthwise incorporated.
i have or think i have chickenpox varicella when should i contact my doctor?