Symptoms usually occur 10-21 days after contact with the
chickenpox virus. Initial symptoms include: - General feeling of
discomfort - Loss of appetite Within 1-2 days after the initial
symptoms, a rash develops. Characteristics of the rash include:
- At first, the rash consists of small, flat, red spots. - The
spots become raised and form clusters of round, itchy, fluid-
filled blisters on a red base. - New clusters form over 5-6
days. - After the rash develops, there is usually a variety of
spots visible: flat red areas, blisters with clear fluid,
blisters with cloudy fluid, and open blisters. - The rash
usually develops on the skin above the waist, including the
scalp. Exposed areas are often most affected. - The rash may
sometimes appear on the inside of the eyelids, in the mouth,
nose, throat, upper airway, voice box, rectum, or vagina. - In
healthy children, the rash usually crusts over by day 6-7. The
crusts are gone within three weeks, usually without scarring.
Note: Adults or patients who are immunoco