Chicken pox why only once

It usually develops 2 to 3 weeks after contact with an infected person. The virus can survive in the air for several hours. It can be caught by being in a room with an infected person or in a room where someone with chickenpox has been recently. It also spreads from person to person through direct contact with the virus.

You can get chickenpox if you touch a blister, or the liquid or wet crust from a blister. A pregnant woman with chickenpox can pass it on to her baby before birth. Mothers with chickenpox can also give it to their newborn babies after birth. Chickenpox cannot live on objects like sheets, counters or toys. Can chickenpox cause bigger problems? Babies who get chickenpox from their mothers before birth could be born with birth defects like skin scars, eye problems, brain damage or arms and legs that are not fully formed.

Chickenpox can be very severe or even life-threatening to babies in the first month of life, to adolescents and adults, and to anyone who has a weak immune system.

Children with chickenpox can get pneumonia infection of the lungs or get inflammation of the brain. The blisters can get infected with bacteria and this can lead to lifelong scars.

Can you have chickenpox twice? What is shingles? How can I treat chickenpox? If your child gets chickenpox, do not give aspirin [acetylsalicylic acid ASA ] or any products that contain aspirin.

This severe illness can damage the liver and brain. Encourage your child not to scratch. Scratching can cause infection from bacteria that get into the skin. Adding baking soda to bathwater can be soothing. Your doctor may recommend a cream to help reduce the itch. Infants with chickenpox, and older children or adults with a severe disease may be treated with antiviral drugs. When should I call the doctor? A new fever develops after the first couple of days. They can arrange a phone call from a nurse or doctor if you need one.

Go to You can catch chickenpox by being in the same room as someone with it. It's also spread by touching clothes or bedding that has fluid from the blisters on them.

Chickenpox is infectious from 2 days before the spots appear, until they have all crusted over — usually 5 days after they first appeared. It takes 1 to 3 weeks from the time you were exposed to chickenpox for the spots to start appearing. It's rare to get chickenpox when you're pregnant, and the chance of it causing complications is low. If you do get chickenpox when you're pregnant, there's a small risk of your baby being very ill when it's born.

Speak to a GP if you have not had chickenpox and have been near someone with it. You can get the chickenpox vaccine on the NHS if there's a risk of harming someone with a weakened immune system if you spread the virus to them. For example, a child can be vaccinated if 1 of their parents is having chemotherapy.

You can also pay for the vaccine at some private clinics or travel clinics. But symptoms may be life-threatening to adults and people of any age with weak immune systems. However, each person may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:. The initial symptoms of chickenpox may resemble other infections. Once the skin rash and blisters happen, it is usually obvious to a healthcare provider that it is chickenpox. If a person who has been vaccinated against the disease is exposed, he or she may get a milder illness with less severe rash and mild or no fever.

Always talk with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. The rash of chickenpox is unique. Diagnosis can usually be made on the appearance of the rash and a history of exposure. Children should not scratch the blisters because it could lead to secondary bacterial infections. Keep fingernails short to decrease the likelihood of scratching.

Complications can happen from chickenpox. They are more common in adults and people with weak immune systems. Complications may include:.

If your symptoms get worse or you have new symptoms, call your healthcare provider. You should tell your provider as quickly as possible if you get these symptoms:. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. What causes chickenpox? Who is at risk for chickenpox? Most people who have had chickenpox will be immune to the disease for the rest of their lives. However, the virus remains inactive in nerve tissue and may reactivate later in life causing shingles. Very rarely, a second case of chickenpox does happen.

Blood tests can confirm immunity to chickenpox in people who are unsure if they have had the disease. What are the symptoms of chickenpox? Symptoms may include: Fatigue and irritability one to two days before the rash begins Itchy rash on the trunk, face, scalp, under the armpits, on the upper arms and legs, and inside the mouth.