Varicella (chickenpox)
State and Territory information:
Chickenpox is a highly contagious infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is a member of the herpes group of viruses. Symptoms of chickenpox take between 14 and 15 days after infection to show.
The disease is spread by direct contact with people who are infected and it is often more serious in adults.
Symptoms of chickenpox include a rash that turns into open lesions (small wounds), which crust over.
Complications include:
- infection of the lesions;
- pneumonia (lung infection);
- difficulty walking and balancing;
- meningitis (infection of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord); and
- encephalitis (brain infection).
Chickenpox is a vaccine preventable disease.
Vaccination recommended for routine childhood immunisation is listed on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule and funded for children under the Immunise Australia Program.
For technical information refer to the Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition 2008 (NHMRC).
Page last modified: 23 March, 2006