Chickenpox history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aravind Reddy Kothagadi M.B.B.S[2]

Chickenpox presents as a characteristic rash with numerous, spread out lesions. Symptoms usually start as low-grade fever and skin manifestations appear by 1-2 days. Rash initially appears on the head, trunk and then spreads to the rest of the body (centrifugal spread) with intense pruritus, headache, malaise, anorexia, cough, coryza, tiredness and loss of appetite.

The common presenting symptoms of varicella include: ^[1]

• Infection usually starts as low-grade fever followed by skin manifestations after 1 to 2 days
• Rash initially appears on the head, trunk and then spreads to the rest of the body in a centrifugal pattern, alongwith itching.

The less common presenting symptoms of varicella include:

• Headache
• Malaise
• Anorexia
• Cough
• Coryza
• Fatigue