Is it possible to have chicken pox more than once

I Accept Show Purposes. Chicken Pox Doctor Discussion Guide Get our printable guide for your next doctor's appointment to help you ask the right questions. Download PDF. Email the Guide Send to yourself or a loved one.

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How Shingles Is Diagnosed. An Alphabetical List of Rashes. Chickenpox varicella is a common, preventable childhood infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus.

When adolescents and adults get it, they can be very sick. Chickenpox is very dangerous for people with immune system problems like leukemia, or for people taking medications that weaken the immune system. Chickenpox spreads to others very easily. Because it can spread from 2 days before the rash appears, it often spreads without anyone knowing. It can continue to spread until all of the blisters have scabbed. If one of your children has chickenpox, it will probably spread to other members of the household who have not already had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine.

In most cases, you can only get chickenpox once. This is called life-long immunity. But in rare cases, a person might get it again, especially if they were very young when they had it the first time. Shingles looks like chickenpox and is caused by the same virus.

But it usually appears on only one part of the body, where it causes pain. Shingles can happen in people who have already had chickenpox but usually many years later since after we have chickenpox, the virus stays with us in an inactive form. Shingles is contagious, but only to those who have never had chickenpox. Many schools and daycare centres have policies that require children with chickenpox to stay home for 5 days after the rash appears. The goal is to protect other children from the disease.

Unfortunately, this does not stop chickenpox from spreading. Chickenpox is contagious from 1 to 2 days before the rash appears, and most infectious from 12 to 24 hours before the rash appears. It spreads through the air, not just by direct contact with the rash. Related Pages. Chickenpox Signs and Symptoms. Related Links. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.

You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. CDC is not responsible for Section compliance accessibility on other federal or private website. Cancel Continue. Family members who have never had chickenpox have a high chance of becoming infected when another family member in the house is infected. The illness is often more severe in adults compared to children.

Symptoms are usually mild in children. 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:.