The outcome is generally excellent in uncomplicated cases. Encephalitis, pneumonia, and other invasive bacterial infections are serious, but rare, complications of chickenpox.

Once you have had chickenpox, the virus usually remains dormant or asleep in your body for your lifetime. About 1 in 10 adults will experience shingles when the virus re-emerges during a period of stress.

• Women who get chickenpox during pregnancy are at risk for congenital infection of the fetus.
• Newborns are at risk for severe infection, if they are exposed and their mothers are not immune.
• A secondary infection of the blisters may occur.
• Encephalitis is a serious, but rare complication.
• Reye's syndrome , pneumonia , myocarditis , and transient arthritis are other possible complications of chickenpox.
• Cerebellar ataxia may appear during the recovery phase or later. This is characterized by a very unsteady walk.

Call your health care provider if you think that your child has chickenpox or if your child is over 12 months of age and has not been vaccinated against chickenpox.

Images

Chickenpox - lesions on the chest

Chickenpox - lesion on the leg

Chickenpox, acute pneumonia - chest X-ray

Chickenpox

Chickenpox - close-up

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Review Date: 09/13/2009
Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)