Paediatrics

Chickenpox

Primary varicella-zoster infection causes successive crops of itchy vesicles that crust, then establishes lifelong latency in sensory ganglia and can later reactivate as shingles.

Definition

Chickenpox is primary infection with varicella-zoster virus, producing a highly infectious vesicular rash and later lifelong viral latency.

First principles

Successive crops explain the diagnostic rash

Varicella-zoster virus disseminates to the skin in successive waves, so macules, papules, vesicles and crusts coexist. The rash is therefore not uniform in age or appearance, unlike many maculopapular viral exanthems.

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