Can chickenpox be mild in adults?

Many people think of chickenpox as a childhood disease, but adults can get it, too. In a healthy person, the varicella-zoster — or chickenpox — virus usually causes mild symptoms. However, in adults with chronic medical issues, especially those with weakened immune systems, more severe symptoms are possible.

Can you get chickenpox mildly?

Chickenpox is a mild and common childhood illness that most children catch at some point. Chickenpox is caused by a virus. It’s spread quickly and easily from someone who is infected.

What is mild chicken pox like?

Chickenpox consists of an itchy, red rash that breaks out on the face, scalp, chest, back and, to a lesser extent, arms and legs. The spots quickly fill with a clear fluid, rupture and then turn crusty. Chickenpox is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus.

What can be mistaken for chickenpox in adults?

Vesiculopapular diseases that mimic chickenpox include disseminated herpes simplex virus infection, and enterovirus disease. Dermatomal vesicular disease can be caused by herpes simplex virus and can be recurrent.

What does chickenpox in adults look like?

Red Spots: The most identifiable sign of chickenpox is the itchy and fluid-filled red spots that appear across the body. These red spots may then burst before they crust over and form scabs. New spots can appear while older spots are healing.

What does the beginning of chicken pox look like?

The rash begins as many small red bumps that look like pimples or insect bites. They appear in waves over 2 to 4 days, then develop into thin-walled blisters filled with fluid. The blister walls break, leaving open sores, which finally crust over to become dry, brown scabs.

Can you have chickenpox without spots?

Chickenpox symptoms vary from person to person and tend to be worse in adults. Some children may have only a few blistered spots, but others will have spots all over their body. It’s possible to have very few symptoms, or to not even notice that you’ve had it in mild cases.

What looks like chicken pox but isn t?

Shingles Although shingles come from the same virus as chickenpox, the resulting rash is very different. A shingles rash is characterized by its containment to one side of the face or torso. The groups of small, clear blisters aren’t itchy. They’re painful.

What spots are similar to chicken pox?

Shingles (herpes zoster) is a painful rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox.

How do I know if its a rash or chicken pox?

The classic symptom of chickenpox is a rash that turns into itchy, fluid-filled blisters that eventually turn into scabs. The rash may first show up on the chest, back, and face, and then spread over the entire body, including inside the mouth, eyelids, or genital area.