The Acheson Group
Disease Fact Sheets
Chicken Pox & Shingles Fact Sheet
What are Chicken Pox & Shingles?
Chicken pox is a very contagious viral disease caused by exposure to the varicellazoster virus. It is easily spread through the air, contact with fluids, or close contact with those who have had the disease or are unvaccinated. Symptoms appear within about 2 weeks of exposure, lasting less than 1 week. Death can occur, but is now rare.
Shingles. Following chicken pox recovery, the virus goes dormant but can cause shingles later. Shingles is not contagious, but can transmit as chicken pox in others.
Why Should I Care about Chicken Pox or Shingles?
- • ~4 million get sick annually — even with
vaccination.
- • Household transmission rates are 80-90%.
- • Since childhood vaccines began in 1995, incidence has declined by ~90%; hospitalizaions declined by 93%; and deaths declined by 94%
- • 1 in 3 adults who have had chicken pox get
shingles later in life.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF CHICKEN POX & SHINGLES
What Do I Do About Chicken Pox or Shingles?
- Ill persons should be isolated to avoid transmitting the disease to those not vaccinated.
- The virus does not persist on surfaces for long, so increased cleaning and disinfection is not typically needed. But precautionary cleaning/sanitation can be directed at commonly touched surfaces (e.g., handrails, countertops, doorknobs).
- Caregivers should wash hands well, especially if they come in contact with the blister fluid.
- Vaccines:
- • A vaccine can be given in two doses at ages 1 and 5. Breakthrough cases can occur, but they are typically much milder.
- • Unvaccinated individuals exposed to the virus can be vaccinated as a protective measure within 3 days of exposure.
- • Adults can be vaccinated against shingles to lessen the impact of future infections from the
dormant virus.
