Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

The first signs of chickenpox are:

• Low-grade fever
• Mild body discomfort
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Rash

The spots of the rash look like red blisters and may appear anywhere on the body, including in a child's mouth. In an average case of chickenpox, a child may get as many as 500 spots. The spots are filled with fluid that contains the chickenpox virus. The rash may be very itchy, and this itchy rash is often the most uncomfortable symptom of chickenpox. Eventually, the itching stops, the spots dry out, and scabs form. If the spots become infected, your child could get permanent scars.