Duration of Chickenpox in Adults

Many believe that chickenpox only affects children, but the truth is that adults are also at risk of contracting it. So, what is the duration of chickenpox in adults? Read on to find out.

How long does it take for chickenpox to go away in adults?

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which leads to the appearance of itchy red blisters on the face, neck, body, arms, and legs. While it is commonly seen in children, adults can also contract the disease.

In reality, the symptoms and duration of chickenpox in adults are similar to those in children. The rash caused by chickenpox typically appears 10-21 days after exposure to the virus. For adults, new spots usually stop appearing by the seventh day, and the blisters typically disappear within 10-14 days. Once the blisters are gone, the person is no longer contagious.

Stages of Chickenpox Development in Adults

Chickenpox usually progresses in stages, as explained below:

• Stage One

During this stage, symptoms similar to those of the flu, such as fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, body aches, and headaches, appear. These symptoms usually develop 1-2 days before the rash appears.

• Stage Two

In this stage, red spots appear on the face and chest and spread across the body, resulting in a total of 250-500 spots on the neck, arms, legs, mouth, eyelids, genital area, and throughout the body. These spots then develop into itchy, fluid-filled blisters.

• Stage Three

At this point, the blisters form crusts and begin to heal and disappear. No new red spots will appear.

Factors Increasing the Risk of Chickenpox in Adults

The risk of chickenpox in adults is higher if they have not contracted the disease during childhood or have not been vaccinated. The following situations increase their risk:

• Working in a school or child care space.
• Spending more than 15 minutes in a room with an infected person.
• Touching the rash of an infected person or anything they have touched, such as clothing.
• Living with unvaccinated children under the age of 12.

Complications of Chickenpox in Adults

Although chickenpox is usually a mild disease, the infection can be more severe in adults and lead to serious complications requiring hospitalization. This is especially true for pregnant women who have never had chickenpox, individuals with weakened immune systems due to another disease or an organ transplant, those undergoing immunosuppressive treatments like chemotherapy, or those taking steroid medications. 

The main complications associated with chickenpox include:

• Encephalitis or inflammation of the brain.
• Pneumonia.
• Bacterial infections of the skin, bones, and soft tissues.
• Sepsis or Bacterial bloodstream infections.
• Bleeding problems.
• Dehydration.
• Toxic shock syndrome.

Having chickenpox also increases the risk of shingles, as the virus remains dormant in the nerves after entering the body and can reactivate years later, causing herpes zoster (shingles). Additionally, a pregnant woman with chickenpox is at higher risk of developing pneumonia and having a baby with low birth weight or congenital defects such as underdeveloped limbs or brain issues, or a life-threatening infection.

Several tests are available in Blazma to determine if a person has an active chickenpox infection or if they are immune, including the Varicella Zoster Virus Ab-IgG and Varicella Zoster Virus Ab-IgM tests, which do not require any special preparation.