Chickenpox
Also known as: Varicella, unspecified · Varicella · Varicella-Zoster Virus
General information only. Anpheros does not diagnose and does not recommend treatment. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your situation. In an emergency, call 112 (or your local emergency number).
In short
Chickenpox is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus that spreads very easily from one person to another. The classic symptom is an uncomfortable, itchy rash that turns into fluid-filled blisters and eventually into scabs, typically appearing on the face, chest, and back before spreading to the rest of the body. Other symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, and loss of appetite, with most cases being mild and lasting 5 to 10 days. While a vaccine can help prevent most cases, the virus usually stays in the body after infection and can later cause shingles in adults.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
AI-generated summary of the sources cited on this page, checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a clinician; not medical advice.
Codes
Description
Chickenpox is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Most cases are in children under age 15, but older children and adults can get it. It spreads very easily from one person to another.
The classic symptom of chickenpox is an uncomfortable, itchy rash. The rash turns into fluid-filled blisters and eventually into scabs. It usually shows up on the face, chest, and back and then spreads to the rest of the body. Other symptoms include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Tiredness
- Loss of appetite
Chickenpox is usually mild and lasts 5 to 10 days. Calamine lotions and oatmeal baths can help with itching. Acetaminophen can treat the fever. Do not use aspirin for chickenpox; that combination can cause Reye syndrome.
Chickenpox can sometimes cause serious problems. Adults, babies, teenagers, pregnant women, and those with weak immune systems tend to get sicker from it. They may need to take antiviral medicines.
Once you catch chickenpox, the virus usually stays in your body. You probably will not get chickenpox again, but the virus can cause shingles in adults. A chickenpox vaccine can help prevent most cases of chickenpox, or make it less severe if you do get it.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Next to it in ICD-10
Neighbouring codes in the classification, not a medical link.
External resources
Questions
What is the ICD-10 code for Chickenpox?
B01 (WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision).
What is the ICD-11 code for Chickenpox?
1E90.Z: Varicella, unspecified (WHO, ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics).
Sources and attribution
- ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics, © World Health Organization, licensed under CC BY-ND 3.0 IGO.
- Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Names other than the official source titles: Anpheros translations and plain-language names, made with AI assistance and checked automatically; the source names are in English.
- ICD-10 codes and titles © World Health Organization. Source: WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (2019).
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