Dr Bernadette Carr is here to answer your questions
Chickenpox is a very common contagious childhood illness and, although it may occur at any age, it is commonest in children under 10.
Around 90% of people who come into contact with it will develop the disease. Most children will catch it and make a full recovery. It is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus which causes fever and a rash of red itchy blister spots and most outbreaks are between March and May. Some children will have a few spots while others may have spots on their entire body. The spots crust over to form scabs and will eventually drop off in a week or two.
