Diseases

Chickenpox

A highly contagious infectious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (HERPESVIRUS 3, HUMAN). It usually affects children, is spread by direct contact or respiratory route via droplet nuclei, and is characterized by the appearance on the skin and mucous membranes of successive crops of typical pruritic vesicular lesions that are easily broken and become scabbed. Chickenpox is relatively benign in children, but may be complicated by pneumonia and encephalitis in adults. (From Dorland, 27th ed)

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A highly contagious infectious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (HERPESVIRUS 3, HUMAN). It usually affects children, is spread by direct contact or respiratory route via droplet nuclei, and is characterized by the appearance on the skin and mucous membranes of successive crops of typical pruritic vesicular lesions that are easily broken and become scabbed. Chickenpox is relatively benign in children, but may be complicated by pneumonia and encephalitis in adults. (From Dorland, 27th ed)

MeSH Record

Classification

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

2 entry terms
  • Chicken Pox
  • Varicella

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

36 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemically induced, classification, complications, congenital, diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, diet therapy, drug therapy, economics, embryology, enzymology, epidemiology, ethnology, etiology, genetics, history, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, mortality, nursing, parasitology, pathology, physiopathology, prevention & control, psychology, radiotherapy, rehabilitation, surgery, therapy, transmission, urine, veterinary, virology.

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MeSH Record

NLM Classification

WC 572

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Chickenpox. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D002644. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D002644
  2. Chickenpox. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chickenpox
  3. Chickenpox. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q44727