Washington Manor School has had four confirmed cases of chickenpox this year.   Many of these students already received one dosed of the varicella vaccine against chickenpox.  The Center for Disease Control (CDC) now recommends two doses of varicella vaccine. Call your physician if your child has only received one dose. Studies show that the chickenpox vaccine may be effective if given within 2-5 days of exposure to chickenpox.

Symptoms are as follows:

Your child seems unwell for a few days and may have a fever of 101 - 102 F.  Chickenpox is most contagious during this time.

Itchy red spots appear on the body, face and scalp and spread to the limbs.  These spots become blisters within a few hours.

This illness will begin 14-21 days from the time your child is exposed.  A child with chickenpox must remain out of school for a minimum of 7 days from when the rash first appears.  Also, all blisters must be scabbed over prior to returning to school.

You should consult a doctor if you are exposed to chickenpox and you are immunosuppressed.  You should also consult a doctor if you have never has chickenpox and are exposed during pregnancy.  While no vaccine is 100% effective in preventing disease, varicella vaccine almost always prevents severe disease.  If vaccinated person does get chickenpox, it is usually a very mild case with fewer skin lesions (usually less than 50) lasting only a few days, no fever, and few other symptoms.