|
| Fig. 25.3 Varicella with skin lesions at all stages of development. (Courtesy of Joseph G. Morelli, MD.) |
Varicella, or chickenpox, is the primary infection with varicella-zoster virus (VZV). It is characterized by the appearance of two to three successive crops of diffuse, pruritic vesicles and papules over several days. These lesions then evolve into pustules and crusted erosions, so that lesions in all stages of development are present together (Fig. 25-3). Lesions generally persist for up to 1 week.
Varicella most commonly occurs during childhood. It is highly contagious, both via respiratory secretions and contact with the cutaneous lesions. The incubation period ranges from 10 to 23 days, and the patient is considered contagious from 4 days before the onset of lesions until all lesions have crusted.
