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Chickenpox - Management
How should I manage a healthy person who has been in contact with chickenpox?
- If the exposure to chickenpox is not significant, or the person has a definite history of chickenpox or herpes zoster, reassure.
- If the person has no definite history and exposure is significant, warn them that they may develop chickenpox.
- For healthcare workers:
- If the person is vaccinated or has a definite history of chickenpox or herpes zoster, they can continue working, but advise them to contact their occupational health department if they feel unwell or develop a rash.
- If there is a negative or uncertain history of chickenpox or herpes zoster, test to determine immunity and advise that the person may develop chickenpox. Advise to avoid contact with high-risk patients for 8–21 days after contact with chickenpox and to report to occupational health before patient contact if they feel unwell or develop a fever or rash.
- Healthcare workers without varicella-zoster antibody should be offered varicella vaccine to reduce the risk of exposing patients to the varicella-zoster virus in the future.
In depth
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