Conditions and symptoms
What Is Varicella? Chickenpox Warnings on Labels
Varicella · say it: var-ih-SEL-uhAlso written: chickenpox, chicken pox, varicella-zoster virus, VZV
Short answer
Varicella is the medical name for chickenpox, an infection with the varicella-zoster virus causing an itchy, blistering rash.
What it means
Varicella is chickenpox, caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It causes fever and an itchy rash of spots that turn into fluid-filled blisters and then scab over. It spreads easily between people. It is usually mild in healthy children but can be more serious in adults, pregnant people, newborn babies and people with weakened immune systems. After infection, the virus stays in the body and can later reactivate as shingles (herpes zoster).
Varicella appears on several kinds of labels. Steroid and immunosuppressive medicine labels warn that chickenpox can be severe or life-threatening in people taking them, and ask people who have not had chickenpox to avoid exposure and contact their doctor if exposed. Aspirin labels warn about Reye's syndrome in children with chickenpox. Varicella vaccine labels explain who should and should not receive this live vaccine.
Varicella is not the same as smallpox, which is a different, eradicated disease. Shingles is a later reactivation of the same virus, not a new infection.
Where you may see it
- Corticosteroid and immunosuppressant labels under 'Infections'
- Aspirin labels (Reye's syndrome warning)
- Vaccination records and varicella immunity blood tests
📄 How it looks on a report
Chickenpox and measles can have a more serious or even fatal course in non-immune patients on corticosteroids.
🙅 What it does not mean
- A chickenpox warning on a steroid label does not mean you will catch it; it is about avoiding and reporting exposure.
- Having had shingles does not mean you never had chickenpox; shingles comes from the same virus.
- Chickenpox is not always mild; it can be serious in some groups.
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Varicella”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Acyclovir
An antiviral medicine of the nucleoside analogue type, used against herpesviruses
- Aspirin
a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and a platelet aggregation inhibitor
- Dexamethasone
A corticosteroid, a synthetic adrenocortical steroid medicine that lowers inflammation and suppresses the immune system
- Fluticasone Propionate
A corticosteroid, which is a steroid medicine, given as a nasal spray
- Prednisolone
a corticosteroid, a type of steroid medicine. The label describes glucocorticoids as adrenocortical steroids, both naturally occurring and synthetic, that are readily absorbed from the stomach and intestines.
- Prednisone
a corticosteroid, a type of steroid medicine that works like the adrenocortical (adrenal gland) steroids the body makes naturally
- Valacyclovir
an antiviral medicine. The label describes it as a deoxynucleoside analogue DNA polymerase inhibitor, and it is the hydrochloride salt of the L-valyl ester of acyclovir.
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Varicella” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
- NCI Dictionary definition ↗
US National Cancer Institute: “varicella”
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