If your child has clusters of small, itchy blisters, it could bechickenpox. Chickenpox is a highly contagious infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV).VZV can quickly spreadfrom contact with an infected person's blisters, the fluid inside the blisters, or respiratory droplets from a cough or sneeze.

Since the U.S. began giving the chickenpox vaccine in 1995, chickenpox cases have droppedby 97%. As a result, chickenpox isn't nearly as common as it once was. But cases still happen. And it's even possible to get chickenpox twice.

In this article, we'll look at how that might happen.

Is it possible to get chickenpox twice? Yes,it's possible. But fortunately, it's very rare.

When people get sick with chickenpox, the immune system produces antibodies against VZV. This immunity usually lasts a lifetime. So most people don't get chickenpox again, even if they come in contact with chickenpox in the future.

Immune response But sometimes, a chickenpox illness might not trigger enough of an immune response. In these cases, people don't produce enough antibodies to VZV. That means if these people come in contact with the virus in the future, they can get sick with chickenpox again.

People are more likely to make less antibodies for the following reasons.

They had chickenpox very young For example, if they got sick with chickenpox before they were 12 months old. Young infants have a less mature immune system, so theydon't make as many antibodiesagainst the virus.

They have a weakened immune system People withweakened immune systemsmay not have been able to make enough antibodies against chickenpox when they were sick. That means they'reat riskof getting chickenpox again in the future.

It's also possible to get chickenpox again if you currently have a weakened immune system and come in contact with the virus. Some people with a weakened immune system lose protective antibodies they made in the past. Thisputs them at riskfor developing chickenpox a second time.

Misdiagnosis It's also important to keep in mind that, in the past, people were diagnosed with chickenpox based on clinical findings. Tests thatlook for VZVare pretty new.

Older blood tests looked for evidence of an immune response against the virus. These results weren't always reliable or widely available. So, most of the time, people got a chickenpox diagnosis based on their symptoms and their physical exam.

But other childhood viruses can cause symptoms similar to chickenpox. And not everyone develops aclassic chickenpox rash. So, sometimes people were diagnosed with chickenpox when they really had another virus.

Later on, these people may have gotten chickenpox "again." But it was really their first episode of chickenpox because they'd been misdiagnosed the first time. Olderresearch studiesshowed that this happened fairly often.

Can chickenpox reactivate? VZV, the virus that causes chickenpox, can reactivate.

After a chickenpox infection, the virus hides throughout the body's nerve cells. The immune system will often keep it in check forever. But sometimes the virus gets reactivated, causing a painful, burning rash in one area of the body. This reactivated infection is calledshingles.

Chickenpox and shingles are different illnesses and cause different symptoms. But they're both caused by VZV.

Chickenpox vs. shingles photos Here are pictures of chickenpox and shingles to help you tell the difference between the two.

Chickenpox blisters spread over the whole body.

Close-up of chickenpox blisters.

Shingles rash affecting one part of the face.

Grouped blisters in the shingles rash. What should you do if you think you have chickenpox? Call your primary care provider if you think you have chickenpox. You may be a candidate formedicationto help you recover from chickenpox faster. Treatment can help you avoid complications from the illness. You're at higher risk for severe chickenpox illness if you:

• Have a weakened immune system
• Are pregnant
• Never had chickenpox illness or received a chickenpox vaccine

Infants and teenagers are also at risk for severe illness. Don't hesitate to reach out for help if you or a loved one are at risk for severe illness. Treatment works best when started within 24 hours after the rash appears, so it's important to seek care as soon as possible.

Serious symptoms You should also contact your primary care provider if you have chickenpox and develop symptoms like:

• High fever
• Stiff neck
• Confusion
• Trouble breathing
• Severe stomach pain with vomiting
• Signs of a skin infection around the chickenpox rash

How can you lower the chances of getting chickenpox? The best way to lower the chances of getting chickenpox is to getvaccinatedagainst chickenpox. Experts estimate thatvaccination has preventedover 91 million chickenpox infections.

Expertsrecommendthat all children receive 2 doses of thechickenpox vaccine. Children usually receive their first dose when they are 12 to 15 months old and their second dose when they are 4 to 6 years old.

Experts recommend that anyoneover the age of 13get vaccinated against chickenpox if they weren't vaccinated as children or have never had chickenpox.

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" data-qa="ContentCalloutH2Title" The bottom line Since the development of the chickenpox vaccine, chickenpox is much less common. It's very rare to get a second case of chickenpox. People with weakened immune systems are more likely to get chickenpox twice. Getting vaccinated against chickenpox can keep you from getting sick with chickenpox.

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