What Is Chicken Pox? Chicken pox is a rash illness caused by a virus. Once a person is exposed to the virus, it takes between 2 and 3 weeks before the symptoms appear. Chicken pox usually occurs in childhood. Adults who contract chicken pox are usually more ill, especially with pneumonia. Chicken pox is very common and highly contagious. Approximately 3 million cases occur each year in the United States. More than 90% of Chicken pox cases occur in …showed first 75 words of 332 total…

…showed last 75 words of 332 total…are not the primary sources. Scabs are not infectious. Patients are contagious from 2 days before onset of the rash until all lesions have crusted. Can Chicken Pox be prevented? Yes. The easiest way to prevent catching chicken pox is to get vaccinated. However, vaccination is only successful in 70% to 90% of all vaccinations. Individuals who have been vaccinated but still acquire chicken pox, usually have a milder disease that heals more quickly than non vaccinated individuals.