Chickenpox, also spelled chicken pox, is the common name for Varicella simplex, classically one of the childhood infectious diseases caught and survived by most children.
Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), also known as human herpes virus 3 (HHV-3), one of the eight herpes viruses known to affect humans. It starts with conjunctival and catarrhal symptoms, moderate fever and then characteristic spots appearing in two or three waves, mainly on the body and head rather than the hands and becoming itchy raw pox (pocks), small open sores which heal mostly without scarring.
eMedicine Health - Chickenpox - Factsheet with cause, treatment, tests, and treatment.
Meta Description: [ Learn about chickenpox (chicken pox) - signs, symptoms, causes and treatment for this highly contagious virus infection that mostly affects children on emedcinehealth.com ]
Kidshealth: Varicella (Chicken Pox) - Factsheet with signs and symptoms, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and complications.
Meta Description: [ Although it's more common in kids under age 12, anyone can get chickenpox. The good news is that a vaccine can prevent most cases, and those who do get it usually are immune afterwards. ]
Kidsource.com - Chickenpox - Information on the Chickenpox vaccine, ask questions in the forum and find other articles.
Meta Description: [ New CDC Report Says Chickenpox is Now the Leading Cause
of Vaccine Preventable Deaths in Children in the United States ]
MayoClinic.com - Chickenpox - Features symptoms, risk factors, complications, treatment, and prevention.
Meta Description: [ Chickenpox — Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, treatment, prevention of this once common childhood illness. ]
MEDLINEplus: Chickenpox - The National Institute of Health provides this directory of links to various sites and articles about chickenpox.
Meta Description: [ Chickenpox ]
Whale: Chickenpox - Information aimed at medical professionals, regarding the disease, homeopathic treatment alternatives, and possible vaccination outcomes.