Chickenpox, also known as chickenpox, is a contagious viral disease. Chickenpox was first discovered more than 400 years ago. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, or VZV. VZV is a type of herpes virus. The varicella-zoster virus can cause two diseases. It can cause chickenpox or shingles. Chickenpox is typically mild, but can sometimes cause serious complications. Chickenpox can be serious. A vaccine against VZV was developed in 1944, but before then it was a common disease among adolescents. For children, chickenpox is not a serious disease, but if an adult who did not have chickenpox as a child contracts it, it can become serious. The same virus that causes chickenpox can also cause shingles. After contracting chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in the body, but has the potential to reemerge as shingles during adulthood. Chickenpox can spread very easily. The virus can spread when you come into contact with the actual rash or through the air when someone with chickenpox coughs or sneezes. This is because there are droplets of the VZV virus in the air from the coughing or sneezing of a person with chickenpox. Chickenpox spreads to people who have never had chickenpox before or have not yet received the vaccine. The virus most commonly spreads in late winter and early spring. Chickenpox is contagious a day or two before an infected person gets the rash until all the chickenpox blisters crust over. It typically takes 10 to 21 days to develop chickenpox after being exposed to the virus. For the most part, once you contract chickenpox, you are immune for life. In some, however, it is possible to contract chickenpox more than once. This is not common. Chickenpox usually lasts five to ten days. About a day or two... middle of the paper... um, you can take medications other than aspirin. Do not use aspirin-based products, as it can lead to serious complications. It is also advisable not to scratch as this can lead to secondary infection and scarring. Works Cited Bechtel, Kirsten A. “Pediatric Chickenpox.” Pediatric chickenpox. Np, n.d. Web. December 16, 2013. "Facts About Chickenpox Vaccine - National Vaccine Information Center." National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC). National Vaccine Information Center, n.d. Web. December 16, 2013."Chicken Pox (Chicken Pox)." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, November 8, 2013. Web. December 16, 2013. Ehrlich, Steven D. “Varicella-zoster Virus.” University of Maryland Medical Center. Np, nd Web. December 15, 2013. “Immunization Issues.” Chickenpox celebrations. National Immunization Information Network, 2010. Web. December 16. 2013.