chickenpox

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chickenpox (chik-in-poks) n. a highly infectious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (a herpesvirus), which is transmitted by airborne droplets. Symptoms are mild fever followed by an itchy rash of red pimples that spread from the trunk to the face, scalp, and limbs. These develop into vesicles and then scabs, which drop off after about 12 days. The patient is infectious from the onset of symptoms until all the spots have gone. Medical name: varicella.

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