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What Causes Chills, Body Ache, Sore Throat And Fatigue Post Recovery From Chickenpox?
Question: Hello,
Thank you for taking my question.
Is it possible for the chickenpox virus to make me feel ill again just after I recovered from the chickenpox?
I started feeling unwell on XXXXXXX 18 (chills, body aches, headache, sore throat, fatigue, some nausea). On XXXXXXX 20, I noticed some spots on my neck. The spots spread over the next several days. On XXXXXXX 25, I went to my doctor and she diagnosed the chickenpox. She prescribed an antiviral medication. The last day that I noticed any new spots was on XXXXXXX 29. Most of the spots are healed now.
Starting on Feb 7, I started feeling unwell again. The symptoms are similar to how I felt in the couple days before the spots appeared a few weeks ago, i.e., I have a sore throat, chills, headache, fatigue, some nausea, a bit of neck pain (but not nearly as bad as the body aches I had a few weeks ago). Could this mean that the chickenpox virus is making me ill again, or that I hadn't quite recovered from the chickenpox? Could I still be contagious with chickenpox? I had thought I was beyond the contagious stage.
Or, could this be a different virus (a cold or flu) now, unrelated to the chickenpox?
Should I go back to my doctor tomorrow, or just stay home and rest?
Hi Dr. Kolur,
Thanks for your response. To answer your question, I still have remaining rash from when I first became unwell (mostly healed/healing), but no new spots.
Best regards,
XXXX
Thank you for taking my question.
Is it possible for the chickenpox virus to make me feel ill again just after I recovered from the chickenpox?
I started feeling unwell on XXXXXXX 18 (chills, body aches, headache, sore throat, fatigue, some nausea). On XXXXXXX 20, I noticed some spots on my neck. The spots spread over the next several days. On XXXXXXX 25, I went to my doctor and she diagnosed the chickenpox. She prescribed an antiviral medication. The last day that I noticed any new spots was on XXXXXXX 29. Most of the spots are healed now.
Starting on Feb 7, I started feeling unwell again. The symptoms are similar to how I felt in the couple days before the spots appeared a few weeks ago, i.e., I have a sore throat, chills, headache, fatigue, some nausea, a bit of neck pain (but not nearly as bad as the body aches I had a few weeks ago). Could this mean that the chickenpox virus is making me ill again, or that I hadn't quite recovered from the chickenpox? Could I still be contagious with chickenpox? I had thought I was beyond the contagious stage.
Or, could this be a different virus (a cold or flu) now, unrelated to the chickenpox?
Should I go back to my doctor tomorrow, or just stay home and rest?
Hi Dr. Kolur,
Thanks for your response. To answer your question, I still have remaining rash from when I first became unwell (mostly healed/healing), but no new spots.
Best regards,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
less likely to be reinfection
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome.
I have gone through your query.
Yes, it is possible to get chickenpox more than once, but this is extremely rare.
Most people who have had chickenpox won't get it again because they're immune to it for life.
However, some people who have had chickenpox will develop a related condition called shingles later on. This is caused by the chickenpox virus being reactivated, usually several decades later.
It is less likely to be reinfection in your case as it has occured in very short time. I feel it is unrelated to chicken pox. But it is better do get yourself examined by doctor.
The disease is most contagious a day or two before the rash appears and until the rash is completely dry and scabbed over, about five to six days after onset of the rash.
Did you have rash when you became unwell second time?
This provisional advice provided by me is based entirely on the input provided to me. I would suggest examination by the doctor.
I hope this suggestion might be of some help to you.
Take care.
less likely to be reinfection
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome.
I have gone through your query.
Yes, it is possible to get chickenpox more than once, but this is extremely rare.
Most people who have had chickenpox won't get it again because they're immune to it for life.
However, some people who have had chickenpox will develop a related condition called shingles later on. This is caused by the chickenpox virus being reactivated, usually several decades later.
It is less likely to be reinfection in your case as it has occured in very short time. I feel it is unrelated to chicken pox. But it is better do get yourself examined by doctor.
The disease is most contagious a day or two before the rash appears and until the rash is completely dry and scabbed over, about five to six days after onset of the rash.
Did you have rash when you became unwell second time?
This provisional advice provided by me is based entirely on the input provided to me. I would suggest examination by the doctor.
I hope this suggestion might be of some help to you.
Take care.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
Answered by
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