Can Adults Get Chickenpox?

Chickenpox used to be a common childhood illness. But since the release of the chickenpox vaccine in 1995, cases of childhood chickenpox have fallen by 97%. 

Cases of chickenpox still crop up from time to time, often because of low vaccine rates. These outbreaks can affect children and adults. That’s right — adults can get chickenpox, too. 

Can adults get chickenpox?

Yes, adults can get chickenpox. Adult chickenpox is less common than childhood chickenpox. But cases do happen from time to time. 

The varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes chickenpox. Anyone can get sick with VZV and develop chickenpox if they aren’t immune to VZV. 

There are two ways you can become immune to VZV:

• Active immunity: This means that you got sick with VZV in the past. Adults who got chickenpox in childhood develop immunity to VZV. This immunity usually lasts for a lifetime.

• Passive immunity: This means that you got vaccinated against varicella. It’s not clear exactly how long immunity from a varicella vaccine lasts. Studies show that people have immunity for at least 10 years after getting vaccinated. And experts believe that the immunity lasts much longer than that. 

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So, any adult who hasn’t already had chickenpox or gotten a chickenpox vaccine can get sick with chickenpox if they’re exposed to the varicella-zoster virus. 

Adults can pick up VZV by: 

• Touching a chickenpox rash

• Breathing in respiratory droplets containing VZV

• Touching objects that have the virus on them    

Most adults get sick after being exposed to children who are sick with chickenpox. Parents, caregivers, and those who work with young children are more likely to be exposed to chickenpox. 

What happens if an adult gets exposed to chickenpox?

Adults who had chickenpox in the past or received both doses of their chickenpox vaccines are unlikely to get sick if they get exposed to chickenpox. 

It’s possible for people to get chickenpox after they get the chickenpox vaccine. This is called breakthrough chickenpox, but it’s very rare. People who develop breakthrough chickenpox usually experience mild symptoms.

Adults who don’t have any immunity against chickenpox can develop adult chickenpox. 

What are the symptoms of chickenpox in an adult?

You may be wondering why you should worry about getting sick with chickenpox as an adult. After all, most kids recover from chickenpox without any problems. 

But adult chickenpox tends to be more serious than childhood chickenpox. And people with weakened immune systems and those who are pregnant are at even higher risk of developing severe illness from chickenpox. 

Adult chickenpox starts off with symptoms like:

• Body aches

• Nausea and decreased appetite

• Headaches

Adults then develop the typical chickenpox rash, mouth sores, and a fever. These symptoms typically last longer and are more intense in adult chickenpox than in childhood chickenpox.

Here are some pictures of the chickenpox rash in adults:

A person’s forehead has many chickenpox blisters.

The inside of a person’s mouth is covered in blisters.

Adults are also more likely to develop complications related to chickenpox including:

• Dehydration

• Pneumonia

• Hepatitis (liver inflammation)

• Encephalitis (brain inflammation)

Most adults need to be hospitalized if they develop these complications.

What should you do if you think you have chickenpox?

Contact your primary care provider if you’ve been exposed to chickenpox. 

You may be able to receive treatment called postexposure prophylaxis if you’re not immune to chickenpox. This can keep you from getting sick. Postexposure prophylaxis can be life-saving, especially if you have a weakened immune system. But you need to start treatment as soon as possible in order for it to work.

There are also treatment options if you’ve already developed chickenpox symptoms. Treatment with medications like acyclovir (Zovirax) or valacyclovir (Valtrex) can lower your risk of developing complications from chickenpox. They may also help your symptoms get better faster But these treatments work best if you start taking them within 48 hours of when you first notice symptoms. 

How can you prevent adult chickenpox?

The best way to avoid getting adult chickenpox is by getting vaccinated. Experts recommend that adults receive two doses of the chickenpox vaccine if they didn’t get vaccinated as children. It’s also important to make sure children get vaccinated, too. 

The chance of coming in contact with the varicella-zoster virus is much lower when everyone is vaccinated. This also helps protect people who are at higher risk for developing breakthrough chickenpox. 

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Written by:

Brian Clista, MD

Dr. Clista is a board-certified pediatrician who works in private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He previously served as a National Health Service Corporation Scholar in the inner city of Pittsburgh for 11 years.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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