The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. Chickenpox is usually diagnosed based on the rash.
Rarely, tests may be done to look for signs of the virus. This can be done with blood tests, a skin smear, or a viral culture.
References
Chickenpox. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/chickenpox . Accessed September 8, 2020.
Chickenpox. Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/chickenpox.html. Accessed September 8, 2020.
Chickenpox (varicella). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/chickenpox. Accessed September 8, 2020.
Gershon AA, Breuer J, et al. Varicella zoster virus infection. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2015 Jul 2;1:15016.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Shawna Grubb, RN
- Review Date: 03/2020
- Update Date: 03/19/2021