“You simply can’t predict who will develop complications like pneumonia, skin infections, or even brain inflammation [known as encephalitis]. "A ‘chickenpox party’ might spread the virus ...

“The virus can be spread from person to person by direct contact, inhalation of aerosols from vesicular fluid of skin lesions of acute varicella or zoster (the fluid from the rash blisters); and ...

chickenpox occasionally causes more serious problems, she adds. Those can include dehydration, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), pneumonia, bacterial infections of the skin, bloodstream ...

At least three students are confirmed to have chickenpox after an outbreak at ... as doing so could further spread the virus or cause skin infections.

It may also help to bathe in cool water, pat the skin dry and apply cooling creams or gels from a pharmacy. The child should stay off school or nursery and avoid contact with people at increased risk ...