A 47-year-old member asked:
Is it possible to get chickenpox twice?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. James Fergusonanswered
Pediatrics 48 years experience
Immunity with 1st: Chickenpox will confer immunity with the first infection. There are some times when this may not be permanent, as when an infant gets it before 6m when maternal antibody may interfere with antibody production. There are many rash producing processes that may mimic chickenpox & these probably account for what many think as a first or repeat case.
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5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Jay Parkanswered
Pediatrics 52 years experience
Very unlikely: Different rashes usually associated with viral illnesses are infrequently misinterpreted as chickenpox.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 30-year-old member asked:
Can you get chickenpox twice?
4 doctor answers • 13 doctors weighed in
Dr. David Milleranswered
Family Medicine 12 years experience
Not really: Typically you can only get chicken pox once. After that you can get a second type of infection from the same virus called shingles. Shingles is a painful rash that follows a nerve track along the surface of your body. The varicella vaccine can help to prevent both of these diseases.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Is it normal to get chickenpox twice? Is it common for this to happen?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. James Fergusonanswered
Pediatrics 48 years experience
Rarely if ever: Chickenpox will confer lifelong immunity with the first infection. There are few cases when this may not be permanent, like those with immune disorders or after bone marrow transplant . There are many rash producing illnesses that mimic chickenpox & these probably account for what many think as a first or repeat case.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Is it possible to get chickenpox again after getting it as a child?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. James Fergusonanswered
Pediatrics 48 years experience
Unlikely to happen: There are rare cases that reflect poor immune response to the first or any varicella infection in a handful of people. There are also reports suggesting a kid with chickenpox as an infant <1yr, might get again later. In normal people, the illness confers lifelong immunity. Some who were labeled cpx in the past had a different blister producing illness that was mislabeled.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Aug 8, 2014
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