The duration of chickenpox can vary from person to person, but on average, it lasts about 10-14 days. The initial symptoms such as fever, headache, and malaise, usually appear 1-2 days before the rash develops. The rash itself typically lasts for 5-7 days and the blisters take around 5-7 days to crust over. The itching can last for several days after the rash has disappeared.
It’s worth noting that the virus is most contagious from 1-2 days before the rash appears, until all the blisters have crusted over, usually around 5 to 7 days after the onset of the rash. So, it’s important to keep an infected person isolated during this period to prevent the spread of the virus to others.
Once the rash has resolved, the virus remains dormant in the body and can reactivate later in life, causing shingles (Herpes Zoster).