Chickenpox vs. Shingles—What’s the Difference?

Phases of chickenpox and shingles

The growth of these conditions can be identified through phases. Some phases will last longer than normal, depending on your age, immune system, and other factors.

Phases of chickenpox

The main stages in chickenpox are:

1. Exposure to the virus: it takes 10 to 21 days after coming in contact for symptoms to start.
2. First manifestations: feeling weak, body aches, fever, and headache are the first symptoms to occur.
3. Small red bumps on the body: These mostly occur on the torso or face first before covering the whole body.
4. Bumps develop into blisters: fluid begins to accumulate in the itchy lesions and become blisters.
5. Blisters scab over and heal: after all the blisters scab over, it becomes non-contagious.

Phases of shingles

1. Feeling weak: you might have fever, headaches, or body aches before having a rash.
2. Tingling pain: tingles, pain, or itchiness in the rash site are common occurrences
3. Burning rash: rashes start to develop within 1 to 5 days after tingling
4. Blisters: after a while, the rash will become blisters and crust over.

In some cases, you may still feel slight or severe pain after the rash is gone: this is due to a condition called post-herpetic neuralgia.