Varicella Information for Health Professionals

On this page:
Reporting
Laboratory testing
Clinical features and epidemiology
Varicella in health care settings
Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)
Vaccine information
ACIP Recommendations and MMWR reports

Reporting

• Reporting Varicella (Chickenpox)
  Find out who should report varicella to the Minnesota Department of Health, which forms to use, and when to call.
• Why You Report All Cases of Varicella
  Information for clinicians on case-based reporting for varicella. All cases of varicella are required to be reported to MDH.

Laboratory testing

• Laboratory Testing for Varicella (Chickenpox) and Zoster (Shingles)
  Information on when and how to test for varicella or zoster disease.

Clinical features and epidemiology

• CDC: Clinical Overview of Chickenpox (Varicella)
  CDC information about chickenpox for health care professionals.
• CDC: Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
  CDC's Pink Book.
• CDC: Photos of Chickenpox
  CDC photographs of people with varicella. Warning: Graphic medical images.

Varicella in health care settings

• Managing Varicella Exposures in Health Care Settings
  Quick reference for managing exposures to varicella in health care settings.
• Ensuring Immunity to Varicella in Health Care Workers
  Information for making sure health care workers are immune to varicella.

Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

• Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) with Varicella Immune Globulin

Vaccine information

Varicella Vaccine Product Information and VIS

• Immunize.org: Ask the Experts: Varicella Vaccine
  Experts from the CDC answer challenging questions about vaccines and their administration.
• Immunization
  Immunization information and resources for families, schools and child care, and health care providers. Health care provider information includes immunization best practices, immunization rates and access to the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC). 

ACIP Recommendations and MMWR reports

• CDC: ACIP Recommendations Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine
  CDC listing of recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
• CDC: Chickenpox (Varicella) References and Resources
  CDC compilation of chapters, guidelines, recommendations, and journal articles related to varicella.