Signs and Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of smallpox gradually emerge and may be difficult to distinguish from other diseases in the early phases. After exposure, a person usually has no symptoms for up to 17 days; this is the time when it is most important to get vaccinated to prevent disease. The affected person is not contagious at this time.
The next phase is called the prodrome; this lasts for 2–4 days, and the symptoms resemble that of many other illnesses, with fever, achiness (malaise), headache, and vomiting. The person is contagious at this time.
During the next phase, the characteristic rash begins. First, small red spots appear in the mouth and throat. These spots are filled with clear liquid that is very contagious. The rash spreads to the rest of the body, focusing on the hands, feet, arms, and legs. The rash looks like red bumps that gradually fill with a milky fluid. The fluid-filled bumps are all in the same stage at the same time, compared to chickenpox, where the skin blisters are in different stages of appearance with a mix of blisters, bumps, and crusted lesions at a given time.
In the following phases, over the course of about 2 weeks, the bumps eventually dry up, scab over, and heal, leaving a small pitted scar. The person is contagious until all the scabs are healed.
Who's At Risk
