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How Did Chickenpox Get Its Name?

Source: The Nemours Foundation
Topics: Common Childhood Infections

How did chickenpox get its name?
- Martha

Chickenpox got its name from the blisters that are seen with the illness. These red spots - which are about 1/5 inch to 2/5 inch (5mm to 10mm) wide - were once thought to look like chick peas on the skin. So chickenpox got its name from cicer, which is the Latin word for chick peas. In case you were wondering, chickenpox never comes from a chicken!

For more information, check out this article:
Chickenpox (Varicella)

Reviewed by: Neil Izenberg, MD
Date reviewed: January 2004

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