Return to course: NICE CKS Question Banks
Previous Lesson
Previous
Next
Next Lesson
Chickenpox (P)
Return to
Course Curriculum
1. What virus causes chickenpox?
*
Varicella-zoster virus
Epstein-Barr virus
Measles virus
Cytomegalovirus
2. What is the characteristic rash of chickenpox?
*
Maculopapular rash
Vesicular rash that becomes pustular and crusts
Petechial rash
Linear blistering rash
3. How is chickenpox primarily transmitted?
*
Respiratory droplets and direct contact
Direct blood contact
Faecal-oral route
Vector-borne
4. Which of the following is a common symptom before rash onset in chickenpox?
*
Fever and malaise
Photophobia
Diarrhoea
Severe chest pain
5. At what point is a person with chickenpox most contagious?
*
Before rash and until all vesicles crust
Only during fever
After all vesicles crust
Only after rash appears
6. What is a common complication of chickenpox in adults?
*
Otitis media
Pneumonia
Appendicitis
UTI
7. Which population is at greatest risk from chickenpox complications?
*
Teenagers
Immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women
All patients >65 years
People on statins
8. What is the first-line treatment for itching in chickenpox?
*
Oral steroids
Antihistamines
NSAIDs
Antibiotics
9. Which medication should be avoided in children with chickenpox due to risk of Reye's syndrome?
*
Ibuprofen
Paracetamol
Aspirin
Cetirizine
10. What is the role of acyclovir in chickenpox?
*
Not recommended at any age
Used only in infants
May be used in adults within 24 hours of rash onset
Treats the fever only
11. What vaccine prevents chickenpox?
*
MMR vaccine
HPV vaccine
Varicella vaccine
Hepatitis B vaccine
12. Do people often get chickenpox more than once?
*
Yes, multiple times
No, infection confers lifelong immunity in most cases
Only if unvaccinated
Only in the elderly
13. Which of the following symptoms indicates a bacterial superinfection in chickenpox?
*
Clear fluid vesicles •
Fever resolving after rash
Increasing redness, pain, or pus from lesions
Itchy rash
14. What condition can varicella-zoster virus cause later in life?
*
Measles
Mumps
Rubella
Shingles
15. Which diagnostic is typically used for uncomplicated chickenpox?
*
Blood culture
Throat swab
Vesicle swab
Clinical diagnosis
16. How long should children be kept off school with chickenpox?
*
Until fever resolves
Until no new vesicles form
Until all vesicles have crusted over
1 week minimum regardless of symptoms
17. Can chickenpox be dangerous in pregnancy?
*
No, there is no impact
Only after delivery
Only in the third trimester
Yes, especially in the first or second trimester
18. What is the treatment for a newborn exposed to varicella from the mother shortly before or after birth?
*
Supportive care only
MMR vaccine
Antibiotics and fluids
Acyclovir and (VZIG)
19. Which age group is chickenpox most common in?
*
Infants under 6 months
Children aged 1–5 years
Teenagers
Elderly adults
20. What type of isolation is appropriate for chickenpox in hospital settings?
*
Airborne and contact precautions
Droplet precautions only
Contact precautions only
Standard precautions only