An Introduction to Smallpox Symptoms
Once symptoms begin, the first smallpox symptoms may be hard to distinguish from the symptoms of other flu-like illnesses. Early smallpox symptoms can include:
- High fever
- Tiredness
- Body aches
- Headache
- Backache
- Vomiting.
At this time, people are usually too sick to carry on their normal activities. This is called the prodrome phase, and it may last for 2 to 4 days. A person is somewhat contagious during this period (patients are most contagious during the first 7 to 10 days following rash onset).
After a couple of days, a person with smallpox symptoms will begin to develop a smallpox rash. Over the next couple of weeks, this rash will go through various stages, including:
- Early rash
- Pustular rash
- Pustules and scabs
- Resolving scabs
- Scabs resolved.
Early Rash
A rash emerges first as small red spots on the tongue and in the mouth. These spots develop into sores that break open, and large amounts of the virus are spread into the mouth and throat. At this time, the person becomes very contagious.
Around the time the sores in the mouth break down, a rash appears on the skin, starting on the face, spreading to the arms and legs, and then to the hands and feet. Usually, the rash spreads to all parts of the body within 24 hours. As the rash appears, the fever usually falls and the person may start to feel better.
By the third day of the rash, the rash becomes raised bumps. By the fourth day, the bumps fill with a thick, opaque fluid and often have a
depression in the center that looks like a belly button (this is a major distinguishing characteristic of smallpox).
Fever often will rise again at this time and remain high until scabs form over the bumps.
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