About Chickenpox: Chickenpox is an acute, generalized, viral disease of sudden onset with slight fever, mild constitutional symptoms and skin eruptions. Rarely fatal, a primary viral pneumonia is the commonest cause of death in adults; septic complications and encephalitis are the common cause of death in children. Neonates who develop varicella between day 5 and 10 or those whose mothers contact the disease prior to or within 5 days after delivery are at increased risk of developing severe generalized chickenpox with a 30% mortality rate. Herpes zoster is a local manifestation of recurrent, recrudescent or reactivation infection with the same virus.

Vaccination is now available for the varicella virus. Varivax is a live, attenuated vaccine approved by the FDA for vaccination against chickenpox. The vaccine safely and effectively reduces the incidence and severity of natural varicella. It has been useful following known exposure, and has some efficacy in adults.

An unanswered question is whether the vaccine virus becomes latent, resulting in later development of herpes zoster (shingles).

How serious is chickenpox?

Many adults think that varicella (chickenpox) is a mild illness and one that does not need to be prevented through vaccination. But chickenpox can be dangerous and even deadly... 
What you need to know

Describes the disease, symptoms, complications, transmission, and who should and shouldn't get the vaccine

Influenza Viruses
Influenza, also known as the flu, is a contagious disease that is caused by the influenza virus. It attacks the respiratory tract in humans (nose, throat, and lungs). The flu is different from a cold. Influenza usually comes on suddenly and may include these symptoms:

Fever
Headache
Tiredness (can be extreme)
Dry cough
Sore throat
Nasal congestion
Body aches
These symptoms are usually referred to as "flu-like symptoms."

How To Know if You Have the Flu
Your respiratory illness might be the flu if you have sudden onset of body aches, fever, and respiratory symptoms, and your illness occurs during November through April (the usual flu season in the Northern Hemisphere). However, during this time, other respiratory illnesses can cause similar symptoms and flu can be caught at any time of the year. It is impossible to tell for sure if you have the flu based on symptoms alone. Doctors can perform tests to see if you have the flu if you are in the first few days of your illness.

What You Should Do If You Get the Flu

Rest
Drink plenty of liquids
Avoid using alcohol and tobacco
Take medication to relieve the symptoms of flu
Influenza is caused by a virus, so antibiotics (like penicillin) don’t work to cure it. The best way to prevent the flu is to get an influenza vaccine (flu shot) each fall, before flu season.