Many people often confuse smallpox and chickenpox due to several similar symptoms. However, these are two completely different diseases.
Both smallpox and chickenpox are infectious diseases that cause rashes, with the appearance of vesicles and resulting skin lesions. The diseases are highly contagious and can lead to outbreaks.
Both smallpox and chickenpox can be prevented through vaccination. (Image: Freepik).
Smallpox and chickenpox are transmitted through respiratory secretions or direct contact with skin lesions, as well as through personal items contaminated with the patient’s secretions.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the discovery of smallpox-like rashes on Egyptian mummies indicates that smallpox has existed for at least 3,000 years. Smallpox was first described in Chinese medical literature in the 4th century.
In contrast, chickenpox was first recorded in 430 BC. By 1767, a British physician demonstrated that chickenpox is distinct from smallpox.
According to Medical News Today, many individuals infected with chickenpox can recover, but the mortality rate is high, around 30%. In comparison, the mortality rate for smallpox is 0.1%.
In 1980, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared smallpox eradicated. The last outbreak of smallpox in the United States occurred in 1949.
Additionally, smallpox and chickenpox also differ in terms of the causative agents, incubation periods, and symptoms:
