Chicken pox used to be a rite of passage for young children. But with the development of the chicken pox vaccine, the vast majority avoid this itchy and painful illness.

While most people who develop chicken pox will recover completely without issue, it can be serious - and even deadly - for babies, teens, even adults, as well as pregnant women, and people with weak immune systems.

Receiving two doses of the chicken pox vaccine is the best way to prevent infection.

All children should be vaccinated or the following complications can arise if you do develop chicken pox:

• Bacterial infections of the skin and soft tissues in children, including streptococcal infections.
• Pneumonia.
• Infection or inflammation of the brain (encephalitis, cerebellar ataxia).
• Bleeding problems.
• Bloodstream infections (sepsis).
• Dehydration.