History Main / ChickenpoxEpisode

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': "Milhouse of Sand and Fog" has Maggie contract chickenpox, leading Homer and Marge to throw a "pox party" to help other children gain their childhood immunity... only Homer never gained an immunity, concerning Marge because the disease is much more dangerous in adults. Despite his best efforts, he ends up getting it.

* ''WesternAnimation/FanboyAndChumChum'': In "Chicken Pox," Kyle catches a wizard's version of chickenpox that turns him into a literal chicken, and the only cure is to [[AnimalGenderBender lay an egg]]. The egg hatches into an elf doctor who cures Kyle and tells him to eat more roughage.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'': In "Chicken Pops," Chuckie gets chickenpox ([[{{Malaproper}} which the babies call "chicken pops"]]), and Angelica says that means he's going to turn into a chicken. The babies don't believe her until Chuckie gets feathers from a torn pillow stuck to him (because he's covered in calamine lotion), so Chuckie learns how to act like a chicken in preparation for his transformation. The other babies catch chickenpox as well, but claim solidarity with Chuckie and cluck at Angelica until she leaves them alone. Susie explains to them later that chickenpox doesn't actually turn you into a chicken.

* ''Series/DennisTheMenace'': In "Junior Astronaut," Dennis wins a contest to meet an astronaut, but isn't able to go because he catches chickenpox.

* ''Series/HowToStayWell'': The episode "Gyms, Bacon, & Chickenpox" had a segment on chickenpox, specifically whether it's more severe when contracted from a sibling.

* In the ''Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle'' episode "Cliques" during the subplot when Dewey is stuck at home with the chickenpox and builds a dominoes masterpiece.

* In the ''Series/FraggleRock'' episode, "Pebble Pox Blues", Gobo comes down with the highly contagious Pebble Pox, which leaves him itchy and feverish. The [[TerrifiedOfGerms germaphobic Boober]] has to go out and look for a cure, but he starts to panic when Wembley, who came along with him, starts to get sick as well. It's also stated you only get Pebble Pox once.

Another common angle is wordplay on the name of the disease, with young characters assuming it has something to do with [[CluckingFunny chickens]]. In some works, chickenpox may actually [[ForcedTransformation turn the character]] ''into'' [[{{Animorphism}} a chicken]], whether they develop the rash first or not. As for the real origin of the "chicken" in "chickenpox," there's no confirmed answer, just [[https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/30635/what-do-chickens-have-do-chicken-pox a few theories]][[note]]"Chicken" is associated with weakness, the Old English word ''giccan'' for "itch" may have been corrupted to "chicken," the blisters may resemble chickpeas, etc.[[/note]].

Another common angle is wordplay on the name of the disease, with young characters assuming it has something to do with [[CluckingFunny chickens]]. In some works, chickenpox may actually [[BalefulPolymorph turn the character]] ''into'' [[{{Animorphism}} a chicken]], whether they develop the rash first or not. As for the real origin of the "chicken" in "chickenpox," there's no confirmed answer, just [[https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/30635/what-do-chickens-have-do-chicken-pox a few theories]][[note]]"Chicken" is associated with weakness, the Old English word ''giccan'' for "itch" may have been corrupted to "chicken," the blisters may resemble chickpeas, etc.[[/note]].

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'': "Arthur's Chicken Pox," adapted from the book of the same name, has Arthur come down with chickenpox mere days before his family is scheduled to go to the circus. It starts with him having [[FeverDreamEpisode strange hallucinations and fever dreams]], then he breaks out in spots. His grandma gives him an oatmeal bath and a drink with a crazy straw. D.W. gets jealous and [[PlayingSick pretends to have chickenpox by drawing spots on herself with a red crayon]], but she's exposed when her bath washes the spots away. On the day of the circus, Arthur is better, but D.W. really does have chickenpox. However, unlike the original book, D.W. is ''excited'' to have chickenpox, since the circus comes every year, but you only get chickenpox once.

As chickenpox is often regarded as a common "childhood" illness, these characters are almost always guaranteed to be young children. The disease has higher risks for adults, so a common angle for this plot is parents getting their young children to catch it early and develop an immunity to it, often by hosting a "chickenpox party" with an infected person. However, the popularization of the chickenpox vaccine has made the idea of a chickenpox party a DiscreditedTrope, except among people opposed to vaccination. The fact that the disease is no longer as common as it used to be (in the United States, a recent study estimated that symptomatic cases of the disease had [[TropeBreaker reduced by over 90% thanks to vaccination]]) means that this trope is also found increasingly in older works, as a story about it isn't likely to seem relevant to modern-day children.

This is a subtrope of the SickEpisode where characters suffer from chickenpox, breaking out in little red bumps and developing an uncontrollable itch. These bumps are usually depicted as [[PolkaDotDisease tiny polka dots]], often [[ArtisticLicenseBiology visually closer to the more serious disease of measles]], but some works (particularly {{Gross Out Show}}s) will make the pox appear more blistery and realistic. Whether they exhibit any other symptoms, like a fever, fatigue, or headache, is up to the work. Either way, they'll have to get lots of rest, probably wearing gloves to avoid scratching themselves raw and slathering themselves in oh-so-soothing calamine lotion, and possibly having an oatmeal bath.

As chickenpox is often regarded as a common "childhood" illness, these characters are almost always guaranteed to be young children. The disease has higher risks for adults, so a common angle for this plot is parents getting their young children to catch it early and develop an immunity to it, often by hosting a "chickenpox party" with an infected person. However, the popularization of the chickenpox vaccine has made the idea of a chickenpox party a DiscreditedTrope, except among people opposed to vaccination. The fact that the disease is no longer as common as it used to be (in the United States, a recent study estimated that symptomatic cases of the disease had reduced by over 90% thanks to vaccination) means that this trope is also found increasingly in older works, as a story about it isn't likely to seem relevant to modern-day children.

As chickenpox is often regarded as a common "childhood" illness, these characters are almost always guaranteed to be young children. The disease has higher risks for adults, so a common angle for this plot is parents getting their young children to catch it early and develop an immunity to it, often by hosting a "chickenpox party" with an infected person. However, the popularization of the chickenpox vaccine has made the idea of a chickenpox party a DiscreditedTrope, except among people opposed to vaccination. The fact that the disease is no longer prevalent means that this trope is also found increasingly in older works, as a story about it isn't likely to seem relevant to modern-day children.

* ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriends'': In "[[Recap/ThomasTheTankEngineS19E4HenrySpotsTrouble Henry Spots Trouble]]", Sir Topham Hatt's grandchildren, Stephen and Bridgett come down with a case of chicken pox. This causes Henry to worry about if engines can get it as well. He freaks out when he sees Thomas, Paxton, and Gordon with spots on their faces, which are revealed to be mud, dust, and paint, respectively. Towards the end of the episode, Sir Topham Hatt informs Henry that only people can catch chicken pox, but most people get it when they're young and get better quickly.

* ''WesternAnimation/ThomasTheTankEngine'': In "[[Recap/ThomasTheTankEngineS19E4HenrySpotsTrouble Henry Spots Trouble]]", Sir Topham Hatt's grandchildren, Stephen and Bridgett come down with a case of chicken pox. This causes Henry to worry about if engines can get it as well. He freaks out when he sees Thomas, Paxton, and Gordon with spots on their faces, which are revealed to be mud, dust, and paint, respectively. Towards the end of the episode, Sir Topham Hatt informs Henry that only people can catch chicken pox, but most people get it when they're young and get better quickly.

* ''WesternAnimation/KatieAndOrbie'': In "Chicken Pox Party," Katie catches the chicken pox on Halloween.

This is a subtrope of the SickEpisode where characters suffer from chickenpox, breaking out in little red bumps and developing an uncontrollable itch. These bumps are usually depicted as [[PolkaDotDisease tiny polka dots]], often [[ArtisticLicenseBiology visually closer to the more serious disease of measles]], but some works (particularly {{Gross Out Show}}s) will make the pox appear more blistery and realistic. Whether they exhibit any other symptoms, like a fever, fatigue, or headache, is up to the work. Either way, they'll have to get lots of rest, probably wearing gloves to avoid scratching themselves raw and slathering themselves in oh-so-soothing calamine lotion.

As chickenpox is often regarded as a common "childhood" illness, these characters are almost always guaranteed to be young children. The disease has higher risks for adults, so a common angle for this plot is parents getting their young children to catch it early and develop an immunity to it, often by hosting a "chickenpox party" with an infected person. However, the popularization of the chickenpox vaccine has made the idea of a chickenpox party a DiscreditedTrope, except among people opposed to vaccination.

* In the ''Series/RavensHome'' episode "The Baxtercism of Levi Grayson", Nia gets the chickenpox on Halloween.

As chickenpox is often regarded as a common "childhood" illness, these characters are almost always guaranteed to be young children. The disease has higher risks for adults, so a common angle for this plot is parents getting their young children to catch it early and develop an immunity to it, often by hosting a "chickenpox party" with an infected person. However, the popularization of the chickenpox vaccine has made the idea of a chickenpox party a DiscreditedTrope.