Cacar air is chickenpox and campak (demam campak) is measles: two viral infections that cause fever and a rash, and both spread very easily. Chickenpox causes an itchy rash of spots that turn into blisters and then scabs, and usually gets better on its own in 1 to 2 weeks. Measles starts like a cold with red, watery eyes, followed by a blotchy rash that begins on the face, and can lead to serious problems such as pneumonia. There is no specific cure for either, so care focuses on easing symptoms and stopping the spread. Vaccines are the best protection: the MMR vaccine against measles is free for babies in Malaysia, and a chickenpox vaccine is also available.
What is the difference between cacar air and campak?
Both illnesses cause a high temperature and a rash, but they look and behave differently. This table summarises the main differences, based on NHS and WHO information:
| Cacar air (chickenpox) | Campak (measles) | |
|---|---|---|
| First symptoms | High temperature, aches and pains, feeling unwell, loss of appetite | High temperature, runny or blocked nose, sneezing, cough, red and watery eyes |
| Rash | Itchy spots that become fluid-filled blisters, then scabs; can be anywhere on the body | Blotchy rash that starts on the face and behind the ears and spreads down the body; not usually itchy |
| Other signs | Spots can appear inside the mouth and around the genitals | Small white spots inside the cheeks |
| When symptoms start | Spots appear around 1 to 3 weeks after catching it | Symptoms usually begin 7 to 14 days after exposure |
| Contagious period | From 2 days before the spots appear until all spots have scabbed (about 5 days after they appear) | From about 4 days before the rash until 4 days after the rash appears |
| Vaccine | Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine | MMR vaccine (free for babies in Malaysia) |
A rash with fever has many possible causes. In young children, mouth ulcers with spots on the hands and feet may be HFMD, and in Malaysia a fever with a rash can also be demam denggi. An intensely itchy rash that is worse at night may be scabies; see our guide to kudis buta. See a doctor if you are not sure what is causing a rash.
Cacar air (chickenpox): what are the signs?
According to the NHS, chickenpox is a common infection that spreads easily and mostly affects children. The main symptom is an itchy, spotty rash. Before or after the rash appears, you might also have a high temperature, aches and pains, and loss of appetite.
The rash happens in 3 stages, and new spots can appear while others are already blistering or scabbing:
- Small spots appear. They can be anywhere on the body, including inside the mouth and around the genitals. They can be red, pink, darker or the same colour as your skin, and may be harder to see on darker skin.
- The spots become blisters. They fill with fluid, are very itchy and may burst.
- The blisters become scabs. Some scabs are flaky, while others leak fluid.
How chickenpox spreads. You can catch chickenpox by being in the same room as someone who has it, or by touching things with fluid from the blisters on them. You can also catch chickenpox from someone with shingles if you have not had chickenpox before, because shingles is caused by the same virus; see our guide to kayap. You cannot catch shingles from someone with chickenpox.
Ubat chicken pox: how do you treat chickenpox at home?
Chickenpox usually gets better on its own after 1 to 2 weeks. The NHS recommends:
Do:
- drink plenty of fluids (try ice lollies if your child is not drinking);
- take paracetamol to help with pain and discomfort;
- cut your child's fingernails and put socks on their hands at night to stop them scratching;
- use cooling creams or gels from a pharmacy;
- speak to a pharmacist about antihistamine medicine to help with itching;
- bathe in cool water and pat the skin dry, without rubbing;
- wear loose clothes.
Don't:
- use ibuprofen unless a doctor tells you to, as it may cause serious skin infections;
- give aspirin to children under 16;
- scratch the spots, as scratching can cause scarring.
Stay at home from school, nursery or work until all the spots have formed a scab, which is usually 5 days after the spots first appeared. Keep away from newborn babies, pregnant women and anyone with a weakened immune system, as chickenpox can be dangerous for them.
Antiviral medicine. Some people may be able to take medicine to prevent complications from chickenpox. According to the NHS, it needs to be started within 24 hours of the spots appearing, so see a doctor early if you are pregnant, have a weakened immune system, or are worried.
Demam campak (measles): what are the signs?
According to the NHS and WHO, measles usually begins 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus and starts with cold-like symptoms:
- a high temperature;
- a runny or blocked nose, sneezing and a cough;
- red, sore, watery eyes.
These early symptoms can look like a common cold, but measles also causes red, sore, watery eyes and is followed by a rash a few days later.
A few days later, small white spots may appear inside the cheeks and on the back of the lips. The measles rash (ruam campak) then usually appears 3 to 5 days after the first symptoms. It starts on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body. The spots are sometimes raised and join together to form blotchy patches, and they are not usually itchy.
WHO describes measles as one of the world's most contagious diseases. It spreads when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes, and the virus can stay active in the air or on surfaces for up to 2 hours. You are infectious from about 4 days before the rash appears until 4 days after.
Demam campak in babies and adults. According to WHO, complications are most common in children under 5 and adults over 30, and are more likely in children who are malnourished or have a weakened immune system. Measles during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, premature birth or a low birthweight baby.
How do you care for someone with measles?
There is no specific treatment for measles, and it usually starts to get better in about a week. If you think you or your child has measles, call the clinic before you go, as measles spreads easily. To ease symptoms, the NHS suggests:
- rest and drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration;
- paracetamol or ibuprofen for a high temperature, using a children's version that suits your child's age;
- gently cleaning crusts from the eyes with cotton wool soaked in boiled water that has cooled (see our guide to mata merah for other causes of red eyes).
Stay off nursery, school or work for at least 4 days from when the rash first appears, and avoid close contact with babies, pregnant women and anyone with a weakened immune system. Open windows, wash your hands often, use tissues when you cough or sneeze, and do not share cutlery, cups, towels or bedding.
Complications. Measles can lead to serious problems if it spreads to the lungs or brain, including pneumonia, meningitis, blindness and seizures. WHO also lists severe diarrhoea, ear infections and encephalitis (brain swelling). WHO recommends that health workers give vitamin A to children under 5 with measles, as it can help prevent eye damage and blindness; this should be given by a health practitioner at the right dose.
What is campak Jerman (rubella)?
Campak Jerman is the Malay name for rubella (German measles), a different virus from measles. According to the NHS, rubella is a rare illness that causes a spotty rash starting on the face or behind the ears. It usually gets better in about a week, but it can be serious if you get it while pregnant. The MMR vaccine also protects against rubella.
Which vaccines protect against cacar air and campak?
MMR vaccine (measles, mumps and rubella). In Malaysia, the MMR vaccine is part of the free National Immunisation Programme (Program Imunisasi Kebangsaan, which also includes the BCG vaccine against tibi), which gives babies their vaccines free of charge from birth to 18 months according to the Ministry of Health schedule. WHO says children should receive 2 doses of measles vaccine to make sure they are immune. Check your child's health record book or ask your nearest klinik kesihatan if you are not sure whether your child is up to date. WHO says the measles vaccine is safe, effective and inexpensive, and that measles vaccination prevented an estimated 59 million deaths between 2000 and 2024.
Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine. According to the NHS, the chickenpox vaccine is given as 2 doses and provides around 98% protection in children and about 75% protection in adults. Ask a doctor whether the chickenpox vaccine is suitable for you or your child, especially if you have never had chickenpox.
When should you see a doctor?
Chickenpox: get medical advice, according to the NHS, if:
- you are not sure it is chickenpox;
- the skin around the blisters becomes red, hot or painful, which may be a sign of infection;
- your child shows signs of dehydration, such as fewer wet nappies;
- you are pregnant or have a weakened immune system and have been near someone with chickenpox;
- you think your newborn baby has chickenpox or has been near someone with it;
- you have chickenpox and are more short of breath than usual.
Measles: see a doctor urgently if you think you or your child has measles, if a baby under 1 has been in contact with someone with measles, or if you are pregnant or have a weakened immune system and have been in close contact with measles. Also get urgent help for a high temperature that does not come down with paracetamol or ibuprofen, difficulty breathing, poor feeding or peeing less than usual.
Go to the emergency department if someone with measles has a seizure, severe difficulty breathing, cannot stay awake, becomes suddenly confused, is floppy or not responding normally, has a rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it, or has a stiff neck or finds light painful.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is cacar air and campak in English?
Cacar air is chickenpox, an infection that causes an itchy rash of spots that turn into blisters and then scabs. Campak, or demam campak, is measles, an infection that starts with cold-like symptoms and red, watery eyes, followed by a blotchy rash. Both are caused by viruses and spread very easily.
What are the early signs of chickenpox (tanda chicken pox)?
Chickenpox often starts with a high temperature, aches and pains, feeling unwell and loss of appetite, before or after an itchy, spotty rash appears. The spots can be anywhere on the body, then fill with fluid to become blisters, and finally form scabs. New spots can appear while others are scabbing.
What is the best ubat chicken pox from the pharmacy?
Chickenpox usually gets better on its own in 1 to 2 weeks. Paracetamol can ease pain and fever, and a pharmacist can suggest cooling creams or gels and antihistamine medicine for itching. Do not use ibuprofen unless a doctor tells you to, and do not give aspirin to children under 16.
How long is chickenpox contagious (chicken pox berjangkit)?
Chickenpox spreads from 2 days before the spots appear until all the spots have formed scabs, usually about 5 days after the spots first appeared. Stay off school, nursery or work until then, and keep away from newborn babies, pregnant women and people with a weakened immune system.
What are the signs of demam campak?
Measles usually starts with a high temperature, runny or blocked nose, sneezing, cough and red, sore, watery eyes. Small white spots may appear inside the cheeks. A few days later, a blotchy rash starts on the face and behind the ears and spreads to the rest of the body. The rash is not usually itchy.
Can adults get cacar air or campak?
Yes. Adults who have never had chickenpox or measles, or have not been vaccinated, can catch them. Chickenpox can be serious for pregnant women and people with a weakened immune system, and measles complications are most common in children under 5 and adults over 30.
Is there a vaccine for chickenpox and measles?
Yes. The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps and rubella and is given free to babies in Malaysia under the National Immunisation Programme. A separate chickenpox vaccine is also available; after 2 doses it gives around 98% protection in children and about 75% in adults. Ask a doctor about vaccines for you or your child.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor or pharmacist. Health supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
