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Chickenpox - causes, symptoms and diagnosis, drug treatment of chickenpox in children and adults, dietary nutrition, photos. How many days after infection do the first signs of the disease appear? Does the chickenpox vaccine help? Chicken pox (

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Chickenpox is an infectious disease of viral etiology. The causative agent is the herpes virus. The clinical picture is manifested by voluminous bubble formations, intoxication of the body, and acute temperature reactions.

What does chickenpox look like?

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella zoster virus. The symptoms of the disease are pronounced; they are diagnosed during examination of the patient; no additional studies are carried out. Smallpox rash initially appears as red spots, and as the disease progresses it turns into papules. The next stage of chickenpox is the transformation of rashes into itchy vesicles filled with liquid. They spread throughout the body, covering the skin and mucous membranes. The photo shows what it looks like.

Children and adults know what chickenpox is. Any age group can suffer from this infection. It is easy to become infected due to the airborne route of transmission. The disease has three development periods: incubation (mild), prodromal, the period of the appearance of a rash, which manifests itself in waves after a few days. Chickenpox can be typical or atypical.

Chicken pox in children

Chickenpox affects children between two and ten years of age. Children attending kindergarten or school are at risk. Infants under six months are not susceptible to infection; they are supported by maternal immunity. Although there are exceptions when infants also get sick. If someone gets sick with this type of smallpox in a child care facility, do not take your baby there for a while if you want to avoid infection. You can see what chickenpox looks like in children in the photo.

Chickenpox in an adult

An elderly person suffers from chickenpox very seriously; the primary symptoms appear the day before the first blisters. Low-grade fever persists, the condition worsens, appetite disappears, and weakness increases. After the appearance of redness, the symptoms of the disease increase. There is a temperature jump, repeated attacks of fever, and increased intoxication of the body. The surface of the skin becomes covered with a pinpoint rash, which within a day turns into papular formations containing fluid. The photo shows what chickenpox looks like in adults.

How does chickenpox start?

There are three forms of this infection: mild, moderate and severe. When the disease occurs in the first form listed, the person’s well-being is tolerable. The temperature stays up to 38, the rash is minor, the mucous membranes are almost unaffected. The duration of the rash is from two to five days maximum. What is subacute chickenpox? The infectious path of development causes moderate intoxication; the onset of the disease is characterized by the appearance of a temperature reaction above 38 degrees, the rash is frequent and itchy.

The nature of the rash in the severe stage of the disease is profuse, the mucous membranes are affected, vesicles can even affect the throat. It becomes painful to eat, and a runny nose appears. The temperature remains at 40 degrees. The patient sleeps poorly and loses his appetite. Having recognized the first signs and knowing how chickenpox begins, you can provide immediate assistance to alleviate the patient’s condition.

How does chickenpox begin in children?

The primary signs of the disease are hidden, especially if it is unknown whether the child could have come into contact with the patient and become infected. A slight fever, snot, and cough appear. The parents decide that the baby has a cold. They need to know exactly what childhood chickenpox is and how it manifests itself. This will allow you to take action quickly. The main signs of chickenpox in a child:

a sharp increase in temperature;

muscle, joint, headache;
the baby is apathetic, whiny;
sleep is disturbed, anxiety appears;
the child refuses to eat;
A rash characteristic of chickenpox appears.

The first signs of chickenpox in adults

Chickenpox in adults is severe. The primary symptoms of the disease are not pronounced. Once localized hyperemia occurs on the skin, the disease develops quickly. Intoxication increases, it is difficult to bring down the temperature, and suppuration of the vesicles occurs. The rash often affects the cornea of the eye, leading to decreased or loss of vision. In addition to all of the above symptoms:

photophobia;

nausea;
vomit;
lack of coordination;
muscle cramps;
intermittent fever;

Chickenpox - symptoms

In each form of the disease, there are common symptoms of chickenpox for any age group: infants, adolescents, adults, treatment is symptomatic. A few days before the bubbles appear, an earlier symptom occurs: malaise, fever, headache, pain in the abdomen and back. Vesicles on the mucous membranes cause a lot of pain. Blisters, if you do not scratch them, go away in a short time and become covered with a brownish crust, which falls off within 2 weeks.

How is chickenpox transmitted?

The varicella-zoster virus can be transmitted through air through ventilation openings. If a person did not have chickenpox in childhood, then upon contact with a sick person he will certainly become infected. The virus is not transmitted to third parties through objects or clothing - only by airborne droplets. You need to know how you can become infected with chickenpox, what treatment should be, so as not to be afraid to go outside. Rules to avoid infection:

Walking in the fresh air is acceptable, avoiding crowded places.

If you can walk to work, use it rather than public transport.
Make purchases in stores for several days.
Even if quarantine has not been declared in children's institutions, but a case of infection is known, leave the child at home.

Chicken pox - incubation period

The onset of chickenpox is characterized by mild symptoms. What is chickenpox during the incubation period? It is generally accepted that it lasts from 7 to 21 days. The incubation period for chickenpox ends, and protective functions are mobilized and antibodies are formed. Newborn babies can catch chickenpox if the mother has not had it. Parents should know what infant chickenpox is and be able to provide timely assistance at any stage of the disease. The latent period is divided into three phases:

development;
completion.

Is it possible to get chickenpox a second time?

The virus remains in the human body for life, its presence causes persistent immunity and the production of antibodies. Shingles with the causative agent is often mistaken for a recurrent disease - the same virus as modern smallpox. It can affect the body many times and take a chronic form. Doctors cannot answer unequivocally the question of whether chickenpox happens a second time. As an exception to the rule, such cases are known. Secondary infection is always mild.

How to treat chickenpox

Treatment of chickenpox can alleviate the patient's condition. It is considered important to treat each pimple with brilliant green for disinfection, but this procedure will not get rid of the itching. The use of zinc and fucorcin ointment helps get rid of itching and dry out the skin. Antiviral and antipyretic drugs are prescribed. The doctor must determine which medicine is best in each specific case. Options:

The antihistamine drug "Fenistil" is available for internal and external use. The gel is applied to the affected areas of the skin in case of unbearable itching. It is taken orally in the form of drops.

Acyclovir is used to treat the disease in adults, but in severe cases it is prescribed to children; it shortens the acute period of the disease.
Ergoferon is an antihistamine and antiviral agent. For children, the tablet is dissolved in 20 ml. water.

Patients are hospitalized when secondary diseases occur or the disease is severe. In other cases, treatment can be done at home. By following your doctor's recommendations, you can shorten the duration of your illness. To reduce intoxication, you need to drink plenty of fluids: herbal teas, fruit drinks. In the acute period, you need to follow a diet; after recovery, the weakened body needs proper nutrition. Strengthening the immune system serves as disease prevention.

How many people get chickenpox?

The formation of fresh vesicles depends on the form of the disease. The period can be long, a maximum of ten days. With uncomplicated development, new rashes no longer appear for 5-7 days. It is impossible to say for sure how long chickenpox lasts. The body's defenses and individual characteristics are important. There comes a time when new blisters no longer appear and become crusty. From this moment on, recovery begins. On average, the length of chickenpox covers a period of 14 to 21 days.

The danger of chickenpox

Due to ignorance of what chickenpox is, people treat smallpox as a minor infection. By scratching the blisters, the patient infects the wounds; they fill with pus, leaving cicatricial scars. How dangerous is chickenpox? Because it can cause associated complications. Pregnancy is a condition in which women should not come into contact with vectors of infection so that this does not affect the fetus. One-year-old babies without maternal immunity must be protected. The disease is severe and without qualified assistance can be fatal.

Video: What is chickenpox

Attention! The information presented in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials in the article do not encourage self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and give treatment recommendations based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.

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What is chickenpox in children and adults. The first signs, symptoms and timing of treatment for chickenpox

chicken pox

Chickenpox is a volatile viral infection caused by one of the types of herpes virus (Varicella-herpes zoster). Occurs in mild, moderate and severe forms. Characteristic symptoms are fever and rash. It is considered a typical childhood infection, although adults are also affected.

The chickenpox virus is characterized by extraordinary volatility, it is carried by air currents and wind (but still does not fly into the window), which is why it is called “chickenpox”. You can become infected from a human carrier not only at arm's length, but also within a radius of 50 meters. Chickenpox, like measles and rubella, is a highly contagious disease. However, the virus itself quickly dies in the environment; it is affected by rising and falling temperatures, ultraviolet radiation, and disinfection of premises.

How does chickenpox start in children? First, the virus enters the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx and respiratory tract, then actively multiplies in the epithelial cells, and this is how the latent period of the disease proceeds. Then the virus enters the lymph and blood vessels, accumulates there, spreads throughout the body, which causes the characteristic signs of chickenpox in children - fever, and then rashes.

Chickenpox symptoms

The initial stage of chickenpox is called the prodromal period and is rare. How does chickenpox manifest in children at this stage? Increased temperature and small, red rashes on the skin, like scarlet fever. They persist for several hours and then disappear. And only a day later the rash characteristic of chickenpox appears.

The first symptoms of chickenpox in children. Similar to the beginning of ARVI. The child may complain of headache, poor appetite, weakness, and refuses active games.
Temperature with chickenpox. Most often it ranges from 37 to 38°C. In some children it can reach 39°C or higher. Fever can last 3–5 days, in severe forms - up to a week. The temperature is maintained until all waves of rashes have passed.
Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck and back of the head. This indicates that the pathogen has entered the lymphatic system and is actively multiplying there.
Rash. The signs of chickenpox are easily recognized when typical rashes appear. The first rash often appears on the head 1–2 days after illness or fever. Within 5 days, new rashes appear on all parts of the body. First, a red spot appears, then a bulge (papule) forms, after which a bubble with a clear liquid (vesicle) appears, which is figuratively called a “dew drop.” After 1–2 days, the contents of the vesicle become cloudy, and after another day or two it begins to dry out. The resulting crusts last a long time and disappear only after a few weeks.
Severe itching. Characteristic when new blisters appear. Itching is the biggest problem with chickenpox, especially in young children who scratch the wounds without controlling themselves.

Light form

The symptoms of chickenpox in children, which occurs in a mild form, are erased. Recently, this form of the disease has been found in children under 12 years of age. If teenagers and adults get sick, they often suffer from the disease with difficulty. How does chickenpox manifest in mild form?

Mild feeling. There may be a mild headache, fatigue, and lethargy.
No fever. Sometimes there is an increase to 37.5°C.
Minor skin rash. The papules are single and small in size, there are few of them, the itching is mild.

A mild form of chickenpox may not provide lasting immunity; there is a high probability that the child will get sick again. Doctors warn parents about this.

For any form of chickenpox in children of any age, it is necessary to follow the basic rules of child hygiene: bathe, keep hands clean, be sure to trim nails. External environmental conditions are also important. The air in the room should be sufficiently humid (from 50 to 70%) and not too warm (no more than 20°C). The child will sweat less, itch, and tear off scabs. These conditions will help prevent secondary infection and keep your baby's skin clear and scar-free.

Features of chickenpox in infants

Chickenpox in newborns and infants is a rare occurrence, because the child usually receives antibodies to the disease from the mother during prenatal development. But if the mother has not had chickenpox, she has no immunity. This means there is a risk of infection of the baby. How does chickenpox occur in infants?

Chickenpox in children is dangerous due to intoxication and complications. Often infants are hospitalized in an infectious diseases hospital.

Complications

Chickenpox is only a seemingly harmless infection. Dangerous consequences of the disease are very rare and can develop in children with immunodeficiency. What complications can there be after chickenpox in children?

Secondary infection. Skin damage by staphylococcus and streptococcus. Against this background, purulent dermatitis can develop, which can only be treated with antibiotics.
Suppression of immune function. The chickenpox virus suppresses the body's defenses. Against this background, a number of diseases can develop: otitis media, gingivitis, laryngitis, pneumonia, stomatitis, arthritis, nephritis, myocarditis and others.
Hemorrhagic chickenpox. A severe and dangerous form of the disease in which the blisters fill with blood. Then hemorrhages appear on the skin and mucous membranes, bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, and nose. Danger of death.
Gangrenous chicken pox. Papules turn into large flabby blisters with signs of necrosis. Huge ulcers appear on the body, which become infected, and sepsis begins.
Chickenpox encephalitis. The virus can lead to inflammation of the brain. In addition to high fever, unbearable headaches are observed.
Scars and scars. Sometimes traces of chickenpox remain on the skin if the child scratched the rash vigorously and tore off dry formations. Also, scars remain if there was a secondary infection, purulent processes with deep skin damage.

Dangerous complications sometimes occur when taking certain medications for chickenpox. For example, it is strictly forbidden to give aspirin to children, as this can lead to dangerous liver damage (Reye's syndrome). You cannot combine chickenpox and taking hormonal and glucocorticosteroid drugs.

Treatment of the disease

Treatment for chickenpox in children depends on how it progresses. Most often, they give antipyretics, plenty of fluids, and disinfect the blisters. You should definitely call a doctor for any form of chickenpox.

Light and medium forms

Local treatment and careful hygienic skin care are mainly used. No hospitalization required.

Bed rest. Recommended during fever, when feeling unwell.
Antipyretics. Must be given at high temperatures. A fever of up to 38°C is reduced if the child is not feeling well or is individually intolerant to an increase in temperature.
Antiseptic treatment of vesicles on the body. Traditionally, the blisters are lubricated with brilliant green to dry them, disinfect them, and prevent secondary infection. Modern pediatricians believe that this procedure is more needed in order to identify new waves of rashes and mark them. In addition to brilliant green, you can use a weak solution of potassium permanganate, fucorcin, rivanol, calamine. Antiseptics are applied with a cotton swab several times a day.
Antiseptic treatment of vesicles on the mucosa. You can rinse your mouth and throat with chamomile decoction and furatsilin solution.

Severe forms

Antiviral drugs. Drugs against herpes viruses are used locally. Children from two years of age are allowed Zovirax, Acyclovir, Virolex.
Antibiotics. Chickenpox is not treated because it is a viral infection. They are used only when there is a secondary bacterial infection on the skin, a strong inflammatory, purulent process.
Drugs to support the immune system. The doctor may prescribe immunomodulators and immunostimulants. The most famous: “Anaferon”, “Interferon”, “Viferon”.
Antihistamines. Prescribed to relieve severe itching. Second and third generation drugs are often used: Claritin, Cetrin, Erius, Zyrtec, Terfen and others.

In case of prolonged high temperature, severe intoxication, or serious condition, they are hospitalized in an infectious diseases hospital.

Frequently Asked Questions

More about swimming

When can you wash if you have chickenpox and when can you swim if you have chickenpox? Old-school domestic pediatricians will answer these two questions: it is strictly forbidden to wet the blisters; contact with water prevents their rapid healing. According to European and American pediatricians, you can swim when the temperature drops. Water does not harm skin rashes in any way and, on the contrary, even alleviates the condition, washes away sweat, and relieves itching. However, there are a number of cautions and recommendations:

Is it possible to swim if you have chickenpox? It is not only possible, but also necessary if the child sweats a lot and is bothered by severe itching. Hygiene procedures will also help prevent secondary infection.

In most cases, chickenpox in children is easily tolerated, without consequences. It is more common in preschoolers and younger schoolchildren. It is seasonal, most often occurring in autumn and winter. On average, epidemic outbreaks of chickenpox occur once every 5 years: children get sick en masse in kindergartens and schools.

Chickenpox in common parlance - in medical reference books this disease is called chickenpox. The causative agent is a common herpes virus, very tenacious, which, as is known, lives in the cells of every human body. There is an opinion, confirmed by doctors, that it is better to get sick in childhood, because children tolerate this illness much easier. However, when a period of epidemic occurs in children's institutions - and this is, most often, autumn - parents are concerned with the most important questions - how to protect the baby, how to determine the symptoms in children for sure?

Incubation period in children; What is chickenpox, how do children get infected?

This type of smallpox is believed to be the only viral disease that remains the most common infectious disease children's contingent to this day. Experts say that you can only get chickenpox once in your entire life, since the body that has had the disease subsequently develops immunity. Although sometimes there are cases when people get sick 2 times in their lives.

Most often affected children aged 2 to 10 years. As a rule, those children who are most susceptible to the disease are those who stay in kindergartens and schools, attend clubs, sections, etc. Newborn babies up to 6 months of age cannot become infected, because from birth they retain immunity received from their mother and supported by breastfeeding.

The virus is very volatile The route of transmission of infection is airborne . This virus can settle on the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth, and the entire surface of the respiratory tract, from where it easily and quickly enters the body.

In children, external manifestations initially include reddish spots on the surface of the skin, which then form small blisters filled with liquid.

It should be noted that this is a persistent infection and a disease that rapidly spreads between people - this is why seasonal annual epidemics in child care institutions . With the flow of air and dust, the virus easily penetrates into neighboring apartments and premises. If one student in a kindergarten gets chickenpox, it means that all other children are also susceptible to infection and will most likely get sick.
The epidemic pattern of morbidity is explained by its duration incubation period 2 to 3 weeks . During the incubation period, the disease does not manifest itself. The children look absolutely healthy and active. But during this period, a sick child, who does not even have any external manifestations, poses an epidemic threat to all the people around him and can infect them. When the incubation period passes and the phase of the most active division of the virus in the body begins, the child’s well-being begins to deteriorate, and all the typical symptoms of chickenpox appear. When the disease subsides, the virus ceases its activity 5 days after the appearance of the most recent rash on the body.

Symptoms: how does it start and what does it look like in children?

In the vast majority of cases, chickenpox shows a typical picture, and in all children it manifests itself, one might say, in the same way.

Among main symptoms of chickenpox the following can be distinguished:

Sharply rising body temperature (up to 40 degrees C);
Pain in the head, limbs and muscles;
Irritability, tearfulness baby, severe weakness and apathy;
Unreasonable anxiety, sleep disturbances;
Decreased appetite in a child and even refusal to eat;
The appearance of characteristic rashes on the entire surface of the body spots and blisters that do not affect only the surfaces of the palms and soles.

Rashes They are small pink-red spots that quickly cover the child’s entire body in a very short period of time.

After some time, these pink spots begin to turn into bubbles with clear liquid inside;
The blisters cause severe itching . The child begins to be bothered by itching and tries to scratch the blisters on the skin - which is absolutely forbidden to do. Parents should remember this and do their best to prevent their baby from scratching the itchy blisters on the skin. Otherwise, an infection may get into the scratched wounds, causing a serious complication - secondary infection of the skin;
Skin spots dry out within 3 days and are covered with a red crust. But during the course of the disease, regular rashes appear on the patient’s body, in the typical form of the disease - in the period from 4 to 8 days, accompanied by all of the above symptoms of this disease;
The crusts covering the spots on the skin begin to fall off after 2 weeks . At the site of the rash after chickenpox, barely noticeable marks remain on the skin, which are initially colored pale pink, then merge in color with healthy skin without standing out. But, if a child scratches blisters on the skin during his illness, scars of various sizes may form at the site of these scratches and remain forever.

Forms of the disease in children; how long does it last?

How long does chickenpox last in children? It is impossible to answer unequivocally. Each person’s body is individual, and the process proceeds differently for everyone. If we take average data, we can say - the appearance of new spots stops during the 5th – 8th day of the disease . From this time on, it is believed that the illness is subsiding and the child is recovering. Traces on the skin from stains pass within 3 weeks .

All cases require completely different treatment - this completely depends on the form of the disease.

Exists typical chickenpox, which occurs in mild, moderate or severe form, as well as atypical chickenpox.

Complications in children: what is dangerous for a child?

Subject to all sanitary and hygienic standards does not cause any complications . If during the course of the disease the blisters on the skin become inflamed or are severely scratched, visible scars form in their place and remain for life. More serious consequences of chickenpox in patients practically do not occur. The only serious complication - which, fortunately, occurs extremely rarely - is encephalomyelitis, the so-called inflammation of the brain.

As a rule, chickenpox treatment is carried out at home . There are no special medications for the treatment of chickenpox; they are not necessary. Doctors recommend that the patient adhere to a certain diet, drink plenty of fluids, maintain strict bed rest, take antiallergic medications To prevent severe itching, lubricate the skin with lotions that soothe itching, and lubricate any blisters with brilliant green.

The website warns: self-medication can harm your health! If you have any doubts about the symptoms and manifestations of a particular disease in your child, consult a doctor, do not make a diagnosis yourself!

Chickenpox or chickenpox in children is a pathology that is provoked by the activation of the herpes simplex virus in the body. Most often, the virus affects children from 2 to 7 years old. Those children most susceptible to the disease are those who attend kindergartens or other developmental groups, are often in society and have contact with other people.

Infants rarely become infected with chickenpox in the first six months of their lives, because their bodies still retain maternal immunity. Upon reaching 7 years of age, chickenpox develops much less frequently, but is more severe.

The main way the virus enters the body is through airborne droplets.

Signs of chickenpox in a child

To make an accurate diagnosis and not miss the first symptoms of the disease, you need to know what chickenpox looks like:

As a rule, all stages can be observed on the skin at the same time, because some blisters are already bursting, while others are just forming.

The main symptoms of the disease are rashes and itching all over the body. Sometimes they are accompanied by other manifestations:

headaches;
fever;
temperature rise.

Only a doctor diagnoses the disease and develops treatment tactics. In children, chickenpox is almost always mild and does not cause complications.

Temperature rise

Body temperature readings will correspond to the type of chickenpox. Simple forms do not provoke a sharp change in temperature; the maximum increase does not exceed 37.5 degrees.

Children most often develop moderate chickenpox, when the body temperature increases in direct proportion to the number of blisters formed on the body, it reaches 38 degrees.

In severe cases, the temperature increases to 39 - 40 degrees.

How many days the fever will last depends on the severity of the disease. Indicators up to 38 usually do not subside within 2 to 4 days. If the temperature rises to 39, the fever may last a week. In this case, you need to urgently seek medical help and call an ambulance.

Rashes

The herpes virus that causes chickenpox causes a red rash to form. At first it resembles mosquito bites. Then the bumps become blisters with fluid along with a rise in body temperature. This process takes 4–5 days and the blisters burst, leaving the wounds covered with crusts. If you scratch the rash, an infection will get into the wound and a scar will remain in its place. Trauma to the blisters causes new multiple secondary rashes.

Chickenpox duration

In children, chickenpox is classified into several types with characteristic signs for each:

Incubation of the disease lasts 1–3 weeks, when the virus multiplies and accumulates in the body without any external signs.
Prodromal stage - sometimes in very young children it does not develop or occurs with mild symptoms. This stage develops over the course of a day or a little longer and resembles a simple cold with a rise in temperature, headaches, fatigue, lack of appetite, and sore throat. Sometimes short-term formation of red spots occurs in some areas of the skin.
The rash stage - it usually begins with an increase in temperature to 38 - 39 degrees. The higher the temperature on the first day, the more abundant the subsequent rashes will be and the more severe the course of the pathology. In mild forms, the temperature rises very slightly, sometimes not at all.

Products for treating and relieving itching

The doctor establishes the specifics of therapy in accordance with the symptoms of the disease on an individual basis.

At high temperatures, the child is prescribed antipyretics with paracetamol or ibuprofen. When bacterial damage to scratches occurs, treatment is supplemented with antibiotics. As a rule, treatment of chickenpox is a comprehensive approach, so the doctor prescribes several groups of drugs:

Antiherpetic and immunomodulatory medications: Acyclovir, Viferon. In typical cases, the body of a child under 7 years of age is able to overcome diseases on its own without the help of antiviral drugs.
Antihistamines - they make it possible to relieve unbearable itching and restore normal sleep for the child. The most popular drugs in this group are Tavegil, Diazolin, Suprastin - these are 1st generation drugs. 2nd generation drugs include: Claritin, Loratadine and Zyrtec.
Sedative medications - they are prescribed for severe moodiness of the child and mild excitability. When taking antihistamines, you need to make sure they may already have a sedative effect.

For local treatment of rashes, you can use brilliant green. Hydrogen peroxide, a solution of potassium permanganate with water, and a solution of Fukortsin dry out blisters well.

Chickenpox is almost always accompanied by unbearable itching, so it is necessary to explain to the patient the importance of refraining from scratching.

As the temperature rises, the child sweats a lot, and the itching from exposure to sweat intensifies even more. To make it easier, you need to change your linens – bedding and underwear – as often as possible, and maintain a comfortable air temperature in the room. During illness, it is better to wear cotton clothes on children, allowing air to pass to the skin, reducing sweating.

It is strictly forbidden to take a steam bath if you have chickenpox, but you can and even need to take a shower with water at a pleasant temperature. This will reduce itching. It is forbidden to rub with a washcloth or dry with a hard towel, so as not to injure the rash.

Possible complications of chickenpox

Complications that progress after chickenpox do occur, but they happen very rarely. They arise due to non-compliance with the rules of caring for a child during illness, with constant dissuading of scabs and combing of blisters.

But the development of complications does not always depend on the care and behavior of the parents; often due to the addition of a concomitant disease, chronic pathologies, weakened immunity, the following types of chickenpox in children can appear:

Bullous chickenpox- it is characterized by the formation of specific rashes on the skin - blisters with thin skin and purulent fluid inside. Intoxication is pronounced in this case, sometimes the form of the disease is complicated by sepsis, so the doctor must treat and monitor the patient in an inpatient setting. Basically, such chickenpox develops due to weakened immunity in the child.
Hemorrhagic chickenpox– occurs with concomitant blood lesions, in HIV-infected children or with oncology. This form is very rare, it has pronounced intoxication of the body, high temperature, and a large number of rashes form throughout the body. The course of the disease is complicated by the risk of internal bleeding and the appearance of blood in blisters on the body.
Gangrenous-necrotic chickenpox– combines the symptoms of the two forms described above. Many blisters with serous and bloody filling form on the child’s body. This form often becomes septic in nature.
Visceral chickenpox– it is characterized by additional damage to internal organs and systems – liver, heart, pancreas, lungs and kidneys.

All described forms of chickenpox in children are atypical and are rarely encountered in medical practice. Basically, the complications of chickenpox are bacterial or viral in nature, which is layered on the pathology.

Sometimes complications develop after recovery - this could be pneumonia, encephalitis, or penetration of the virus into the lungs or brain cells. Inflammatory processes of the optic nerve and facial nerve often occur. It happens that after the end of the illness, the child complains of pain in the joints for a long time.

Bacterial complications occur when the vesicles are damaged or crusts are torn off. Children may often do this due to severe itching; parents should closely monitor the child during this time.

During secondary formation, the bubbles leave behind scars.

What should parents do: how to behave

If a mild or moderate form of chickenpox develops and there is no need for hospital treatment, you should try to create comfortable conditions for the child:

First of all, ensure bed rest for 9 days, change the child’s bedding and clothes as often as possible.
The patient should be given plenty of fluids and salty, sour and spicy foods should be excluded from his diet.
Rashes on the body can be treated with brilliant green; if a rash forms on the mucous membranes, rinsing with antimicrobial agents is required.
To reduce body temperature, give Ibuprofen or Paracetamol. It is not recommended to give Aspirin to children.
It is necessary to prevent scratching of wounds - trim the child’s nails or wear cotton gloves.
Excessive sweating causes severe itching - which means there is no need to dress the child too warmly; it is permissible to take a shower under warm, comfortable water without wiping with a hard towel.

Many parents ask about the possibility of walking. In good weather and at normal temperatures, you need to go for a walk - but do not do it for long, eliminating contact with people in order to avoid infection or the development of complications in the baby due to the addition of an additional infection against the background of a weakened immune system.

Modern approach to treating the disease

It should be noted that modern methods of treating chickenpox are highly effective and cause less harm to the patient’s body. These include:

Skin treatment is an integral stage of the treatment process. To reduce itching during rashes and prevent the formation of scars, the use of mild antiseptics and antihistamines is required. These include: Zinc ointment, Miramistin and other similar medications.
The most effective antiviral drug in the treatment of chickenpox is Acyclovir. It destroys the structure of herpes.
Ibuprofen and Paracetamol will help quickly normalize the temperature, but they should only be given when the readings rise above 38.5.
Maintaining hygiene rules.
If a child refuses to eat, there is no need to force it. You should increase the volume of fluid you drink.
The most suitable drinks for this are warm compote or warm, lightly brewed tea.
Vitamins are necessarily used in treatment; the menu includes fruits and vegetables. This will help strengthen the immune system weakened by the disease.

It will not be possible to accelerate the course of the disease. At the first signs, you need to immediately consult a doctor and continue to follow his instructions. This will prevent the development of negative consequences.

It is important to know that it is better to get chickenpox before the child grows up, since after recovery the antibodies remain in the body. Despite the nature of the pathology, its discomfort is manifested in a person only once in a person’s entire life.

Dr. Komarovsky talks about the important stages of treating chickenpox in a child, the principles of preventing complications and ways to alleviate the condition.

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Chickenpox is an infectious disease. Chickenpox is a common disease in children, but adults are also susceptible to this infection. Being around someone who has chickenpox is very dangerous because the virus spreads easily through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. You can also get chickenpox by coming into contact with the rash of an infected person. People who are not vaccinated against chickenpox are always at risk of contracting chickenpox.

How can you get chickenpox?

Every person should know basic information about the symptoms of chickenpox; This is especially true for parents of young children. Your child can be infected with the chickenpox virus simply by touching an infected person. Moreover, if a person with chickenpox sneezes around others, this can also cause infection. Remember, the symptoms of chickenpox in children are the same as the symptoms of chickenpox in adults: fever, headache, nausea, aches and loss of appetite. If you notice a rash or spots on your child's skin, call a doctor immediately.

How many times can you get chickenpox?

There are a few more important things to note about chickenpox symptoms. If a person is infected with chickenpox, he will not get chickenpox again the second time. Remember also that if you are the mother of a child and have not had chickenpox before, you have every chance of contracting chickenpox from your own child. A pregnant woman should also be very careful not to get chickenpox.

Chickenpox incubation period

The incubation period for chickenpox takes 10 to 21 days for the disease to fully develop in adult patients. A person suffering from chickenpox remains contagious for 10 to 14 days, until all of their blisters have crusted over. During the first 5 days of chickenpox illness, the child should stay at home and any contact with other children is prohibited until the rash dries. It is important to make sure that a child with chickenpox cannot infect other children. The varicella zoster virus, the cause of chickenpox, spreads quickly from an infected person to other people through contact. Below are the most common symptoms of chickenpox that require immediate treatment.

10. Chickenpox symptoms: rash

Chickenpox symptoms appear approximately 10 to 21 days after exposure to the virus. Chickenpox rash is the most predominant symptom of the disease. However, there are other symptoms that appear about 2 days before the rash. But these symptoms are not definitive; rashes are a characteristic sign that provides a definitive diagnosis of chickenpox.

9. Chickenpox symptoms: fever, high temperature

Fever, a symptom of chickenpox, can begin approximately 1-2 days before the rash appears. The temperature with chickenpox is usually 38 °C (Celsius) or more. Fever is the most common of all secondary symptoms of chickenpox and is more common in adults than in children. To treat high fever with chickenpox, you can take antipyretic drugs - usually Paracetamol. However, you should consult your doctor or pharmacist to choose the appropriate medicine. Research has shown that of all the antipyretics for chickenpox, Ibuprofen should be avoided because its use worsens the disease.

8. Chickenpox symptoms: muscle pain

Muscle pain is accompanied by fatigue and irritability if you suffer from chickenpox. Chickenpox muscle pain also begins about 2 days before the rash. Along with muscle pain, joint pain may appear. These chickenpox symptoms, however, are not necessary. Some patients experience only muscle pain, while others experience both types of pain. Take pain medications to relieve these chickenpox symptoms.

7. Chickenpox symptoms: loss of appetite

As the chickenpox virus enters the body, the sick person feels discomfort and refuses to eat. A person with chickenpox should drink enough fluids to avoid dehydration. For children - as an option - sugar-free popsicles are a good way to get liquid. The loss of appetite is not very severe and goes away quite quickly. It is also a secondary symptom of chickenpox that appears before the rash.

6. Chickenpox symptoms: cough or runny nose

The “flu” condition with chickenpox is common in both adults and children. Some children may have more severe symptoms. A runny nose with chickenpox is often accompanied by a cough; the condition is well alleviated by antihistamines. If the cough with chickenpox gets worse or the patient begins to feel sick, you should urgently call a doctor or an ambulance.

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5. Chickenpox symptoms: headache

Not only muscle and joint pain bother those infected with chickenpox - headache is also one of the most well-known symptoms of chickenpox. Chickenpox headaches can be treated with the same medications used to treat muscle and joint pain. There is no need to panic when a headache begins with chickenpox. Just relax, rest, take a painkiller and the pain in your head will go away.

4. Chickenpox symptoms: papules

Papules are pink or red colored bumps raised above the skin. The chickenpox rash develops into a papule over several days. Papules are very itchy, but this itching must be relieved by all available means. Scratching a rash or papules can lead to bacterial infection of the skin, soft tissue, joints, bones, and even blood. Such infections are a serious condition that must be treated separately - often with antibiotics. To avoid scratching the skin, you can take antihistamines.

3. Chickenpox symptoms: blisters on the skin

Over the course of several days, chickenpox papules form specific blisters (with purulent contents). It is their contents, liquid, that contributes to the spread of chickenpox. disease. The blisters break to release fluid, a symptom of chickenpox that means the disease is getting worse. Maintain quarantine conditions for a person with chickenpox, do not allow them to contact other people, provide a separate towel, bed linen and cutlery for the person with chickenpox that will not be used by other people.

2. Chickenpox symptoms: crusts and scabs

Crusts and scabs appear on the destroyed blisters. As a rule, they do not cause pain, but it takes several days for the vesicle to enter the drying stage. Sometimes the liquid in the vesicle dries out, forming a crust on the surface of the skin that quickly falls off. In other cases, chickenpox crusts take longer to form: first, the liquid in the vesicles becomes cloudy, pustules (pustules) appear, only then light brown crusts form, which gradually wrinkle and fall off after about 6-8 days. When this happens, the infectious stage of the disease has passed. The fallen off crusts usually do not leave marks on the skin, in very rare cases - for several months or even years, visually noticeable scars may remain.

1. Chickenpox symptoms: difficulty breathing

This is the most alarming symptom of chickenpox. Difficulty breathing is a very rare symptom of chickenpox, but very dangerous. Chest pain or difficulty breathing are very serious health problems that need to be addressed right away. Usually prescribed drugs, bronchodilators are usually given, which quickly makes breathing easier. If such a symptom is present, medication prescribed by a doctor and serious hospital care are required.

In order to avoid these alarming symptoms of chickenpox, do not forget about the benefits of vaccination. The chickenpox vaccine is very effective in preventing the disease. Socialization with chickenpox patients is the worst idea that not very literate parents can come up with. It is always recommended to keep children with chickenpox at home, which reduces the risk of spreading the infection to zero.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this article about chickenpox symptoms is intended to inform the reader only. It is not intended to be a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional.