ethnoscience

Causes, treatment and complications of chickenpox in women. Chickenpox in adults - forms and stages, symptoms and first signs, diagnosis and treatment, prevention (vaccinations), photos of patients with chickenpox

Chickenpox during childbirth is very dangerous for the baby, and its mortality rate is 30%.

The chickenpox vaccine was developed in the 70s and licensed in the United States in 1995. The vaccine virus is attenuated through serial passage through fetal lung cells, guinea pig embryonic fibroblasts, and diploid human cells (WI-38). The virus in the Merck vaccine was serialized 31 more times through diploid MRC-5 cells. The vaccine also contains fetal bovine serum. The vaccine produces fewer antibodies than the natural disease.

In the early 2000s, chickenpox outbreaks were reported in schools where almost everyone was vaccinated. Therefore, in 2006, another dose of the vaccine was added.

The measles-mumps-rubella-chickenpox (MMRV) combination vaccine was licensed on the basis of immunogenicity (antibody levels) rather than clinical effectiveness.

In those who received chickenpox vaccine within 30 days of MMR, the vaccine was 2.5 times less effective.

Chickenpox is an infectious disease caused by the varicella zoster virus, which belongs to the herpes family of viruses. It is characterized by fever, a rash with various elements (from spots to crusts), severe itching and catarrhal phenomena.

A feature of type 3 herpes virus is its volatility. In a poorly ventilated area, it can spread up to 20 m, and anyone who has not had chickenpox can become infected.

Chickenpox most often occurs in preschool children, but is extremely rare in children under 6 months of age.

In newborns, chickenpox has an extremely severe course. They are often diagnosed with atypical forms of chickenpox.

By age 6, 70% of children have antibodies to chickenpox and are immune for the rest of their lives.

After a person has chickenpox, they develop antibodies to the herpes virus type 3, and an immune response is formed to the re-introduction of the virus. But with immunodeficiency, shingles or a repeated case of chickenpox may develop, since the virus continues to “live” in the nerve ganglia and it is impossible to completely recover.

Shingles most often affects people with immunodeficiency. A peculiarity of this disease is that the rash does not spread over the entire skin, but along the course of the nerve, for example, along the intercostal spaces or on the face along one of the branches of the facial or trigeminal nerve. This disease is unpleasant, its prodromal period is especially unpleasant; often the patient does not associate it with the manifestation of herpes infection.

A little history

Until the 18th century, chickenpox was not considered an independent disease; it was considered one of the manifestations of smallpox. It was only at the beginning of the 20th century that the first descriptions of a virus - the causative agent of the disease - appeared in the contents of vesicles. And only in the 40s of the twentieth century a description of the chickenpox virus appeared.

How does chickenpox manifest in children? Course of the disease

Usually, after contact with a sick person, after 11–21 days (this is the incubation period of chickenpox), the first signs of chickenpox appear in a child. The long incubation period often causes a little confusion among parents.

It would seem that the meeting with the patient was a long time ago, and the threat of getting sick has already passed, and then the child begins to complain of body aches, chills appear, the temperature rises to 38 - 39 ˚C, nasal discharge appears, the baby becomes lethargic and drowsy. Since a lot of time passes after contact with a patient, mothers cannot always understand that these are the first symptoms of chickenpox in children.

After a day or two, a rash appears. It is initially small-spotted or spotted. Children usually complain of itching, and children under four years of age may cry and act restless. Within a day, the spots turn into vesicles filled with serous contents. After a few days, the blisters open, and in their place crusts form on the skin. After the crust comes off, the wound heals completely, leaving no scars.

It should be noted that the rash appears (sprinkles) every 2 - 3 days for 3 - 7 days, therefore all the elements of the rash are different (polymorphic).

The child is contagious two days before the first signs of the disease appear, during the period of rashes and up to seven days from the moment of the last addition.

It should be noted that usually the younger the child’s age, the easier he tolerates the disease. It is easier for a 3-year-old child to survive this period than for an adult.

Symptoms of chickenpox in children

temperature above 38˚С. Please note that sometimes the temperature rises to 40˚C. This is not a complication of the disease, but only a feature of the reactivity of the immune system of a sick person. However, in some cases the temperature throughout the entire illness can be 37 °C;
The appearance of the rash varies in stages. Stages of the rash - spot-bubble-appearance of crusts. The rash appears on the child's entire body, except the palms and feet. Chickenpox is also characterized by a rash on the scalp;
wave-like appearance of the rash, when after the appearance of the rash there is a short-term lull.

Other symptoms of the disease:

viral conjunctivitis. It usually appears when the herpes virus affects the first branch of the trigeminal nerve. When viral conjunctivitis appears, children may complain of unpleasant sensations in their eyes, they will say that it is unpleasant or painful for them to look at the light, tears flow from their eyes;
vulvovaginitis in girls;
stomatitis - the appearance of a rash on the mucous membranes of the mouth. If a rash appears in the child’s mouth, you should contact your doctor for further examination and possible changes in treatment tactics.

Swimming with chickenpox

Is it possible to bathe a child with chickenpox when he is sick? This question is especially acute.

Opinions on this issue, as always, differ.

You cannot take a bath, that is, lie for a long time and steam your body (to avoid infection of open wounds).
Do not use a sponge or washcloth. Do not rub the child’s body with anything or anything.
Be careful with soaps and shower gels. They dry out the skin and can increase irritation.
It is better if the child takes a shower.
After a shower, you need to blot the water with a soft towel. Under no circumstances should you rub your body.
After the skin has dried, it should be treated with brilliant green or fucorcin.

Features of caring for children with chickenpox

Children usually bring the infection from kindergarten and often infect their younger brothers and sisters. Chickenpox in children is mild, and the most unpleasant thing is the rash, which is why these children are treated at home.

We will discuss how to treat chickenpox in children a little later, but for now let’s remember how to care for children with chickenpox:

diet. If a child refuses to eat, do not force it; it is better to eat a little, but more often. Increase the amount of fruits and vegetables in your diet;
drinking plenty of water. Fruit drinks, compotes, jelly and homemade freshly squeezed juices are recommended. If the child does not want to drink it, offer tea or water;
it is advisable to limit active games; trying to keep the child in bed is pointless;
try to explain that the sores cannot be scratched, the child’s nails must be cut short;
It is advisable to change bed linen every day, the child should sleep separately in his own bed;
The room in which the child is located must be washed every day and ventilated at least once an hour;
It is desirable that there are no other children around the sick child, but, alas, this is not always possible.

To walk or not to walk?

This is another question in caring for a child with chickenpox that worries parents: is it possible to walk with a baby with chickenpox?

During the period when the child is contagious, walks are not recommended. But if the parents are sure that the baby will not have contact with anyone (for example, if you live in a private house), then you can go for a short walk.

We list the important conditions for walking:

Body temperature should return to normal.
The last rash was 7 days ago. Otherwise, if you do go for a walk, there should be no other people on the street, especially children or pregnant women.
If a child has recently had chickenpox, he should not sunbathe or swim in open water.
The immune system of a child who has recovered from the disease is still weakened, so he is not recommended to have contact with sick children or unwell adults.

Prevention and vaccination

It has been done in our country since 2008, but is still not included in the list of mandatory vaccinations, which means that parents themselves must decide for themselves whether or not to vaccinate their baby.

Vaccination is now recommended from the age of two. The vaccination is done once, provided that the child is under 13 years old, and twice for children over 13 and adults who have not yet been sick.

Vaccination is carried out with Varilrix or Okavax vaccines (they are live attenuated vaccines).

Vaccination takes place according to the following scheme:

"Okavax" - 0.5 ml (one dose) at a time for children over 12 months of age;
"Varilrix" - 0.5 ml (one dose) twice with an interval of 2 - 2.5 months.

Emergency prophylaxis is carried out with any of the above-mentioned drugs within 96 hours from the moment of contact with a sick person. In our country, such prevention is not common.

After administration of the drug, after 7 days, signs of chickenpox may appear in the child. This is a mild malaise, an increase in temperature to 38 ° C, and a mild rash may appear. All symptoms go away on their own within a few days. There is no need to treat them; they are not a complication of vaccination.

Another method of prevention is isolating sick children. True, this is ineffective, since in children the prodromal period does not always manifest itself clearly, and the child is contagious two days before the appearance of the rash.

What can chickenpox be confused with?

At the beginning, before the rash appears, the disease is similar to the course of any viral disease, such as influenza.

At the first signs of sleep, you can mistake chickenpox for an allergy or heat rash, but usually within 24 hours it becomes clear that the conclusion was made incorrectly.

Usually after the rash appears, everything becomes clear.

Complications of chickenpox

There are always exceptions, but more often they talk about rules. For example, when a pregnant woman who has not previously had chickenpox gets sick, she has a chance of losing her baby, or the baby may be born with chickenpox.

Children under the age of one year suffer from chickenpox extremely hard, and it occurs in them in an atypical form.

Another option is adults and teenagers. They also sometimes have complications, such as viral pneumonia, myocarditis or encephalitis.

Atypical forms of chickenpox

Rudimentary. The rash is spotty, there are practically no catarrhal symptoms, the disease passes easily.
Hemorrhagic form. Bubbles in this form are filled not with transparent, but with blood content. The course of the disease is severe, patients experience vomiting with blood, nosebleeds, and possible black stools. On the second day, petechial rashes (small pinpoint hemorrhages in the skin) appear.
Bullous form. The bubbles in this form merge, forming so-called bullae. They are usually filled with muddy contents.
Gangrenous form. It has an extremely severe course.
Generalized form. With this form of the disease, severe intoxication and damage to internal organs are observed.

All atypical forms (except rudimentary) are treated in the hospital, often in intensive care units.

Treatment of chickenpox in children

If you see that your child is sick, call a doctor who will prescribe and monitor treatment. Each drug has its own subtleties and features. Incorrect treatment, as well as its complete absence, can lead to complications during the course of the disease.

If the temperature rises above 38.5 °C, you can give the child an antipyretic drug based on ibuprofen or paracetamol.
To reduce skin itching, you can use local ointments such as Gerpevir, Acyclovir. It is possible to use Fenistil gel.
Antihistamines can be used. For example, the drug Diazolin, it is available in tablets.
To prevent secondary infection of ulcers, use brilliant green or Fukortsin. The application of such preparations also helps to determine the appearance of new bubbles.
For a sore throat, you can use herbal decoctions and medications approved for the treatment of children of a particular age.
Antiviral therapy is mandatory. It is prescribed by a doctor.

Dear mothers, I wish you not to be overwhelmed by the tears of your children, but to do this, be very attentive and patient towards them. Chickenpox is just a part of your child's life, and over time, only photos will remain that remind you of the green-spotted period.

Chickenpox is an infectious disease caused by Varicella Zoster (herpes virus). As you know, it is better to get chickenpox in kindergarten or at school age, because in adults the course of the disease becomes more severe and has a number of complications. In men, chickenpox at the age of 20 has quite pronounced symptoms and a high probability of dangerous consequences.

Due to the fact that chickenpox mainly affects children, this disease is considered exclusively a childhood infection. However, a person of any age who has not had it in childhood or has not previously been vaccinated can become infected with chickenpox.

Varicella Zoster, spreading through the air, is transmitted to a healthy person by airborne droplets. Having entered the body through the mucous membranes, the virus easily penetrates the blood system. But due to the too long incubation period, which lasts up to 21 days, it is difficult to immediately determine the presence of the disease.

How does chickenpox manifest in men?

Chickenpox is divided into 2 periods: incubation and prodromal. During the incubation period, chickenpox symptoms do not appear in adult men. The duration of the asymptomatic stage reaches 21 days.

body temperature can reach up to 40˚С;
convulsions or delirium may occur;
painful sensations in the joints and muscles, severe fatigue occurs;
feeling of nausea, turning into vomiting;
intense headaches.

In adult men, the duration of symptoms of chickenpox is about 6-10 days. The disease proceeds as follows:

The skin gradually becomes covered with rashes that appear both on clean areas and on affected ones. The rash initially appears in the abdomen and sides, then affects the thighs, groin areas, shoulder girdle, chest area, gradually moves to the scalp, face and even to the mucous membranes of the mouth, in some cases the nasopharyngeal mucosa is affected.
Over a three-day period, the rash on the skin changes: initially a pink spot (roseola) appears, from which a bubble with serous fluid inside, which has clear contours (vesicle), is formed. The bubble dries out and a crust appears in its place; after 14 days it disappears on its own. In men, after rashes, scars (pockmarks) remain on the body.
With the appearance of the rash, severe itching begins, which does not stop.
In adult men, aphthae occurs on the mucous membranes in the oral cavity and genital area, upon touching which unbearable pain is felt. Therefore, it is very difficult for patients with chickenpox during periods of eating and urinating, which are accompanied by severe pain;
Peripheral lymph nodes increase significantly in size and are painful when pressed.

What are the possible consequences of chickenpox in men?

Caution: About 10% of adult men are severely affected by chickenpox. Such figures are very acceptable, because in men the consequences of chickenpox are dangerous and manifest themselves in any system.

With a complex course of the disease, death is possible, but this happens in rare cases.

Complications after an infection occur due to damage to internal organs and mucous membranes. In cases of too intense exposure of the virus to the respiratory system, complications can manifest themselves in the form of laryngitis, tracheitis or pneumonia.

In men, the effects of chickenpox can cause dysfunction of the liver and kidneys, including hepatitis, nephritis and even abscesses.

The consequences of chickenpox on the skin are not as dangerous as complications from other organs, but they cause severe discomfort and pain. These include bullous streptoderma, erysipelas and other suppurations.

Among the consequences of chickenpox in adult men, arthritis and myositis occupy not the least place. But the most severe consequences occur in the nervous system (central and peripheral), as well as the cardiovascular system. If, due to severe chickenpox, pathologies such as paralysis, meningitis or encephalitis occur, this can cause death.

Very often, patients are interested in the dangers of chickenpox in adult men in terms of male dysfunction.

Important: Many people confuse a disease such as paratyphoid fever, that is, mumps, with chickenpox. Paratyphoid fever has a negative effect on sperm, but the varicella zoster virus does not affect male function.

“Temporary infertility” can be observed only for a certain period of time after an infection.

How to properly treat chickenpox in men?

Therapeutic measures consist of prescribing drugs with antiviral effects and symptomatic treatment. To minimize possible complications after chickenpox in adult men, it is necessary to adhere to the recommendations of a specialist, consisting of the following points:

The consequences of chickenpox, as well as the duration of the disease in adult men, depend on the course of the disease and the manifestation of clinical signs.

Effective remedies for rashes during chickenpox

If a man has a mild viral infection, Fenistil-gel with an antihistamine effect can be used to lubricate the rash. The action of the product is aimed at relieving discomfort.

Why do adults get chickenpox? Until recently, chickenpox was considered an exclusively childhood disease, and in adolescents and adults this disease was extremely rare.

However, in the modern unfavorable environmental situation, an abundance of electromagnetic and radioactive radiation, a mass of chemical harmful substances in food, air, water, an abundance of stress, an increased negative information load on an adult ultimately leads to a decrease in the body’s defenses and disruption of the functioning of the immune system .

Therefore, in our time, the occurrence of childhood diseases in adults is possible, and their increase is increasing every year. Chickenpox now accounts for approximately 10% of all cases of this disease in adults.

The causative agent of chickenpox is herpes virus type 3 - Varicella Zoster. If a child is infected with it while still in preschool age, the child receives lifelong immunity and will never get sick with this type of virus again.

There is an opinion that all children are infected with chickenpox and a child can become infected, but not get sick, that is, there will be no symptoms of the disease, this happens in children with a sufficiently strong immune system, or if the amount of virus that entered the body was negligible.

After infection and suffering from an acute form of chickenpox, the pathogen remains in the body in an inactive form, located in the nerve ganglia. If an adult already had chickenpox as a child, this does not mean that the virus cannot be activated.

You should not hope for lifelong immunity; when favorable conditions arise, such as treatment with corticosteroids, treatment of cancer, powerful radiation, severe prolonged hypothermia, serious stress, severe infectious diseases, severe injuries and other unfavorable factors give impetus to the virus emerging from its dormant state, in this case, herpes zoster (shingles) develops.

Those adults who did not have chickenpox in childhood can tolerate it in the same way as children, only it is much more severe.

Chickenpox in adults - how does it manifest?

According to statistics, in adults over 18 years of age, the severity of the disease and the frequency of complications after chickenpox are the same as in a 20-year-old person as in a 50-year-old person. However, in the older population, due to possible immunity disorders and existing chronic diseases, a greater number of cases of complications of this disease are recorded. What are the symptoms and first signs of chickenpox in adults? Chickenpox begins like a cold, flu, with general intoxication:

Pain in muscles, joints
A slight increase in temperature to subfebrile levels of 37.3-37.5C
General weakness
Headache

As soon as pink spots appear on the scalp and face, the period of rashes begins:

Signs of intoxication of the body increase, high temperature up to 40C, chills, weakness, etc.
A profuse rash throughout the body creates severe itching of the skin, even on the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract and in the mouth enanthems form. People after 20 years old always develop rashes on the genitals, which is accompanied by severe pain when urinating. First a spot appears, then a bubble with liquid and a depressed center. If the crust is burned with alcohol dye or torn off, a scar will remain. The bubbles then burst, releasing liquid and subsequently forming a dried crust, which, with regular processing, leaves no trace in the future. When a secondary infection penetrates into the wound, the course of the disease becomes more complicated, weeping pustules appear, which after healing leave scars on the body.
The patient's lymph nodes are enlarged - behind the ear, inguinal, submandibular and axillary, they become painful on palpation.
An undulating course of rashes that lasts about 10 days.
If the patient has a very weakened immune system, the rash can provoke the development of fasciitis, abscesses and even sepsis.

Sometimes in adults, chickenpox begins with signs of cerebral edema, nervous system disorders, and also as primary chickenpox pneumonia or encephalitis, with the following symptoms added:

Nausea, vomiting
Irritation from sharp sounds and bright lights - sound sensitivity, photophobia
Loss of coordination of movement, convulsions, general muscle weakness

Complications of chickenpox in adults

Serious complications are possible when the inflammatory process generalizes in weakened people, then the chickenpox virus leads to disruption of the functions of internal organs, nervous and endocrine systems, often accompanied by a secondary infection:

It is possible for the virus to spread in the organs of the respiratory system, which is manifested by pneumonia, tracheitis, and the development of acute respiratory failure.
The functions of the organs that carry out detoxification in the body are disrupted - these are the kidneys and liver, toxic hepatitis, nephritis, and liver abscess can develop.
Damages of blood vessels and heart, such as thrombophlebitis, hemorrhagic syndrome.
The virus can also affect the musculoskeletal system - arthritis, synovitis.
If the virus affects the nervous system, the consequences and prognosis are quite severe, including cerebral edema, cysts in the brain, paralysis, meningitis, and encephalitis.
The chickenpox virus is very dangerous for pregnant women, especially in the first 3 months of pregnancy, it leads either to the death of the baby or to severe congenital pathology, most often born children die from a generalized form of chickenpox.
The most common complications of chickenpox in adults are neuritis and facial nerve paresis. As well as long-term coordination disorders, remaining skin scars and areas of atrophied skin, irreversible changes in the liver and kidneys can form.

Chickenpox, or chicken pox, is a widespread infection that occurs primarily in childhood. It appears on average 14 days after infection with the virus. It often happens that parents who are not sick “catch” the disease from their children.

How and how long do adults get chickenpox: symptoms

The vast majority of the disease occurs in children and adolescents. It is easy and does not require complex treatment. In adults, it’s the opposite: the symptoms are extremely difficult to tolerate, and serious complications often occur. Even cases of death have been recorded.

So how does chickenpox go away in adults? The chickenpox virus is transmitted by airborne droplets. That is, there is a high probability of infection even after a normal conversation with a patient. Moreover, the disease can be transmitted both from a baby and from an adult with shingles - chickenpox and shingles have the same pathogen.

In most adults, the disease manifests itself sharply and acutely:

The first typical symptom is a rash, which looks like small round pinkish spots with clear boundaries;
At the same time, the temperature rises, which can reach 40°C;
In the first days, symptoms of intoxication of the body are strongly expressed;
Sometimes there is vomiting, photophobia, irritation from sharp sounds, impaired coordination of movements;
Enlargement of the cervical, submandibular, axillary, and inguinal lymph nodes.

When they talk about recurrence of chickenpox, they mean shingles. With relapse, symptoms are less pronounced. Regardless of how long the illness lasts, with the new appearance of rashes, health, as a rule, worsens.

In childhood/adolescence, chickenpox occurs without consequences. Typical symptoms are rashes and fever. Therapy consists of treating the rash with brilliant green and taking antipyretics.

But adults tolerate the disease worse. Many people experience headaches and general malaise. And if a sick child is awake, then an adult will adhere to bed rest.

Treatment of patients with chickenpox

First of all, you need to get rid of the itching. This symptom is dangerous because a bacterial infection can penetrate through scratching. For these purposes, aniline dye brilliant green is used. After treatment with brilliant green, the rash dries out and goes away faster, and the itching becomes less pronounced. Apply brilliant green in a targeted manner, only on the elements of the rash. You can replace brilliant green with Fukortsin. It dries out pimples faster than aniline dyes.

If you feel unwell, you need to stay in bed for several days. It is also necessary to monitor hygiene - regularly wash clothes and bed linen. Cleanliness will reduce the risk of bacterial infection. Otherwise, when suppuration occurs, antibiotics are required. Adults should also drink plenty and gargle after every meal.

Treatment is usually carried out successfully at home. Patients are hospitalized only in severe cases of the disease. After treatment, lifelong immunity is developed, so repeated chickenpox is very rare.

The disease can cause the following complications:

suppuration;
keratitis;
abscess;
encephalitis;
nephritis;
arthritis;
myocarditis;
pneumonia;
infection of the lymph nodes.

Treatment measures are aimed at relieving itching and rash. To prevent complications, it is very important to avoid overheating - sweating increases the discomfort.

The patient remains contagious until the rash crusts over. It will become safe for others when new elements of the rash stop appearing.

FAQ

How long does the disease last and is it possible to get sick a second time?

As a rule, the illness lasts only 2 weeks. Recurrence of the disease is possible, but is quite rare. Re-infection is possible, but this happens in exceptional cases.

Most people do not become infected a second time. But if this happens, it is due to a severely weakened immune system. However, complications do not arise, the course of the disease is stable.

The bubbles burst 2-6 days after their appearance.

How long is the incubation period? How long does it take for it to break out?

The first elements of the rash appear after 11-21 days. The most dangerous period is the first 14 days.

How many days does the temperature last?

In an adult, fever is observed for up to 3 days in a row. If complicated, it may bother you longer. In some cases, the thermometer readings can reach 40°C.

How long does the vaccine last?

The effect of vaccination lasts for about 20 years. After this time, the vaccine can be re-administered.

On average it turns out the following:

incubation period – 11-21 days;
prodromal – 1-2 days. Signs of ARVI/ARI appear;
rash period – 3-10 days;
recovery - about 5 days (the blisters burst and crust over).

Severe disease

In this case, we mean the hemorrhagic form of the disease, which is accompanied by damage to the blood vessels. Another distinctive feature is that the blisters on the body are filled with bloody fluid. The temperature rises to very high levels. The rash can affect the gastric mucosa, resulting in bloody vomiting, and if the nasal mucosa is affected, nosebleeds occur.

Another complex form of chickenpox in adults is gangrenous. It is accompanied by foci of necrosis near the elements of the rash and high temperature. When the rash goes away, deep ulcers will remain on the skin.

Complications in the vast majority of cases develop due to poor immunity and secondary bacterial infection. The outcome of the disease depends on several factors: age, immune status, and the presence of concomitant diseases.

Chickenpox is especially dangerous for pregnant women. Pregnant women should avoid contact with patients with chickenpox and herpes zoster. The disease can cause fetal malformations, and even spontaneous abortion.