home Audience 5 What happens in the body with chickenpox. What is chickenpox in children and adults. The first signs, symptoms and timing of treatment for chickenpox. Features of chickenpox in mild form

What happens in the body with chickenpox. What is chickenpox in children and adults. The first signs, symptoms and timing of treatment for chickenpox. Features of chickenpox in mild form

What is chickenpox Chickenpox (varicella) is a viral disease transmitted by airborne aerosol from an infected person to a healthy person and characterized by specific skin rashes in the form of blisters that appear against the background of severe fever and other signs of general poisoning of the body.

Chicken pox has been known since ancient times. Until the second half of the eighteenth century, the disease was considered as a mild variant of smallpox, which in those days was a real disaster that devastated entire settlements.

It was only at the beginning of the last century that a connection was discovered between chickenpox and herpes zoster (shingles). At the same time, a hypothesis arose about the general nature of the disease. However, the causative virus was isolated only in 1951.

It turned out that a person who has had chickenpox has so-called intense lifelong immunity, when immunity to the infection is explained by the presence of the pathogen in the body.

Under unfavorable circumstances, the virus “sleeping” in the nerve ganglia is activated, causing clinical manifestations of herpes zoster - blistering rashes along the affected nerve.

Shingles. Rashes along the intercostal nerve.

Today, chicken pox is one of the most common diseases (ranking third after influenza and ARVI). Mostly children are affected (patients under the age of 14 make up about 80-90% of all sick people); it is this category of the population that has almost 100% susceptibility to the chickenpox pathogen. Therefore, chickenpox belongs to the so-called “childhood” infections.

The disease, as a rule, occurs in a mild to moderate form, so deaths are extremely rare. For this reason, many experts for a long time treated chickenpox as a “non-serious” disease.

However, recent studies have shown that chickenpox affects not only the skin and nervous tissue, but also the digestive system, lungs, and genitourinary organs. In addition, the chickenpox virus can have an extremely negative effect on the development of the fetus and the course of pregnancy.

The causative agent of chickenpox

The causative agent of chickenpox belongs to the herpesvirus family, which includes many viruses that cause various diseases in amphibians, birds, mammals and humans.

All herpesviruses have a genome consisting of double-stranded DNA. They are quite sensitive to external physical and chemical influences, including high temperature and ultraviolet radiation.

Most viruses of this group can remain in an infected body for a long time, sometimes even for life, without causing any clinical symptoms. Therefore, they are classified as so-called slow infections (herpes, herpes zoster, etc.). Under unfavorable circumstances, a dormant infection can become active and manifest itself with pronounced signs of the disease.

Herpes viruses are easily transmitted from person to person, so that the majority of the population on the planet manages to become infected in childhood. The pathogens of this group are characterized by multiple organs and polysystemic lesions, which is associated with a teratogenic effect (the occurrence of deformities in the fetus) and the death of weakened patients, especially newborns.

It should be noted that all herpes viruses have a depressing effect on the immune system and are activated against the background of other diseases that occur with a pronounced decrease in the body’s defenses (AIDS, leukemia, malignant tumors).

The chickenpox and herpes zoster virus (Varicella zoster virus) is capable of multiplying exclusively in the nucleus of cells of an infected person, but in the external environment it quickly dies under the influence of sunlight, heat and other unfavorable factors. The chickenpox virus can survive in droplets of saliva and mucus for no more than 10-15 minutes.

How does chickenpox virus become infected?

The source of Varicella zoster virus infection is a sick person suffering from chickenpox or herpes zoster. Laboratory studies have proven that the highest concentration of the pathogen is in the contents of the vesicles characteristic of chickenpox.

Traditionally, chickenpox is classified as a respiratory disease, but the virus appears in nasopharyngeal mucus only in cases where the surface of the mucous membrane is also covered with rashes. But even in such cases, swabs from the nasopharynx contain a significantly smaller number of pathogens than the contents of the bubbles located on the skin.

The crusts formed at the site of burst chickenpox vesicles do not contain pathogens, therefore the period of greatest infectiousness of the patient is determined from the moment the rash appears until the period of crust formation.

Infection occurs through airborne droplets - through inhalation of air containing mucus elements. It should be noted that chickenpox got its name because of the particular volatility of the infection - the virus can spread over a distance of up to 20 m, penetrating through the corridors of residential premises and even from one floor to another.

In addition, chickenpox can be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her baby through the placenta. It should be noted that adult women rarely get chickenpox. So most often, infection of the fetus occurs when a persistent (dormant) infection in the form of herpes zoster is activated.

If infection of the fetus occurs in the first trimester (in the first 12 weeks starting from the first day of the last menstruation), then there is a high risk of having a child with severe malformations. Infection at a later date usually results in infection occurring after birth, not in the form of chickenpox, but in the form of herpes zoster.

Who is most susceptible to chickenpox?

Newborns are absolutely not susceptible to chickenpox because they received the antibodies necessary to protect against the virus from their mother during fetal development.

However, maternal antibodies are gradually washed out of the body and can fully restrain the development of the disease only during the first year of the child’s life.

Then susceptibility to chickenpox increases, reaching almost 100% maximum at the age of 4-5 years. Since the vast majority of the population manages to become infected with chickenpox in childhood, this form of Varicella zoster virus infection is quite rare in adults.

Shingles, which develops in people who have had chickenpox, on the contrary, usually occurs in old age (65% of cases of the disease are registered in patients over 65 years of age).

Thus, chickenpox mainly affects children, and shingles affects older people. However, both diseases can develop at almost any age.

Chickenpox is quite dangerous in an epidemic sense, so outbreaks of chickenpox are quite often recorded in children's groups (kindergartens, schools, sanatoriums, etc.). At the same time, such a mini-epidemic may also occur as a result of contact with an adult patient with herpes zoster.

At the same time, there are also sporadic (outside of an epidemic outbreak) cases of chickenpox, when the patient can be isolated in a timely manner, preventing the spread of infection.

The incidence of chickenpox is characterized by a peculiar cyclical occurrence of epidemics. At the same time, a distinction is made between small cycles of epidemics, repeating after several years, and large ones - with an interval of 20 years or more.

In the fall, there is a significant increase in the incidence of chickenpox, associated with the massive return of children to kindergartens and schools. The rise in incidence in the spring is caused by sharp temperature fluctuations and a seasonal decrease in immunity.

Signs, symptoms and clinical course of chickenpox

Classification of clinical manifestations of chickenpox

When they talk about the classification of the chickenpox clinic, then, first of all, localized and generalized forms of the disease are distinguished.

In the localized form, the lesions are limited to the outer surface of the body, when specific pathological elements appear on the skin and mucous membranes. Generalized forms occur in weakened patients and are characterized by damage not only to the external integument, but also to internal organs.

In addition, there are three degrees of severity of the disease - mild, moderate and severe. The severity of the clinical course is determined by the nature of the pathological elements, the area of the affected surface, the severity of intoxication and the extent of the process.

When making a diagnosis, the doctor indicates the severity of the course, the extent of the process and the presence of complications. For example: “Chicken pox, generalized form, severe course. Complication: bilateral focal pneumonia.”

During chickenpox, like any other infectious disease, there are four periods:

incubation (period of latent infection);
prodromal (a period of general malaise, when specific symptoms of infection have not yet manifested themselves clearly enough);
period of developed clinical symptoms;
recovery period.

The third period of chickenpox is usually called the period of rashes, since they are the most characteristic sign of the disease.

Incubation and prodromal period of chickenpox

The incubation period for chickenpox ranges from 10 to 21 days, during which time no visible signs of the disease are observed.

Viral bodies that enter the upper respiratory tract penetrate the epithelial cells of the mucous membranes and begin to multiply intensively there. Throughout the incubation period, viral bodies accumulate. Having reached a significant concentration, the infection breaks through local protective barriers and enters the blood en masse, causing viremia.

Clinically, viremia is manifested by symptoms of the prodromal period, such as malaise, headache, loss of appetite, and muscle aches. However, chickenpox is characterized by a rapid and acute onset, the prodromal period is usually only a few hours, so patients often simply do not notice it.
The infection spreads throughout the body with blood through the bloodstream and with the flow of interstitial fluid through the lymphatic vessels and is recorded mainly in the epithelial cells of the skin and mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. Damage to nervous tissue is also possible - cells of the intervertebral nerve ganglia, cerebral cortex and subcortical structures.

In those rare cases when the disease occurs in a generalized form, cells of the liver, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract are affected.

Intensive reproduction of the virus causes symptoms characteristic of the period of rash: rash, fever and signs of general poisoning of the body.

Period of rashes with chickenpox

Chickenpox rash associated with the multiplication of the virus in the cells of the skin and mucous membranes. Initially, due to local expansion of small vessels, redness occurs, then serous edema develops and a papule is formed - a protruding inflamed tubercle.

Subsequently, the upper layers of the skin peel off, resulting in the formation of a bubble filled with a clear liquid - a vesicle. Sometimes the vesicles fester, turning into pustules.

Blisters filled with serous fluid or pus may burst, in such cases revealing a weeping surface underneath. However, more often they dry out, forming crusts.

Initially, the rash appears on the skin of the torso and limbs, and then on the face and scalp. Less commonly, the rash appears on the palms, soles, mucous membranes of the mouth, nasopharynx, external genitalia, and conjunctiva of the eyes. As a rule, such rashes indicate a severe form of the disease. In such cases, the rash appears on the mucous membranes earlier than on the surface of the skin.

Chickenpox is characterized by the appearance of new elements of the rash - the so-called “sprinkles”. As a result, on the 3-4th day from the moment the rash appears, different elements may be present on one area of the skin - spots, papules, vesicles and crusts

Elements of chickenpox

The blisters of chickenpox are usually single-chambered and, with a favorable course of the disease, quickly dry out, turning into crusts. At the same time, the number of elements of the rash can vary - from single blisters, which can be easily counted, to abundant rashes that cover the skin and mucous membranes in a continuous layer.

Rashes on the surface of the skin are accompanied by severe itching. Lesions of the mucous membranes of the mouth, which occur in approximately 20-25% of cases, are accompanied by profuse salivation. In the oral cavity, the blisters quickly open and expose the eroded surface, which leads to severe pain and difficulty eating.

Fever and signs of general poisoning of the body are most pronounced during the period of mass entry of the virus into the blood. Therefore, the temperature rises sharply during the period when the rash appears. Each recurrent rash is accompanied by a rise in temperature and a deterioration in the patient's condition.
General poisoning of the body is manifested by weakness, loss of appetite, headache, muscle aches, and sleep disturbances. Nausea and vomiting often occur. There is a tendency to lower blood pressure.

For common forms of the disease elements characteristic of chickenpox are formed on the mucous membranes of the digestive tract, as well as in the bronchi. At the same time, erosions quickly appear at the site of the bubbles, which threatens the development of internal bleeding. In severe cases, the virus multiplies in liver cells, causing foci of necrosis.

The causative agent of chickenpox often affects nervous tissue, and changes can vary in nature from minor reversible deviations to gross organic defects.

Among the common forms of the disease, chickenpox pneumonia is the most common. In such cases, the intoxication syndrome increases, the fever reaches 39-40 degrees and above. Pallor and cyanosis of the skin, a dry painful cough, and shortness of breath appear.

Also quite often, lesions of the nervous system develop, such as meningitis (inflammation of the meninges) and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). In such cases, various kinds of disturbances of consciousness are often observed, up to the development of a coma. Chickenpox encephalitis is especially severe - the mortality rate reaches 20%.

Damages to the heart (myocarditis, endocarditis), liver (hepatitis), kidneys (nephritis) and other internal organs are relatively rare.

Recovery period for chickenpox

During the stay of the virus in the body, all parts of the immune system are activated, which leads to the release of the causative agent of the disease and the cells affected by the infection. However, the natural barrier does not allow lymphocytes and antibodies, virus killers, to penetrate the nerve ganglia, so the chickenpox pathogen can remain there throughout the patient’s life.

Since chickenpox affects only the superficial layers of the skin, the rash usually disappears without a trace. For some time, so-called pigmentation remains in place of the fallen off crusts - a change in skin color. Over time, this symptom completely disappears.

The clinical symptoms of periods of chickenpox depend on the severity of the disease.

How does chickenpox occur?

A mild course of chickenpox is characterized by normal or subfebrile body temperature (up to 38 degrees Celsius), isolated elements of a rash on the surface of the skin, and a relatively satisfactory general condition of the patient.

With a moderately severe illness, the fever rises to 38-39 degrees and lasts about a week. The rashes are located mainly on the skin. The prognosis for this course of chickenpox is favorable - complications, as a rule, do not develop, and the disease passes without a trace.

In severe cases of chickenpox, an extremely high fever develops (40 degrees Celsius and above), increasing weakness occurs, and profuse rashes appear that cover the surface of the skin and mucous membranes. A severe course is also spoken of in cases where the disease occurs in a generalized form. In addition, hemorrhagic, bullous and gangrenous-necrotic forms of the disease are characterized by a severe course.

The hemorrhagic form of chickenpox occurs against the background of increased vascular permeability and is characterized by the appearance of blood-filled vesicles, multiple hemorrhages on the skin and mucous membranes. Complications often occur in the form of nasal, uterine and gastrointestinal bleeding.

Less commonly observed is the bullous form of the disease, when large flaccid blisters filled with pus appear on the skin. The vast majority of patients with the bullous form are young children with severely weakened immunity.

The purulent-necrotic form of chickenpox, which is a combination of bullous and hemorrhagic forms, is extremely rare. In such cases, deep necrosis forms at the site of the opened blisters, and blood poisoning develops.

Severe chickenpox, as a rule, indicates a lack of the body's defenses (AIDS, leukemia, dystrophy, malignant tumors, tuberculosis, sepsis (blood poisoning)).

Features of the course of chickenpox in adults

Like the vast majority of “childhood” infections, chickenpox in adults is more severe:

higher and longer fever;
the rash appears later (the prodromal period is better expressed), but it is more abundant and crusts form much later;
mucous membranes are much more often affected (in 40-60% of cases).

Effect on the fetus

The chickenpox virus easily penetrates the placenta and has an extremely adverse effect on the development of the fetus. So, if a mother has had chickenpox or suffered from herpes zoster in the first three to four months of pregnancy, there is a fairly high probability of giving birth to a child with the so-called chickenpox syndrome (dystrophy, underdevelopment of the limbs, eye malformations, cicatricial changes in the skin, and subsequently a pronounced lag in psychomotor development) .

In later stages of pregnancy, intrauterine infection of the fetus is not so dangerous. However, in cases where infection occurred on the eve of or during childbirth, congenital chickenpox develops. This disease is always quite severe (mortality reaches 20%).

Caring for a patient with chickenpox: how to protect yourself and others from infection

Unfortunately, chickenpox is a particularly contagious, that is, highly infectious disease, so it is almost impossible to protect yourself from infection while in the same apartment with the patient.

The only consolation is that most adults, as a rule, manage to get over this disease in childhood, and in children, chickenpox is relatively mild.

Doctors advise children who have been in contact with a person with chickenpox not to visit children's institutions for 21 days, so as not to expose others to the risk of infection.

A child who has recovered from the disease can be sent to a child care facility on the day when all elements of the rash are covered with crusts - from that moment the patient is no longer contagious.

The virus is unstable in the external environment, so no special disinfection measures should be taken.

Chickenpox treatment

Drug therapy

Therapeutic tactics for chickenpox depend on the severity of the clinical course of the disease, the age of the patient and the general condition of the body.

For mild to moderate cases, treatment is usually carried out at home. In severe forms of chickenpox, as well as in cases of high risk of complications (presence of concomitant diseases leading to decreased immunity), the patient is placed in a closed box in the infectious diseases department.

To date, antiviral therapy for chickenpox has been developed. Adolescents and adults are prescribed the drug acyclovir 800 mg orally 5 times a day for a week. The same drug will also help children under 12 years of age if it is prescribed no later than on the first day of the disease (20 mg/kg body weight 4 times a day).

In immunocompromised patients, acyclovir for chickenpox is recommended to be administered intravenously at 10 mg/kg body weight 3 times a day for 7 days.

It should be noted that many doctors consider antiviral therapy for chickenpox in mild to moderate cases of the disease inappropriate.

If the disease occurs with a fever above 38-38.5 degrees, it is best to take paracetamol (Efferalgan, Panadol) as an antipyretic, which does not have an adverse effect on the immune system.

The use of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) is strictly prohibited, since this medicine can cause hemorrhagic syndrome in chickenpox (bloody rash, nosebleeds, etc.).
Many experts advise taking antihistamines such as Claritin instead of antipyretics. Children from 2 to 12 years old are prescribed one spoon of syrup 1 time per day, adolescents and adults 1 tablet (10 mg) 1 time per day.

General care

To prevent secondary infection of chickenpox elements, it is necessary to carefully care for the affected skin surfaces. It is recommended to frequently change underwear and lubricate the rash with an alcohol solution of brilliant green (brilliant green).

Many experts are very skeptical about the therapeutic effect of brilliant green, since such procedures ultimately do not contribute to the speedy healing of the rash. However, such cauterizations temporarily reduce painful itching and have a disinfecting effect, preventing the penetration of bacteria and the development of pustules.

In addition, lubricating the elements of chickenpox with brilliant green makes it easy to identify fresh rashes and monitor the progress of the disease.

For rashes in the oral cavity, it is recommended to use the antiseptic furatsilin and preparations of medicinal plants that have an anti-inflammatory effect (colanchoe juice, calendula, oak bark) for rinsing. In cases where the rash is located on the conjunctiva of the eyes, interferon drops are prescribed.

Since the disease occurs with signs of general poisoning of the body, patients are advised to take a sufficient amount of fluid so that toxins are quickly removed from the body.

Nutrition should be complete and contain increased amounts of proteins and vitamins. It is best to give preference to easily digestible foods (milk-vegetable diet). If the oral mucosa is affected, spicy and sour foods should be avoided.

Bed rest for chickenpox is prescribed only for severe cases of the disease; overheating must be avoided, since excessive heat increases the itching.

Of course, in cases where the room is too hot and the child suffers from itching, it is better to take a shower and then gently pat the skin dry with a towel.

Preventing chickenpox through vaccination

In some countries of the world, for example, in Japan, preventive vaccinations against chickenpox are used. They are quite effective and safe.

However, since chickenpox in children is mild, vaccination is prescribed only according to indications (the presence of severe diseases that reduce immunity).

The consequences of chickenpox

As a rule, chickenpox goes away without any consequences for the body. Sometimes small pock-shaped scars may remain on the skin, most often this occurs in cases where children scratch an itchy rash or when secondary suppuration of the blisters has occurred. Rashes on the conjunctiva of the eyes disappear without a trace.

More serious consequences occur in cases where skin rashes are combined with lesions of the central nervous system. The development of mental retardation, epileptic attacks, paralysis, etc. is possible.
Malignant forms of chickenpox, such as bullous, hemorrhagic, gangrenous, and generalized infection, have an unfavorable prognosis. In such cases, mortality can reach 25% or more, and survivors may be left with rough scars on the skin in places of pathological rashes, severe irreversible changes in internal organs and the nervous system.

In general, the outcome of chickenpox depends on concomitant diseases and the state of the immune system. Severe complications and deaths are more common in young children and the elderly.

Is it possible to get chickenpox again?

After chickenpox, lifelong immunity remains, so it is impossible to get chickenpox again.

How to treat chickenpox during pregnancy?

Pregnant women are at higher risk of developing complications from chickenpox; in particular, viral pneumonia is common, with a mortality rate of 38%.

In addition, the chickenpox virus is able to penetrate the placenta and cause severe developmental disorders of the fetus (in the first half of pregnancy) and extremely severe forms of congenital chickenpox in newborns (if infected on the eve of birth).

To avoid tragic developments, pregnant women are given passive immunization (injection of a specific immunoglobulin).

Otherwise, treatment for chickenpox during pregnancy is the same as for other categories of patients.

Chickenpox is an extremely contagious infectious disease. As they say, it spreads like the wind. A person becomes a carrier of the disease two days before the first symptoms are detected. It is because of this feature that 90% of the population manage to get chickenpox in childhood. Without acquiring immunity against this disease at 3-12 years of age, there is a risk of experiencing it in adulthood. Despite similar symptoms, the causative agent of chickenpox in the body of adults behaves much more aggressively: a longer period of the disease, a more profuse rash, increased fever, temperature up to 40 degrees, painful swallowing, formation of pustules, general loss of strength, possible complications.

If you are sick, you will have to quarantine and postpone all personal contacts for at least two weeks. Surely there are those in your circle who have not yet acquired lifelong immunity to chickenpox.

The main irrefutable symptom is rashes that appear all over the body (on the chest and abdomen, arms and legs, face, hair on the head, tongue, palate, nose and even in the perineum). The rash will turn into blisters with a diameter of 2-3 mm, filled with fluid. The blisters itch unbearably, but a test of endurance awaits you, since you absolutely cannot scratch them. This threatens with scars and scars in place of the blisters, and if this is the area of the eyebrows, beard and mustache, then unsightly baldness.

What is chickenpox?

Chickenpox is one of the most common acute infectious diseases. It is characterized by rashes on the skin and mucous membranes in the form of small blisters and fever. Transmitted by airborne droplets. Chickenpox most often affects children and adolescents. It is believed that it is better to get chickenpox in childhood, since with age this disease occurs in a complicated form: with encephalitis, primary chickenpox pneumonia.

Causes of chickenpox

The disease is caused by a virus of the herpes family. The population's susceptibility to this virus is very high, so 70-90% of people manage to contract the disease in childhood or adolescence. As a rule, a child picks up an infection in kindergarten or school. The source of the disease is an infected person in the last 10 days of the incubation period of the virus and the first 5-7 days from the moment the rash appears.

After chickenpox, lifelong immunity is formed, but re-infection also occurs. The virus can “sleep” for years in the body of a person who has had chickenpox and at one moment “wake up”. The cause may be nervous tension or. In such cases, an adult may develop. Without obvious signs of a rash, such a person is nevertheless a spreader of the disease.

It is also possible to become infected with the virus through the placenta - from mother to unborn baby.

It is especially dangerous for pregnant women, as it can cause the development of congenital chickenpox in the child, premature birth, or lead to fetal death.

Complications of chickenpox usually occur due to concomitant secondary infection (abscess, pyoderma, sepsis, phlegmon). Sometimes a week after the appearance of the rash, viral-allergic meningoencephalitis develops. Cases of focal myocarditis and nephritis are also known.

Chickenpox symptoms

The incubation period lasts from 1 to 3 weeks. Children are characterized by general malaise, increased excitability, decreased appetite and tearfulness. During this period, adults are often diagnosed with fever, malaise, headache, nausea and vomiting.

The next stage in the development of the disease is associated with the appearance of a rash on the skin and mucous membranes. Body temperature rises, the level of intoxication in the body increases. In children, the rash appears earlier than in adults. In adults, intoxication is more pronounced, and fever persists much longer.

The next stage of the disease is the formation of blisters filled with liquid. They burst and ulcers appear in their place. Recovery lasts two to five weeks while the sores heal and crust over. The disease reminds itself for a long time with painful sensations along the affected nerve.

Shingles is dangerous due to complications: rheumatism, arthritis, pneumonia, myocarditis, neuralgia. To prevent them, take antiherpetic drugs.

Other forms of chickenpox

Along with the typical forms of chickenpox, there are also erased forms that can occur without clinical manifestations. Such forms of the disease are considered severe. These include:

The bullous form is a concomitant severe disease that develops only in adult patients. It is characterized by the formation of large flabby blisters on the skin, turning into sluggishly healing ulcers.

Hemorrhagic form– observed in patients with hemorrhagic diathesis. Typical for it is the appearance of vesicles with bloody contents, the development of hematuria, and nosebleeds. Patients experience hemorrhages on the skin.

Gangrenous form– occurs in weakened patients, occurs against the background of a rapid increase in vesicles in size and transformation of their contents into a hemorrhagic form. After the ulcers dry out, black crusts form with an inflammatory rim.

Chickenpox can lead to severe complications associated with exposure to the virus and the body's response to it, for example, chickenpox laryngitis, tracheitis, encephalitis, etc. Deep lesions of the epidermis of the skin with the formation of noticeable scars are also possible. When the chickenpox flora spreads, complications of the disease such as nephritis, myocarditis, and arthritis can occur. Secondary addition of bacterial flora and purulent inflammation is also possible.

Chickenpox in pregnant women

Chickenpox in pregnant women deserves a separate discussion. In addition to the risk for the expectant mother, there is also a danger for the fetus. As a result of chickenpox, the course of pregnancy can be disrupted and even spontaneously terminated. That is why treatment of chickenpox for pregnant women should be carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor. You shouldn’t worry too much, because anomalies in such a newborn are diagnosed in only one case out of a hundred. With chickenpox without complications, premature births and spontaneous abortions were not observed in women.

However, sometimes deviations are possible, since the virus can penetrate from the mother to the fetus through the placenta. Cases of congenital defects, pathologies of the visual apparatus, mental and physical retardation, and paralysis are described.

It has been noted that chickenpox in an expectant mother in the early stages (up to 3.5 months) is practically not dangerous for the fetus. When chickenpox develops before 5 months, the risk for the unborn baby increases slightly, and from 5 to 9 months it almost drops to zero. The last days of gestation are an exception. They are the main danger. If a pregnant woman gets sick a few days before giving birth, then in 15% of cases the virus affects the internal organs of the baby. To prevent this situation, antibody serum is administered to the mother and newborn as soon as possible. The baby is isolated from the mother until the danger of infection passes.

Chickenpox treatment

Chickenpox is treated at home and only in severe cases - in the hospital. The decision about hospitalization is made by the attending physician.

As a rule, no special therapy is required. The patient should be isolated until the rash stops. Bed rest for up to 8 days is recommended for children and adults with chickenpox. It is advisable to change bed linen as often as possible, and underwear every day. Clothes made from soft natural fabrics are suitable.

The patient needs to drink more fluids and follow a dairy-vegetable diet (puree of pureed fruits and vegetables, milk porridges). It is better to dilute juices with water in a 1:1 ratio. Sour, spicy and salty foods should be excluded from the patient's diet.

At home, red spots and blisters are treated with brilliant green or a 1-2% solution of potassium permanganate. If rashes appear in the oral cavity, you should rinse your mouth with antimicrobial agents (for example, furatsilin solution).

Throughout the entire period of the disease, the patient is bothered by constant itching (). However, scratching can introduce an infection into the wound. If this happens, the spots on the skin will take longer to heal and may even remain as scars. It is best to cut your nails short, and your baby should wear cotton mittens on his hands. In addition, the itching intensifies with the appearance of sweat, so doctors do not advise wrapping the patient in warm blankets. It is worth noting that warm indoor air also exacerbates itching. It is best to give the patient a damp, cold cloth - let him apply it to those places that he wants to scratch.

To reduce fever, medications containing ibuprofen or paracetamol are used. For chickenpox, aspirin is contraindicated, as it increases susceptibility to the development of Reye's syndrome.

To reduce the severity of the disease, antiviral medications are sometimes used, prescribed by a doctor. This could be antibiotics or immunoglobulin.

Chickenpox vaccination for adults

A disease contracted in childhood usually provides lasting, lifelong immunity. But for people who did not get sick in childhood, and for those who are at risk for developing severe forms of the disease, there is the possibility of vaccine prevention. Varilrix and Okavax vaccines are officially registered in Russia.

The chickenpox vaccine forms stable and long-lasting immunity in the human body. Suitable for both routine and emergency vaccination. If the vaccine is administered within the first 72 hours after first contact with a patient, then protection against infection is guaranteed to be almost 100%.

No side effects or serious complications have been reported with vaccination, so these drugs can be used in people who are immunocompromised or have severe chronic illnesses.

Expert editor: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich| Doctor of Medical Sciences general practitioner

Education: Moscow Medical Institute named after. I. M. Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".

And, as a rule, children suffer from it.

Description of the disease

Chickenpox is an acute viral disease transmitted by airborne droplets from person to person. It is characterized by the appearance of a rash in the form of small blisters and high fever.

The causative agent is considered to be the third type of herpes virus. It enters the blood through the upper respiratory tract and affects the skin. Outside the human body, it loses its viability within 10 minutes. The microbe dies when heated, exposed to ultraviolet radiation and sunlight.

Susceptibility to chickenpox is 100%; it is most often diagnosed in children aged 6 months to 7 years. It is quite rare in adults, since most of them experience the disease in childhood without complications. The strong immunity developed after an infection lasts throughout life.

Stages

There are 4 stages of the disease:

Incubation– asymptomatic period. The average is 11–21 days;
Prodromal– characterized by headaches or muscle pain, a significant rise in temperature. It does not always appear in children; in adults it occurs quite often and occurs with complications. This period begins 1–2 days before the first rash is detected;
Stage of rash characterized by the massive appearance of a rash and a wave-like increase in temperature. Most often, the febrile state persists for 2–5 days, sometimes the temperature lasts up to 10 days. The rash is observed for 2–9 days. Usually they do not affect the deep layers of the skin and disappear without a trace after recovery.
Restorative– lasts 1 month after recovery. During this period, it is necessary to limit physical activity and take vitamin complexes.

What causes chickenpox and how can you get it?

The source of the disease is a person infected with the chickenpox virus. The danger of infection remains throughout the entire incubation period until the crusts disappear. The disease is transmitted by airborne droplets, but the maximum concentration of the virus is found in the fluid contained in the blisters typical of chickenpox.

The infection enters the body through the upper respiratory tract and penetrates the mucous membranes. Then it enters the circulatory system and spreads to the skin. There is an expansion of blood vessels, accompanied by redness, then the formation of papules - nodules raised above the surface of the skin - and vesicles - bubbles with liquid. The first rashes usually appear on the torso and limbs, later on the face and under the hair. Sometimes the mucous membranes become covered with a rash.

Due to the active reproduction of the virus, body temperature rises, and other nonspecific reactions are noted. After an infection, a person develops strong immunity.

The virus can remain viable in the human body, and in the presence of a combination of provoking factors, it can cause shingles.

Chicken pox in children

Chickenpox has a long incubation period, ranging from 7 to 21 days. From the moment of infection to the appearance of the first symptoms, as a rule, at least a week passes. The child is already a source of infection for other children, but this does not manifest itself outwardly. Motor activity and good appetite are usually maintained.

Symptoms

A day or two before the appearance of clinical signs, the child may experience:

headache;
lethargy, drowsiness;
lack of appetite;
nausea;
a sharp increase in temperature to 38-40°C.

The above symptoms are similar to those of a common ARVI, and only the appearance of a rash allows one to reliably establish the disease.

Rashes usually appear no later than 24 hours after the temperature rises. First, single flat spots of pinkish color are noted on the skin, then their number increases sharply, they become convex and transform into fluid-filled blisters. Their appearance is accompanied by severe itching; children often scratch problem areas, facilitating the penetration of infection into the body. The rash may cover the upper and lower limbs, back, abdomen, face and scalp. There are usually no spots on the feet and palms.

The disease is often accompanied by enlargement of the ear and cervical lymph nodes.

The rash begins to dry out 3 days after it appears, becoming covered with a red crust. However, chickenpox occurs in waves, so every 2 days new lesions appear on the skin, accompanied by another rise in temperature and headache. Only after 7–10 days do all the blisters become crusty, and the child ceases to be a source of infection.

Diagnostics

For an experienced doctor, diagnosing chickenpox is not difficult. A clear clinical picture in most cases makes it possible to accurately determine the disease:

the rash stage begins 7–21 days after contact with an infected person;
undulating course of this period;
the simultaneous presence on the surface of the child’s skin of all forms of rash development - pink spots, dense nodules, blisters with yellowish liquid, dried crusts;
The infection manifests itself primarily on the torso and limbs, then moves to the face and scalp. The presence of a rash on the feet and palms is atypical.

If the symptoms are not clearly expressed, specialists resort to the following laboratory tests:

general blood analysis. An increase in ESR indicates the presence of an infectious process. An increase in the number of neutrophils indicates a bacterial complication;
a serological blood test for antibodies is carried out in atypical cases; an excess of 4 times or more reliably indicates chickenpox;
examination under a microscope or immunofluorescent analysis of the contents of the vesicles.

Treatment

In the vast majority of cases, chickenpox in children is mild and does not require hospitalization. If you follow all the doctor’s recommendations, a guaranteed cure for this disease occurs at home. Standard therapy includes:

taking antipyretic drugs. For children, paracetamol and panadol are recommended (in a dosage calculated based on weight and amounting to 20 mg/kg 3 times a day), as well as Nurofen in suspension (5–10 mg/kg up to 4 times a day). These medications can quickly and effectively reduce fever and improve general condition. Taking aspirin, which causes liver damage in chickenpox, is strictly prohibited;
use of antihistamines, reducing itching and preventing the development of allergic reactions. Children are usually prescribed suprastin (the dosage, depending on age, is from ¼ to ½ tablets per day) or fenistil (taken 3 times a day, 3-10 drops);
treatment of skin rashes. Traditionally, a solution of brilliant green is used to lubricate the elements of the rash, which allows you to thoroughly treat each spot. The product promotes the rapid formation of crusts and briefly reduces itching. More effective is a 5% solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate) or Castellani liquid, which have a slight antibacterial effect. The rash in the mouth and genitals is lubricated with hydrogen peroxide or an aqueous solution of brilliant green;
compliance with the drinking regime. Increased fluid intake is necessary to remove toxins from the body.

If the disease progresses in a severe form, the doctor prescribes additional specific treatment: taking antiviral, immunomodulating and sedative drugs.

FAQ

What is the incubation period for chickenpox?

The period of time from the moment the virus enters the body until the first symptoms of the disease appear is called incubation period. For chickenpox, its duration ranges from 7 to 21 days and depends on the state of the immune system. Microbes that enter the respiratory tract penetrate the mucous membranes and begin to actively multiply there, accumulating throughout the incubation period. Having reached a critical mass, the infection enters the circulatory system and spreads throughout the body, thereby moving into the prodromal stage.

In most cases, a person is non-infectious during the incubation period. However, with chickenpox, 1–3 days before its end and the appearance of the first clinical symptoms of the disease, the infection is already spreading.

How long does quarantine last in kindergarten or school?

Chickenpox is an extremely contagious disease. In the absence of immunity upon contact with an infected person, it is impossible to protect yourself from the disease.

In kindergartens and schools quarantine is announced for 21 days since the last case was identified. This period is explained by the maximum duration of the incubation period.

Children who have been in contact with a sick person are not prohibited from attending kindergarten or school. Those students who have not interacted with an infected person for more than 3 weeks are advised to move to another group, class, or refrain from attending classes.

Quarantine is declared in a specific group or class after the final diagnosis. During the entire period, pupils are examined daily by medical personnel. If a sick person is identified, he is isolated from other children and his parents are immediately informed.

There is no need to stop the work of the kindergarten or school as a whole. There are a number of measures to help avoid mass infection:

regular ventilation and wet cleaning;
using different entrances to move healthy children and quarantined groups;
ban on visiting physical education and music halls.

Specific measures for disinfection of premises when cases of chickenpox are detected are not taken, since the virus has low viability outside the human body.

How to lubricate the rash with chickenpox?

For many decades, it was customary to smear chickenpox blisters with brilliant green. It was believed that this was the only way to achieve the fastest formation of crusts and reduce unbearable itching. Currently, experts question this method, since brilliant green does not affect the rate of crust formation and the healing process, and also does not cope with itching at all.

The following drugs are suggested as alternative methods:

calamine lotion– quickly relieves itching and redness, promotes active skin regeneration. Suitable for children, does not stain the skin;
potassium permanganate solution– used from a very early age. Application requires special care, since exceeding the concentration can cause burns. To prevent this, it is necessary to dissolve several crystals of potassium permanganate in a glass of boiled water until a pale pink solution forms;
suspension "Tsindol" has drying and disinfecting properties. Can be used up to 6 times a day.
gel "Fenistil" promotes active healing of the skin and effectively eliminates itching. However, its use is recommended only for severe chickenpox after consultation with your doctor.

What are the possible complications?

Infection with chickenpox, especially in adults, often leads to the development of complications. The most serious are:

chickenpox pneumonia;
secondary infections - abscess, sepsis.

Chicken pox in adults

If a person did not have chickenpox in childhood, there is a high probability of infection in adulthood.

Symptoms

The symptoms are practically the same, but in adults the disease, as a rule, is severe and manifests itself with the following symptoms:

high temperature for a long period;
pronounced prodromal signs - headaches and muscle pain, loss of appetite, general toxic manifestations;
profuse rash, late formation of crusts;
The mucous membranes are often affected and the lymph nodes become enlarged.

Infection with chickenpox during pregnancy, especially in the early stages, can aggravate the course of the disease in a woman and lead to infection and even death of the fetus. After 20 weeks the risk to the baby is negligible.

Treatment

Treatment methods depend on the form of the disease, the state of the immune system and the age of the person.

As a rule, when the disease occurs in mild and moderate forms, treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis. Infectious disease specialists recommend:

compliance with bed rest in the presence of elevated temperature;
drink plenty of fluids to quickly remove toxins from the body;
balanced diet. It is optimal to follow a protein-plant diet;
treating the skin with disinfectants. Instead of traditional brilliant green, potassium permanganate, Tsindol, Fukortsin, and Calamine suspensions can be used. Each element of the rash is treated separately using a cotton swab. Calamine can be used up to 4 times a day, fucorcin and cindol - up to 6, potassium permanganate - without restrictions;
carrying out special drug therapy.

paracetamol;
panadol;
Nurofen;
efferalgan.

Do not use aspirin to avoid side effects.

If a severe form of the disease is observed, doctors prescribe antiviral drugs. The recommended dose of acyclovir is 800 mg 5 times a day for a week. In especially severe cases, intravenous administration of the drug 3 times a day at a dosage of 10 mg/kg body weight is practiced.

Antihistamines help relieve itching and swelling. Showed themselves well:

tavegil;
claritin;
suprastin.

Their daily dose should not exceed 4 tablets.

It is allowed to treat the skin with special preparations that reduce itching and other skin manifestations. For example, “Fenistil-gel” can be used repeatedly during the day.

Chickenpox vaccinations

An effective method of combating chickenpox is vaccination. In a number of countries - Japan, Australia, USA, Austria, vaccination against chickenpox is included in the national vaccination calendar. This procedure allows you to build immunity to the disease for life.

WHO representatives and vaccine manufacturers recommend immunization against chickenpox for children over one year of age. Russian experts do not recommend performing the procedure on children under 2 years of age. Adults have no age restrictions.

For vaccination, a live vaccine and specific immunoglobulin are used.

When a live, attenuated Varicella Zoster virus is injected into the body, an asymptomatic mild form of chickenpox develops. Antibodies are formed, which provide stable long-term immunity.

The following vaccines are allowed to be used in Russia:

« Okavax» (Japan) is used to vaccinate children from 12 months of age and adults. It is administered once intramuscularly. Used as emergency prophylaxis no later than 3 days after contact with an infected person. The minimum cost of the drug is 1900 rubles;
« Varilrix» (Belgium) is administered twice with an interval of 6–10 weeks. Allowed for vaccination of children starting from 9 months and adults. The average price in pharmacies is 2,200 rubles.

The drug "Zostevir" is a specific immunoglobulin for the varicella zoster virus. It helps ease the course of the disease and speed up the healing process. The medication is administered intramuscularly once a day in a dosage of 1 to 3 ml, depending on the indications. Does not contain live virus and does not provide lifelong immunity.

Infectious disease specialists in a number of countries do not see the need for universal immunization against chickenpox in childhood, since in most cases the course of this disease is mild before adolescence. Vaccination is prescribed only if there are objective indications, for example, weakened immunity.

British infectious disease specialists have identified a link between immunization in childhood and shingles, caused by the same virus, in adulthood.

For a person who has not had chickenpox in childhood, vaccination is 100% the right decision.

Prevention

The only reliable way to protect against chickenpox infection is vaccination. Other methods do not provide a 100% guarantee. However, the likelihood of infection if one of your family members becomes ill can be reduced by taking the following precautions:

complete isolation of the sick person;
use of separate utensils;
use of cotton-gauze dressings;
taking antiviral drugs or timely vaccination.

Knowing and following preventive measures allows you to avoid infection with chickenpox or survive it without complications.

You can find out what experts think about chickenpox by watching the video.

Ekaterina Morozova

Reading time: 9 minutes

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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.

Usually, 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!

The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Consultation with a specialist is required!

Chickenpox or chicken pox - an infectious viral disease accompanied by intoxication and spotty-vesicular rashes on the skin and mucous membranes. Chickenpox is very contagious - almost everyone who has been in contact with the patient and has not been sick before gets sick. After illness, persistent lifelong immunity is developed.

It is noteworthy that the severity of the disease depends on age. Children experience a mild form of the disease, while adolescents and adults experience a more severe form. They also have a high risk of complications. Pediatricians indicate that in children with an active temperament, the rash is more profuse than in those who are calm and phlegmatic.

Until the 17th century, chickenpox was considered a deadly disease - a type of smallpox. Since then, the name “chickenpox” has remained. Chickenpox began to be identified as a separate disease in 1772, but the virus was only studied in the mid-twentieth century.

Causes of chickenpox

The causative agent of chickenpox is human herpes virus type 3. The pathogen has a fairly large size - from 150 to 200 nm. Its genetic information is contained in a DNA molecule surrounded by a lipid shell.

The virus multiplies only in the human body, and in the environment it quickly dies when it dries out, under the influence of UV rays and any disinfectants. It remains in droplets of mucus and saliva for up to 15 minutes. It is highly volatile and spreads with air flow.

Epidemiology of chickenpox

Source infections - a person with chickenpox, rarely shingles. It becomes contagious during the last 2 days of the incubation period and 7-9 days after the rash appears.

Transmission path– airborne. The virus is released from the patient's body through droplets of saliva when talking, coughing and breathing. With the flow of air it is carried into other rooms. Due to the fact that the virus is unstable in the external environment, it is not transmitted through objects or third parties. A vertical route of infection is also possible, when the virus penetrates from an infected mother to the fetus through the placenta.

Susceptibility to the virus chickenpox is very high - almost 100% of previously unill people get sick. This means that if a person who does not have immunity communicates with a sick person, he is guaranteed to get sick.

Chickenpox incubation period(from infection to the appearance of the first symptoms) lasts 10-21 days, on average 14-17 days.

After an illness, the body develops lasting, lifelong immunity. It is believed that it is possible to get chickenpox again only in exceptional cases. Infants are protected by innate immunity for the first 2-3 months of life. Antibodies to the chickenpox virus are transmitted transplacentally from the mother. Subsequently, the titer of antibodies in the blood decreases, and the child may become ill.

The number of patients with chickenpox increases in the autumn-winter period. Large outbreaks occur in kindergartens, schools and boarding schools, while Almost all children are infected who were not previously ill. Thanks to this feature, by the age of 15-16, 70% of the population already has immunity to chickenpox, acquired after an illness. People who did not get sick in childhood are at risk of becoming infected in adulthood.

Chickenpox: what is the mode of transmission of the chickenpox virus, how can you get infected, how many days does the incubation period last and the disease itself - video

Pathogenesis

Incubation period. The virus enters the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. It penetrates cells and rebuilds them, causing them to produce new viral particles. Subsequently, the virus spreads throughout the body through the lymph flow. At the end of the incubation period, it is released into the blood.

Development of the disease. The first symptoms of chickenpox are associated with viremia - the presence of the virus in the blood. Patients develop fever and intoxication due to poisoning of the body with waste products of the virus.

Next, the chickenpox virus selectively infects cells of the skin and mucous membranes, which is manifested by a characteristic rash - a maculopapular rash. The virus also penetrates the nerve ganglia responsible for innervation of the skin. In addition, it suppresses the immune system by impairing the functions of T lymphocytes. In this regard, the patient may experience worsening of chronic diseases. Children during and after chickenpox become especially sensitive to viral and bacterial infections.

Recovery and development of immunity. The immune system recognizes the virus and produces specific antibodies to fight it. These immunoglobulins are the basis of lasting immunity. When re-infected, they quickly recognize and destroy the virus.

When treating chickenpox in children and mild forms in adults, it is enough to lower the temperature and treat the elements of the rash. The need to take medications is determined by the doctor.

Caring for a patient with chickenpox

Caring for a child with chickenpox occupies a central place in the treatment of the disease. Proper treatment of the skin and mucous membranes helps prevent bacterial infection and the development of complications.

Bed rest during fever. Children with mild illness and normal temperature do not need to limit activity.
To remove toxins, it is recommended to drink more fluids.
Skin rash elements are treated:
- 10% solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate);
- 1% alcohol solution of brilliant green.
To reduce skin itching, it is recommended to lubricate the skin:
- camphor oil;
- vodka.
Keep children's nails short to prevent scratching and infection.
Rinse your mouth after eating:
- furatsilin solution – 2 tablets per glass of water;
- weak pink solution of potassium permanganate.
Treat aphthae in the mouth and genitals:
- methylene blue;
- an aqueous solution of brilliant green;
For rashes on the genitals:
- sitz baths with a weak solution of potassium permanganate;
- frequent washing with furatsilin solution;
- To speed up the healing of aphthae, a gauze strip is soaked in sea buckthorn oil and applied to the affected area.
If the conjunctiva of the eye is damaged:
- washed with black tea or chamomile infusion;
- instilled with a 30% solution of albucid (sulfacyl sodium) or 1% solution of protargol.
To reduce itching:
- baths with oatmeal or cornstarch. Dilute 1 cup of flour in 3 cups of warm water and add the mixture to a bath of warm water.
- During the hot season, it is recommended to take a warm shower as needed. Water cleanses the skin of sweat and bacteria, reducing itching.
After water procedures, the skin is blotted with a soft cloth that absorbs moisture well.
Daily change of underwear and bed linen is required. Clothing should be loose and made from natural fabrics so as not to injure the papules. It is important that the patient does not overheat, as sweating increases itching.

Traditional methods of treatment

Nutrition for chickenpox (diet)

When the first symptoms of chickenpox appear, appetite deteriorates significantly. You should not force the patient to eat, especially when the temperature rises. Offer food during those hours when the temperature has been brought down. It is advisable to eat little by little, but often – 4-5 times a day.
basis nutrition should become:

Bread made from premium flour.
Soups, not fatty, not rich.
Animal and poultry meat in the form of soufflés, meatballs, steamed cutlets and meatballs.
Milk and dairy products - yogurt, kefir, low-fat cottage cheese.
Soft-boiled eggs, steam omelet.
Semi-liquid porridge with the addition of milk or broth.
Steamed vegetables - vegetable stew, caviar, mashed potatoes.
Berries and non-hard fruits, peeled. Juices, compotes, jellies, mousses, jelly from them.
Rose hip decoction, weak tea with honey or milk.

Excluded from the menu:

Fatty and fried foods.
Spicy snacks.
Smoked products - meat, fish, sausage.
Products that cause gas formation are cabbage, radish, radishes, legumes.
Sharp cheeses, full-fat sour cream, cream.
Strong tea, coffee, alcoholic drinks.

Treatment of chickenpox: antipyretic, antiviral, antihistamines, rash treatment, hygiene measures, nutrition - video

Consequences

Signs of complications that need to be reported to your doctor immediately:

Progressive deterioration of general condition after temporary improvement.
Prolonged fever, severe weakness, drowsiness, refusal to drink indicate severe intoxication.
Long period of rash of more than 5 days.
Purulent contents inside the blisters, an inflammatory rim around the blisters, a painful rash - the addition of a purulent skin infection.
Severe cough, hemoptysis, shortness of breath – possible viral infection of the lungs.
Shortness of breath and chest pain, cyanosis (blue skin) indicate heart damage.
Headaches, numbness of the neck and limbs, back pain, cramps, frequent vomiting are signs of damage to the nervous system.
Impaired consciousness, impaired speech - indicate inflammation of the brain.
Eye pain and rash on the conjunctiva occur when the eyes are damaged.
Severe abdominal pain may indicate a generalized form with damage to internal organs.

Chickenpox: complications in infants; how does chickenpox occur during pregnancy, how to avoid negative consequences for the fetus; how to eliminate scars after chickenpox; when can you wash (pediatrician's recommendations) - video

Prevention of chickenpox

Preventive measures for patients with chickenpox

Prevention of chickenpox is based on timely identification and isolation of the patient:

Preventive measures regarding contact persons

Contacts are considered to be people who communicated with the patient or were in the same room with him 2 days before the appearance of the rash and until the 8th day from the moment the last element of the rash appeared:

During the 21st day, contacts of all ages must be given special attention. If you have a fever, redness of the mucous membrane of the pharynx, or any rash on the skin, you should call a doctor.
Contact children under 7 years of age (attending kindergartens) are not allowed in preschool institutions from the 11th to the 21st day from the date of contact. If there is no exact date of contact, the contact child is isolated for 21 days.
Contact children over 7 years of age and adults. Not subject to separation, they can continue to go to school and visit public places until the first signs of illness appear.
Emergency vaccination of contacts may be recommended for immunocompromised children and pregnant women. The drug Okavax or anti-chickenpox immunoglobulin are used. The administration of these drugs in the first three days after contact protects against the development of the disease.

What is the prognosis for chickenpox?

Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to get chickenpox a second time?

Causes of re-infection with chickenpox:

Significant decrease in immunity - HIV infection, long-term use of systemic corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, strict diets and fasting, physical and mental exhaustion.
Low level of anti-chickenpox antibodies. This situation is possible if a person suffered from chickenpox at an early age. In the first year of life, the immune system is not sufficiently developed, so it may not provide adequate protection.
Infection with another type of herpes virus. The rash can be caused by types 1, 2 and 6.
Diagnostic error. A blistering rash can be a symptom of more than just chickenpox. Perhaps the first time vesicular rickettsiosis, flea bites or other insect bites were mistaken for chickenpox.

When is a person with chickenpox contagious?

In mild and moderate forms, a patient with chickenpox is contagious for 9 days from the moment the first pimple appears.

How can you get chickenpox?

There is a high risk of up to 80% when communicating with a patient on the street - when talking and coughing, drops of saliva spread over a distance of 1-2 meters. If they enter the respiratory tract of susceptible people, infection will occur. However, sunlight and air currents reduce the possibility of infection.

There is no risk of infection through the patient’s personal belongings and toys or through third parties. For example, parents of a sick child or a teacher in whose group there is an outbreak of chickenpox cannot tolerate the infection.

Is it possible to walk outside if you have chickenpox?

Remember that active games, exposure to the sun and hypothermia are undesirable for a sick child.

Adults should remain in bed until complete recovery. Unwanted physical activity can cause complications.

Is it possible to swim if you have chickenpox?

There is a danger of introducing bacteria through the towel. Therefore, it must be clean and ironed with a hot iron. It is acceptable to use soft disposable paper towels.

Is chickenpox dangerous for pregnant women?

The danger of chickenpox

During the first 8-10 weeks of pregnancy, chickenpox can cause miscarriage or lead to missed abortion. If this does not happen, then the risk of complications in the fetus is less than 5%.
2-3rd trimester the risk to the fetus is minimal - does not exceed 2%.
Term over 37 weeks - the risk of developing congenital chickenpox in a child reaches 25%.

Treatment of chickenpox in pregnant women. For mild forms, no specific therapy is prescribed; it is enough to drink more fluids and treat the elements of the rash. Recent studies have shown that pregnant women have a low risk of developing pneumonia and other damage to internal organs.

In severe forms, treatment is carried out with Acyclovir, which does not have a negative effect on the fetus. Daily dose 4 g, duration of treatment 7-12 days.

What should a pregnant woman who has had chickenpox do?

Before use, you should consult a specialist.