How chickenpox begins and looks like in children. Therapeutic and diagnostic measures. Chickenpox in children: incubation period, first signs and main symptoms (photo). What are the stages and how to treat chickenpox in children

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 children under school age, but it is extremely rare in children under 6 months.

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 feature 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 as an independent disease; it was considered one of the manifestations 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 younger age child, 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 children may complain about discomfort in the 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 change 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.

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

Features of caring for children with chickenpox

Children usually bring the infection from kindergarten, often infect 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 a 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.

Let's list important conditions for walks:

1. Body temperature should return to normal.
2. 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.
3. If a child has recently had chickenpox, he should not sunbathe or swim in open water.
4. 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

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

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, for example, 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

1. Rudimentary. The rash is spotty, there are practically no catarrhal symptoms, the disease passes easily.
2. 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.
3. Bullous form. The bubbles in this form merge, forming so-called bullae. They are usually filled with muddy contents.
4. Gangrenous form. It has an extremely severe course.
5. Generalized form. With this form of the disease, severe intoxication, damage to internal organs, and hyperthermia 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, just like him complete absence, can lead to complications during the course of the disease.

1. If the temperature rises above 38.5 °C, you can give the child antipyretic drug based on ibuprofen or paracetamol.
2. For decreasing skin itching can be used local ointments, such as Gerpevir, Acyclovir. It is possible to use Fenistil gel.
3. Antihistamines can be used. For example, the drug Diazolin, it is available in tablets.
4. For prevention secondary infection for ulcers use brilliant green or Fukortsin. The application of such preparations also helps to determine the appearance of new bubbles.
5. For a sore throat, you can use herbal decoctions and medications approved for the treatment of children of a particular age.
6. 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.

Many parents know what the first signs of chickenpox are in a child; photos of these signs are easy to find on the Internet. And this is not surprising, because chickenpox is one of the most common infectious diseases.

In addition to visual signs, there are a number of others that may indicate the development of the disease in a child. It is worth noting that many children experience changes during the development of the disease. emotional state: They become whiny, lethargic and nervous. With chickenpox, there is often an increase in temperature and other symptoms characteristic of a common viral disease.

Important! No matter how the child suffers from this disease, parents should call a doctor.Moreover, it is best to call a doctor at home, since this disease has a high infectious hazard and is transmitted airborne by drip.

For this reason, it is very important to know what the first manifestations of chickenpox are and how to deal with them.

Symptoms of the disease

Many mothers know how chickenpox begins in children - the first signs of the disease are described in any manual on raising children; there is a lot of similar information on the Internet on specialized medical sites. The cause of infection with this disease is considered to be a type of herpes virus. As a result of research, it has been established that particles of this virus are present in the body of any person, but their quantity is very small. Under certain favorable conditions viral particles are activated and their number in the body increases sharply, provoking the development of chickenpox. This situation occurs when a person is exposed to various unfavorable environmental factors. Very often, chickenpox develops in a child’s body when protective functions. The main signs of chickenpox are:

• severe fatigue;
• constant drowsiness;
• elevated temperature;
• irritability;
• multiple red rashes;
• itching on the skin.

When a child shows the first signs of chickenpox, parents should immediately seek help from medical specialist for cupping developing disease and weakening the impact of disease symptoms on the child’s body. In addition, timely seeking help from a doctor helps prevent the spread of the disease among healthy children.

The first signs of chickenpox in an infant (there are also babies in the photo for this article) may differ slightly from the symptoms that appear in older children. But in general, chickenpox infants It is rare and they usually tolerate it quite easily.

If we talk about infants, then those who are on artificial feeding. During this period of life, the child’s body is not yet able to produce a sufficient number of protective cells, and mother's milk, which gives the baby protection from infections, is missing.

How does chickenpox occur in children?

The younger the patient is, the easier it is usually for him to tolerate this disease. The first manifestations of chickenpox in children are a deterioration in health and a significant increase in temperature. Chickenpox in adults is much more difficult to tolerate than in childhood. Therefore, many doctors warn parents that they should be especially attentive to their health during the period when their baby is sick. There are cases when a mother or father gets this disease again in adulthood. If this happens, you need to isolate the child from the adult so that they do not transmit this infection to each other.

As mentioned above, transmission of infection from a sick person to a healthy person occurs through airborne droplets. Therefore, a child infected with chickenpox and healthy children should not be allowed to be in the same room, since the probability of transmitting the virus from a sick person to a healthy one is close to 100%.

The virus is not highly resistant to negative factors external environment, therefore open space it retains its infectious properties for a very short period of time, which reduces the risk of infection by fresh air.

How to behave in case of infection

If an infection has struck the body, then the first thing you need to do is try to protect those around you from contracting the disease.

The patient is provided with a regime of strict isolation from healthy people. If a child is infected, any contact with healthy children is minimized. If you need to go outside or visit public institutions, you should wear a medical mask on your face.

Visible signs of the disease appear some time after a person is infected, since initial stage The virus in the patient’s body goes through an incubation period. The onset of the disease is rarely accompanied by any special features. In this regard, a sick person can infect a healthy one, without even suspecting that he himself is already a virus carrier. Most often, the patient becomes a source of infection two days before the rash begins and crusts form on the skin.

There are basic symptoms that help determine the onset of the disease in a child. These symptoms may include:

• severe headaches;
• weakness;
• constant desire to cry;
• loss of appetite;
• often an increase in body temperature to 39 or even 40 degrees;
• increase lymph nodes in the neck and ears;
• nausea and frequent vomiting.

Such symptoms are typical specifically for the incubation period of the disease. It can last from seven days to three weeks. After this, the active phase of the disease begins.

Visual signs of the disease and treatment

When visually identifying chickenpox, you need to remember that it is not only during chickenpox that a visible skin rash appears. In some cases, rashes on the skin occur during the formation of various allergic reactions in the body. But there is a serious difference between them. Firstly, rashes during chickenpox begin in the scalp or on the face, and during the formation of an allergic reaction, the rash appears in any area of ​​the skin. Another feature is that during chickenpox a wave type of rash is noted. That is, it can appear repeatedly in the same place: new spots may appear on the skin where there is already a rash.

Chickenpox is most often treated at home, but if complications occur, hospitalization may be required. To prevent complications, every parent should know how chickenpox manifests itself in children, and also look at a photo to imagine what the pimples characteristic of this disease look like - this will allow them to begin fighting the infection on the first day of the disease.

Now you know how chickenpox begins in children and what the first signs are.

The development of this disease is accompanied by the appearance of severe itching in places where the rash forms on the skin. To reduce itching, you can make special baths, for example, with chamomile decoction, which has a calming effect. Can be given to baby sedatives, allowed for his age and recommended by the attending physician. Doctors often recommend using antihistamines to reduce itching.

The adult's task is to try to calm his child as effectively as possible. If the itching does not decrease, then you can resort to the use of ointments and gels that have an antihistamine effect. All this can be done only after preliminary consultation with your doctor.

Any itching that occurs must be stopped; this will avoid scratching the rash and causing complications as a result of bacterial infection entering the wounds.

What every parent should remember

The onset of chickenpox may be accompanied by symptoms characteristic of acute respiratory infections. If you know how chickenpox begins in children and what the main first signs of this disease are, then you can avoid most of the complications that can arise in the body during the course of the disease. Most often, adults notice that a child is infected with the herpes virus already during the active phase of development of the disease.

After the appearance of the characteristic rash, there is a sharp increase in general temperature bodies. The rash spreads throughout the body very quickly, in some cases it can take several hours. These appear to be bubbles filled with liquid. In this case, the resulting rashes cause severe itching. After 2-3 days, the rash blisters burst and crust over Brown with a yellow tint. After the crust falls off, the wounds heal fairly quickly.

Every parent should know what the first signs of chickenpox are in a child, and how to treat this disease. In addition, it is advisable for parents to study the question of how to properly care for their baby during illness. For example, many people are interested in whether it is possible to bathe it.

Tip: For bathing, it is better to prepare a decoction of soothing herbs. But we must not forget: if the child’s body temperature is elevated, then any water procedures.

When infected with chickenpox and undergoing treatment, it is best to adhere to the following tips:

• the first thing you need to do is bring down the temperature if it is high;
• be sure to treat rashes with an antiseptic;
• Constantly take care of skin hygiene.

There are no specific preventive measures to avoid infection with chickenpox. However, if you vaccinate your child, you can minimize the possibility of infection. The vaccine lasts for two to three decades, so the chickenpox vaccine is given only once.

Chickenpox is a fairly serious disease, so it is better to know in advance how the first signs of chickenpox appear in a child, study the photo on our website characteristic manifestations diseases so that you are fully prepared if your baby becomes infected. By the way, almost always after chickenpox in childhood, immunity is developed and reinfection this disease usually does not occur.

Chickenpox in children or chickenpox is an acute infectious disease transmitted by airborne droplets. The causative agent of chickenpox is one of the varieties of the herpes virus - varicella-zoster, and the disease itself is considered extremely contagious (highly contagious). To become infected, even distant contact with a sick person is enough. The chickenpox virus is volatile, easily spreads through the air and can penetrate into adjacent rooms or apartments through the ventilation system, so if there is a sick person in the entrance, it is likely that your baby will soon develop characteristic symptoms.

The causative agent of the disease quickly spreads in children's groups (schools, kindergartens), becoming especially active in the off-season and provoking epidemic outbreaks. At the same time, it is unstable and through a short time dies in external environment. Chickenpox is considered the only viral infection that is widespread mainly among children.

Doctors say that it is better to get chickenpox in childhood, since at this age the disease is much easier and after recovery, stable, lifelong immunity is developed. In adults, the infection is more severe and can lead to serious complications, sometimes even life-threatening conditions.

Most often, children of primary preschool age suffer from chickenpox; in newborns and infants, the disease can manifest itself only if the mother did not have chickenpox in childhood, and her body does not have antibodies that protect against infection. School-age children get sick much less frequently, and even less often do adults, whose infection is diagnosed in isolated cases. Parents should know how chickenpox begins in children, what its main symptoms are and what methods to treat this infection.

The chickenpox virus enters the body through the mucous membrane of the eyes and upper sections respiratory tract. If in children's team When a child appears with chickenpox, the rest of the pupils may soon become ill as well. It is difficult to detect the infection in a timely manner, since the incubation period of chickenpox in children, during which the disease does not manifest itself, ranges from 10 days to three weeks. All this time, an infected child can be among other children, becoming a source of infection.

During the entire incubation period, a child infected with chickenpox may look absolutely active and healthy. However, even without any external signs disease, he already poses a threat to others.

The most contagious disease is considered to be in the active phase, which begins 2 days before the appearance of the first characteristic rashes. The disease enters the inactive phase five days after the last blisters appear on the body. At this time, the virus stops spreading, the rashes dry out and heal, and the child recovers. Treatment of chickenpox must take place under quarantine conditions; the child is isolated from other children for the entire duration of the illness. According to doctors' recommendations, quarantine lasts on average about 10 days from the moment of the first skin manifestations.

In most cases clinical picture the disease is the same. After the incubation period, the main symptoms of chickenpox appear. At the initial stage of chickenpox in children, the following manifestations are observed:

Secondary stage proceeds as follows:

5 days after the appearance of the last rash, it is believed that the child’s body has coped with the infection and has developed lifelong immunity. At the site of the rash, a barely noticeable pale pink pigmentation remains on the skin, which soon disappears. But if a child scratches itchy blisters during the active phase of the disease, a complication may arise with the addition of a bacterial infection. In such cases, characteristic small scars and scars remain on the skin for life.

At the initial stage of the disease, when the first symptoms of chickenpox appear in children, and during the active period, the child needs to be provided with bed rest. At this time, the child suffers from high fever and general intoxication of the body. It is important to provide him with peace and limit the baby’s communication with other family members.

Many skin diseases in children are accompanied by the appearance of a rash; such manifestations are characteristic of measles, rubella, food allergies, scabies. How to distinguish chickenpox from these infectious diseases? Characteristic of chickenpox high speed spread and localization of rashes throughout the body.

One more distinctive feature Chickenpox has a wave-like course, when fresh rashes appear at intervals of several days. In this case, one stage is usually superimposed on the other and at the same time new rashes filled with clear liquid and dried blisters covered with a dry crust may be present on the skin.

Young parents are often interested in how to distinguish the signs of chickenpox in a child from allergic rash? With chickenpox, the rash appears first on the scalp and face and then spreads to the entire body, while skin manifestations have allergic reactions specific localization. Allergic reactions in most cases are not accompanied by fever and sharp increase body temperature. In case of allergies, the rash resembles hives, usually appears after contact with an allergen and disappears after taking antihistamines.

With others skin diseases, for example, scabies, a rash appears on the hands, which is not at all typical for chickenpox. With rubella or measles, the nature of the rash does not change; a small rash appears once, covering certain areas of the skin. If any rash appears on your baby's skin, you should immediately consult a doctor. The specialist will supply accurate diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment. Timely treatment will help prevent the disease from early stage and prevent possible complications.

Forms of chickenpox

How many days does chickenpox last in children? It is quite difficult to answer this question unequivocally. The duration of the disease largely depends on the form of the disease, and since each person’s body is individual, chickenpox progresses differently in everyone.

The active period of the disease usually lasts from 5 to 8 days. If after this time no new rashes appear, it is considered that the disease has subsided and the child is recovering. Dry crusts disappear within 7-14 days, and traces of chickenpox disappear without a trace in the next three weeks. IN medical practice There are two main forms of chickenpox:

1. Typical
2. Atypical

We described the symptoms of typical chickenpox above. Atypical forms diseases in turn are divided into:

• Rudimentary
• Hemorrhagic
• Visceral
• Gangrenous.

The most light form- rudimentary, it is not characterized by symptoms such as heat, fever, headaches and other ailments. Several separate itchy blisters may appear on the body, but there are no multiple rashes. Doctors suggest that mild form the disease occurs due to strong immunity or hereditary resistance to the virus.

Severe forms of atypical chickenpox occur mainly in adults. In this case, the temperature rises sharply to 40°C, and the patient’s entire body becomes covered with an itchy rash. The rashes can merge into a continuous painful crust, intense itching leads to psycho-emotional breakdowns and prevents you from sleeping at night. All the symptoms of severe intoxication of the body are present: headaches and muscle pain, weakness, fever. Sometimes the process takes on a generalized character, which leads to damage to the liver and kidneys, causing the development viral pneumonia or threatens a serious complication such as encephalitis (brain damage).

At hemorrhagic form Disease rashes may appear on the mucous membrane of the stomach or in the nasopharynx. There is a high temperature, severe intoxication, and possible bleeding from the nose and gastrointestinal tract. This form of chickenpox has a very unfavorable prognosis and can be fatal.

In the gangrenous form, areas of necrosis appear next to the usual vesicles, and rather deep ulcers form. In a patient, a viral infection is often accompanied by a bacterial one, which seriously complicates the course of the disease. Chickenpox is especially dangerous for pregnant women who did not have this infection in childhood. They need to avoid contact with children with chickenpox and exclude contact with adults suffering from shingles.

Premature babies may develop visceral form chickenpox, with damage to the nervous system and internal organs (liver, kidneys, lungs), with high fever and severe intoxication. This form of atypical chickenpox can also be life-threatening.

Thus, this disease is by no means harmless, and if chickenpox in children is relatively mild, then in an adult the infection can have serious consequences. Therefore, doctors say that it is better to have chickenpox in childhood. In many European countries, a child with chickenpox is not isolated, and he continues to communicate with peers. Foreign doctors believe that it is better for children to get sick in early age, When special treatment not required, rather than encountering the disease later when the risk increases significantly serious complications. And that's probably right.

Treatment

Since chickenpox is caused by a virus, it is useless to treat the disease with antibiotics. Antibacterial drugs The doctor may prescribe it in cases where the course of chickenpox is complicated by the addition of a secondary bacterial infection.

There is no specific treatment against this infection, but necessary measures aimed at alleviating the patient’s condition must be taken. If a child gets chickenpox, the parents' task will be to minimize unpleasant symptoms and alleviate the baby's condition. To do this, you must fulfill the basic conditions necessary for a speedy recovery:

• Maintaining strict bed rest
• Frequent change of underwear and bed linen
• Reinforced drinking regime, allowing to reduce intoxication
• Light milky plant based diet

At the first unfavorable symptoms, you should call a doctor at home who will give necessary consultations care and prescribe medications to alleviate the child’s condition. The most important point treatment during the active phase is to eliminate severe itching. When a rash appears, the skin itches and itches, and parents need to ensure that the baby does not scratch the itchy areas. This will help avoid the addition of a secondary bacterial infection.

Drinking plenty of fluids (tea with lemon, compotes, juices, green and Herb tea), the liquid will remove toxins from the body. During illness, the child loses his appetite, but it is necessary to maintain his strength. A dairy-vegetable diet will help with this, which will provide the body essential vitamins and nutrients.

Severe forms of chickenpox affecting internal organs, are being treated in a hospital. Complex therapy necessarily includes antiherpetic drugs (Zovirx, Acyclovir); immunoglobulin and interferon are used to treat the condition.

On the question of whether it is possible to bathe a child with chickenpox, doctors have different opinions. Domestic experts believe that it is impossible to wet the rash, since water procedures increase discomfort and prevent the healing and drying of the blisters. The exception is baths with the addition of a solution of potassium permanganate, which are taken for a short time (no more than 5 minutes). European pediatricians insist that during the acute period, when babies suffer from severe itching, they need to bathe in the shower. This will ease the baby’s condition, as the skin will itch less after water procedures.

Parents still tend to listen to the opinion of Russian pediatricians, who do not recommend bathing the baby during an acute period, either in the bathroom or under running water. Moreover, water procedures are contraindicated if the baby’s condition is complicated by high temperature and fever. When the child's condition improves, it is allowed to take a short warm shower. In this case, the child’s skin should not be soaped or rubbed with a washcloth, and the dry crusts that form in place of the bubbles should not be allowed to soften. At the end of the procedure, the baby’s skin is not wiped, but carefully blotted with an individual soft towel.

At the end of the acute period, the baby will recover. A few days after the last rash appears, the doctor may recommend short walks, this will help the baby recover faster and gain strength. With proper care, chickenpox in children passes without consequences and complications, without leaving any marks on the skin.

Doctors suggest vaccination as a preventive measure against the disease. Vaccinations against chickenpox have appeared recently; they can be given to those children who have not yet had this infectious disease. With the help of a vaccine, you can prevent the development of infection even if the child has been in contact with a sick person, if the injection is given within 2-3 days after contact.

Experts recommend that all children over 12 months of age be vaccinated if they have not yet had chickenpox. The first vaccine is given at 12-14 months, repeated vaccination is carried out after 3-5 years. Vaccination will protect a child from chickenpox, as it forces the body to produce antibodies to the virus, forming immunity to the disease. There are usually no negative reactions to chickenpox vaccinations, and pediatricians advise parents to protect their children from infection in this way.

How does chickenpox start?? It is important to recognize it in the first days in order to begin treatment on time and make it easier to transfer the infection. Although chickenpox is considered a classic childhood disease, it can also be contracted as an adult. Children tolerate this disease relatively easily. But for an adult, chickenpox is a severe blow to health with the risk of serious complications.

Specifics of the disease

Chicken pox - viral infection, which spreads so quickly that it has rightly been compared to rapid gusts of wind. The causative agent of the disease, the Zoster herpes virus, quickly scatters in all directions over long distances with air currents. If close contact is necessary for infection with many infectious diseases, for example, talking with a sick person, then chickenpox can be caught while being 50 m from the virus carrier.

Flow chickenpox in the early stages reminds me of a common cold. The patient has a runny nose, cough, and a slight rise in temperature. But these are the same first signs of chickenpox should not be considered characteristic of this pathology, as they can lead to an incorrect diagnosis. One of the peculiarities of the disease is that the patient does not suspect until the last moment that he is infected with the Zoster virus.

To better understand the specifics of chickenpox, you should know that there are 4 stages of its development, which are very clearly demarcated:

1. Incubation (hidden).
2. Prodromal (a kind of pre-disease state).
3. Acute (when skin rashes appear).
4. The period of decline of the disease (formation of crusts at the site of the rash).

The very first stage of development of the disease - incubation - usually lasts from 1 to 3 weeks. At this time, a person has no way of knowing that he has already become infected. But in the prodromal period, when they appear first symptoms of chickenpox, reminiscent of ARVI, you should be wary and go to see a doctor without waiting for the temperature to rise and a rash to appear on the body. If detected late and without treatment, chickenpox may develop not in a mild, but in a very severe form.

Who is at risk from this disease?

Chickenpox disease peaks in summer and winter. You can become infected by being in contact with a sick child or adult. The main way the virus spreads is through airborne droplets. An aggressive infection easily penetrates the respiratory tract, from where it enters all lymph nodes and accumulates in them. The patient experiences particularly painful sensations in places where large lymph nodes are located: under the jaws, behind the ears, in the armpits, groin area. It becomes difficult to chew and swallow food and urinate.

If a person had chickenpox as a child, he develops a strong immunity. If he did not suffer this infection as a child, the risk of getting sick awaits him throughout his life. The fact is that Zoster viruses can live in the body for decades in a passive form without causing any harm. But with a significant decrease in immunity, they become more active. This usually occurs between the ages of 20 and 60.

Thus, the risk group includes:

• adults who did not have chickenpox in childhood;
• some teenagers, if their immune system weakens sharply during puberty;
• people who find themselves in severe stressful situations;
• persons who have experienced severe hypothermia or frostbite;
• patients with serious injuries, bone fractures;
• patients who have suffered severely from other viral diseases;
• people taking strong antibiotics and hormonal drugs for a long time;
• cancer patients;
• HIV-infected;
• patients who have undergone internal organ transplantation.

Complications of the disease

For those who had chickenpox in childhood, although a strong immunity is formed, the herpes virus remains in the body for life. It is extremely rare, but with severe depletion of the immune system, such a terrible disease as herpes zoster can develop. If this happens, then chickenpox, the onset of the disease is very difficult.

In a child, this disease, as a rule, is not complicated by secondary infections, which cannot be said about adults. In them, chickenpox is often accompanied by diseases that affect:

• respiratory organs (pharyngitis, laryngitis, tracheitis, pneumonia);
• vascular system (thrombophlebitis);
• musculoskeletal system (arthritis);
• nervous system (paralysis, cysts in the brain);
• liver (organ abscess);
• organs of vision (partial or complete loss).

It is very dangerous when a pregnant woman gets chickenpox, even if she had it in childhood. Immunity to chickenpox reliably protects the expectant mother, so she is not afraid of infection. But for developing child Zoster viruses are extremely dangerous. It is highest in the first months of pregnancy, when the risk of miscarriage or fetal malformations is high. And in last weeks Before childbirth, chickenpox can lead to the birth of a stillborn child.

Initial stage of the disease in children

In case of illness chickenpox onset The disease in children is characterized by 2 main symptoms:

1. Rising body temperature.
2. Rashes.

Moreover, a small rash, reminiscent of the skin pathology of scarlet fever, can be observed for only a few hours, then it disappears without a trace. A rash typical of chickenpox appears only after a day.

The illness in a child may begin with a sudden headache, lethargy, loss of appetite and resemble symptoms of acute respiratory infection. The temperature depends on the severity of the disease. If the disease is mild, it does not rise above +38ºС. At severe forms the temperature can stay around +39-40ºС, causing fever, and not subside until the period of all gradual rashes ends.

What part of the body can it start from? skin pathology? The first rash often appears on the head. And then more and more new rashes join it, covering almost the entire body. This process usually lasts 5-6 days.

First, reddish spots appear. Then papules (convex formations) form at this place. Even later - vesicles (bubbles with clear liquid). After 1-2 days, this liquid becomes cloudy, and the formations begin to dry out. Crusts appear on their surface, which disappear after a few weeks.

The biggest problem with chickenpox is that the appearance of new blisters is accompanied by severe itching.

It is so unbearable that children scratch these micro-wounds and tear off the scabs. And this is precisely what cannot be done. The patient's condition improves after scratching only for a short time. In addition, injured skin represents numerous “open gates” for pyogenic bacteria.

The first symptoms of the disease in adults

Among first signs of chickenpox in adults- high temperature, up to +38-39ºС. This heat persists for 3 to 5 days, intensifying at the moment the maximum number of rashes appears. In this case, all the symptoms of intoxication of the body are present: weakness, dizziness, headaches, nausea, and sometimes vomiting. In addition, upon palpation, painfully enlarged lymph nodes are easily detected.

Chickenpox symptoms in adults similar to the signs of an incipient disease in children. Red spots then appear. At first they are solitary. But soon the rash becomes widespread, and its appearance is aggravated by constant, debilitating itching.

In the same way, the spots turn into vesicles with a gradually cloudy liquid. These bubbles come in two types: they are either large (up to 1.5 cm), but there are few of them, or small (about 5 mm), but there are countless of them.

Vesicles appear primarily in areas with thinner and more delicate skin: the face, thighs, abdomen, and groin area. Secondly, the rash affects scalp head, and then the oral cavity, throat.

How severe it is can be judged by the duration of intense coloration of the rash. If the form of the disease is mild, then the redness lasts only 2-3 days and the temperature subsides after that.

With moderate severity of the disease, bubbles appear and turn red for 4-5 days.

It is very difficult when this process stretches for 8-10 days, then calming down, then activating again, and the temperature reaches critical values, exceeding +40ºС.

Particularly severe form of the disease

At the initial stage of chickenpox in adults, the possibility of sudden progression of the disease cannot be ruled out. It may be like this: just yesterday it occurred in a fairly mild form, but literally a day later the patient’s condition sharply worsened. A similar insidious attack of chickenpox is possible if it is complicated severe damage nervous system.

The following symptoms may indicate this:

• a persistent feeling of nausea, which at times can lead to vomiting;
• increased fearfulness due to the inclusion of bright lights, the appearance of loud sounds;
• sudden mood swings;
• frequent muscle cramps;
• loss of coordination of movements;
• claustrophobia (fear of being in a confined space).

With such a critical course of chickenpox in adults, the rash occurs in waves. The redness of the rash and the temperature are steadily reaching their maximum. And when this peak passes, the patient is so deprived of strength that he is on the verge of exhaustion.

This condition is also dangerous because viruses can paralyze the vascular system. IN similar cases vesicles appear not only on the skin, but also on the mucous membranes of the nasal passages, stomach, and intestines. They become filled with blood, which is found in nasal discharge and urine. And the temperature reaches its highest values.

But that's not all. Chickenpox can become gangrenous. In addition to the usual rashes, blisters with signs of tissue necrosis occur. When they burst, they turn into deep, constantly weeping ulcers. The prognosis in such cases is most often unfavorable. To prevent this outcome, it is extremely important to detect chickenpox at the earliest stages of development.

Varicella (chickenpox) - an infectious disease, the distinctive feature of which is the formation of a specific rash in the form of small blisters on the skin. Those who have had chickenpox acquire lasting immunity to the disease.

The nature of infection in chickenpox

Chickenpox is an infectious disease of a viral nature. Virus herpes simplex, which causes chickenpox, has the ability to infect only cells of the skin and mucous membranes.

Causes of chickenpox

Chickenpox is caused by the herpes virus, which has a very high ability to be transmitted by airborne droplets from sick to healthy, unsick children. Therefore, if during the last three weeks (incubation period is from 10 to 21 days) the child could have contact with a sick person (in kindergarten, school, in transport, etc.) in public places), then the likelihood of getting chickenpox increases significantly. Unfortunately, chickenpox is contagious before the rash appears, so it is not always possible to accurately determine whether such exposure has occurred. The patient begins to be contagious to others 2 days before the rash appears and is contagious for a week after its appearance.

Susceptibility to chickenpox is especially high in children under 5 years of age. However, infants (up to 6 months of age on breastfeeding) practically do not suffer from chickenpox, since the mother passes on her own immunity to them through the placenta in the prenatal period and from breast milk(if, of course, my mother had chickenpox as a child). Children over 10 years of age also rarely get chickenpox, but if they do, the infection can be more severe and complicated and the treatment takes longer, since only older children with reduced immunity become infected.

Chickenpox - mostly childhood disease, but adults who were not sick in childhood can also become infected with chickenpox.

Signs of chickenpox in children

One day you noticed that a pimple had appeared on your child’s body, but you didn’t attach much importance to its appearance - maybe a mosquito bit him, or maybe he just jumped up. The pimple quickly began to grow, increase in size, became dense to the touch and turned into a blister with watery contents. Moreover, such a rash appeared all over the body, pimples popped up on the arms and legs, on the stomach and back. At the same time, the child is somehow hot, lethargic (however, there may not be a temperature), he began to eat worse, he may even feel sick - and all this began a couple of days before the first pimple appeared. Well, parents, your child may have chickenpox, or scientifically - chicken pox.

The number of pimples - elements of the rash - can increase at lightning speed, or maybe slowly over several days. As a rule, a new rash appears in waves after 1 - 2 days over a week or less - it all depends on the child’s immunity this moment. Each element of the rash turns from a small pink dot into a round or irregular shape a dark pink spot raised above the skin, with a lump inside and a bubble of liquid outside. Over time, the bubble bursts and dries into a crust, which falls off, leaving no scars on the child’s skin. The pink hard spot on the skin remains and will go away for a long time - about 2 weeks. Newly appearing rash pimples are not so scary, they are smaller in size, since the child has already begun to produce antibodies to the herpes simplex virus that causes chickenpox, and they resist the growth of the rash.

With chickenpox, a child may have enlarged lymph nodes, especially behind the ears and on the neck, which means that the child's body is fighting the chickenpox virus. Lymph nodes may remain enlarged for some time after chickenpox is cured.

Symptoms of chickenpox in a child

Chickenpox usually begins with a mild fever (usually a moderate fever of 38-39 °C) and malaise. A day later a rash appears. At first these are small red spots on the body, arms, legs and face. Soon the spots thicken, swell and fill with liquid, forming bubbles. In this case, the child feels intense itching, as a result of which he constantly strives to comb the affected skin. The parents' job is to monitor him and prevent him from scratching, since in this way an additional infection can be introduced. The fluid in chickenpox blisters is highly contagious because it contains live chickenpox viruses.. There may be several waves of rash over the course of a week in 2-3 stages with an interval of 1-2 days. Each such stage is accompanied by a repeated rise in temperature, which then decreases again. At this time, the child feels weak, irritable, and his sleep and appetite are disturbed. The bubbles dry out and become crusty. On the 7-10th day, all the blisters become crusty, the temperature drops and the patient ceases to be infectious.

Chickenpox is characterized by the appearance of new elements of the rash against the background of existing old ones, so the rash has different type on the same area of ​​skin (spots, blisters, and scabs).

A similar rash can be on the mucous membranes and conjunctiva, which causes the child quite severe pain. As a rule, there is NO rash on the palms and feet with chickenpox. This is more typical for enterovirus infection, and even doctors sometimes confuse these diseases. And then my mother wonders why my child gets chickenpox a second time. Fortunately, the treatment for these diseases is almost the same, and this is what saves doctors.

The course of chickenpox in children

The latent incubation period of the disease in children lasts on average 2 weeks, less often 10-21 days. The onset of chickenpox is acute, with fever - 1-2 days. The rash period is 1 week or a little more. At the end of the period of rashes, the crusts remain on the skin for another 1-2 weeks, after which they disappear, leaving slight pigmentation. Scars do not form in uncomplicated chickenpox. If, when scratching, a pyogenic infection is nevertheless introduced, the blisters degenerate into pustules, and then after their disappearance it is possible residual effects in the form of lifelong small scars, externally similar to smallpox.

The child’s recovery occurs no earlier than the 10th day from the moment of the first rash. The release of the virus stops after the last elements of the rash dry out.

Features of the rash with chickenpox

Sometimes inexperienced doctors unjustifiably make a diagnosis of chickenpox, confusing the chickenpox rash with allergic (atopic) dermatitis. How to distinguish chickenpox from allergies? To begin with, exclude all possible allergens from the child’s menu and environment, while intensive growth The number of allergy rashes should slow down, but this measure will not affect chickenpox. With chickenpox, the size of new rashes is smaller than previous ones, with allergic dermatitis new rashes are more intense and larger in size, and old ones, after the crust falls off, do not go away, increase in size, and may become wet or crack. There is no chickenpox rash on the palms and soles, as mentioned earlier.

Almost every adult, having had chickenpox in childhood, can find traces of its dirty deeds on themselves - small scars on the skin. How can this be explained when it is written everywhere that the chickenpox rash does not leave scars on the skin? It’s simple: doctors advised our mothers to open the blisters and intensively cover them with brilliant green several times a day, while swimming was strictly forbidden, and not to walk for 3 weeks. Well, this is a mockery of a child and contradicts all logic in the treatment of chickenpox in a child! Most local pediatricians have not advanced much in the logic of treating chickenpox and give the same advice as...twenty years ago.

To prevent buildup purulent infection in ancient times, it was recommended to treat elements of the rash with chickenpox 2 times a day with an alcohol solution of brilliant green (brilliant green) or dark aqueous solution potassium permanganate. Many of you are firmly convinced that brilliant green kills the causative agent of chickenpox, but this is far from the case. Zelenka dries out skin rashes and disinfects the wound left after a burst blister until a scab appears. If you apply brilliant green several times a day, you can achieve an imbalance of beneficial and harmful microorganisms on the child’s skin and drying out the wound, which leads to scarring. Another important negative factor of smearing with brilliant green is that with a cotton swab you transfer herpes viruses from a fresh rash to healthy skin, thereby re-infecting the child with his own viruses and spreading the rash throughout the body. If the skin is not treated with anything at all, the pimples will become inflamed from the entry of opportunistic microbes from the skin, increase in size, itch more and, as a result, scars on the skin again.

At a high temperature, which rises again and again after the next paracetamol tablet, the doctor who comes to your “aid” without thinking can prescribe a dose of aspirin + paracetamol. In case of infections in children under 15 years of age, this should not be done under any circumstances! Taking aspirin for chickenpox risks Reye's (or Reye's) syndrome - acute hepatic encephalopathy due to swelling of the brain and liver. No treatment can stop this syndrome; treatment is aimed only at maintaining vital functions.

How to properly treat chickenpox

In typical cases, chickenpox is treated at home. In the normal course, only the symptoms of chickenpox are treated. To alleviate the condition of a sick child, he is usually given antipyretic medications, the blisters are lubricated with antiseptics, and the itching is relieved with antihistamines. A solution of brilliant green (zelenka) in Russia is used for chickenpox as a standard antiseptic for disinfection. It is enough to lubricate each new spot of chickenpox once, clean cotton swab, or smear only the combs.

If the child has a fever, give paracetamol or ibuprofen in an age-appropriate dosage; for children, these drugs are available in the form rectal suppositories, which can be used even when the child is sleeping. But keep in mind that you should not lower the temperature below 38.5 degrees C if the child tolerates it without complaints. Temperature helps kill chickenpox viruses in the body.

At home, during treatment, the child must remain in bed for 6-7 days, and it is advisable to change bed linen more often. It is necessary that the patient drinks as much fluid as possible, a diet of predominantly dairy-vegetable nature (milk porridge, pureed pureed vegetables, pureed fruits and fruit juices).

An important factor influencing the severity of chickenpox symptoms is hygiene. Change your child's underwear and bedding more often, even home clothes should be cotton, with long sleeves and legs. This prevents scratching and infection of healthy areas of the body. But dress your child so that he does not sweat.

During chickenpox, you need to give your child something to drink more often, especially when he has a fever. For temperatures above 38, give the child an antipyretic. The temperature during chickenpox can rise in waves: before the first rash, during a wave of new rashes, the temperature can rise again, there may be a high temperature for the entire period of the rash.

You should not wash your child in the bath during chickenpox; this will only increase the number and size of the rash. The maximum is a quick shower. But under no circumstances should you leave your child dirty; do not allow the crusts to soak, then blot with a towel (do not rub). There is no need to be afraid of washing your hands; wash your child’s hands and face carefully, pat dry with a towel.

Protect your child from drafts and infections, colds, which can further reduce immunity. Help your immune system, give your child vitamin C, fruits, juices, spend more time in the fresh air, but away from children so as not to infect them.

Children with weakened immune system If they have been exposed to the chickenpox virus, they are given immunoglobulin (protective protein antibodies) to prevent the disease. The decision to hospitalize is made by the doctor (in rare cases of extremely severe symptoms).

Often, chickenpox in children occurs without any special consequences, unlike chickenpox in an adult, but if complications suddenly appear, you need to sound the alarm! It is important not to overlook threatening symptoms.

Dangerous complications of chickenpox

Complications from chickenpox are rare; as a rule, the course of the disease is favorable. There are usually no difficulties in recognizing the disease. But God forbid that you catch chickenpox shortly after vaccination, when the child’s immunity is extremely reduced, or for a child with existing chronic diseases and receiving any treatment. In this case, irreparable consequences are possible, including fatal outcome(occurs with hemorrhagic chickenpox).

Hemorrhagic form of chickenpox, 6 days from the onset of chickenpox

If such a rash appears, immediately call an ambulance or take your child to the hospital, the minutes are counting!

You must react quickly and call a doctor if you notice at least 1 of the following symptoms of chickenpox complications in your child:

If the rash spots increase in size, grow, look like the beginning of a “cold on the lips”, become covered with numerous blisters, turn blue, become filled with blood, new rashes appear 10 days after the first signs of chickenpox (only the appearance of a small rash like prickly heat is acceptable, which does not increase in size and disappears quickly),

if the temperature remains above 37 for more than a week or the temperature rises every day, despite the fact that the blisters dry up and the crusts fall off,

if the rash spreads to the mucous membranes: eyes, oral cavity, or on the genitals (similar changes may also occur on the internal organs),

when you have a cough or runny nose (snot and cough during chickenpox can be caused by herpetic rashes in the nasopharynx), nosebleeds,

with diarrhea and frequent vomiting; nausea and vomiting, as well as difficulty breathing, drowsiness, convulsions, tension in the fontanel in children can be signs of death dangerous syndrome Rhea,

those. in all cases where chickenpox is atypical.

In any case, as soon as you notice the first signs of a child’s illness and a rash, immediately call a doctor. Only he will accurately determine whether the child has chickenpox or another disease (it is quite difficult for an untrained eye to distinguish the symptoms of chickenpox from allergies or other diseases with a rash), and will monitor the course of the disease.

When is a person with chickenpox not contagious?

A patient with chickenpox becomes contagious when he does not yet know about it - 2-3 days before the rash appears, and the rash appears about 2 weeks after infection. A patient with chickenpox ceases to be contagious when no new rashes appear, and the old ones become covered with a crust and the crusts fall off (when the blisters heal, the virus is no longer released into the external environment). On average, chickenpox quarantine for an individual child is 2-3 weeks from the first rash.

How can you get chickenpox?

The virus is a very volatile pathogen, but lives in the external environment for no more than an hour. The source of infection is a sick person, and direct contact with him is not necessary for infection: the virus easily penetrates into neighboring rooms and even adjacent apartments. However, it is not stable in the external environment, so it cannot spread through third parties and objects. You can become infected by airborne droplets from a patient with chickenpox, through direct contact with a patient with chickenpox, or through secretions respiratory system or liquid contained in skin rashes infected people. Although classic chickenpox (herpes virus type 3) and cold sores (herpes virus type 1) are caused by different types herpes simplex virus, a child may develop chickenpox after contact with an atypical herpes virus, that is, with a person with a cold on the lips, in these cases the disease is more severe.

Prevention of chickenpox

At the moment, specific prevention of chickenpox has been developed, in Russia these are the Okavax and Varilrix vaccines. The vaccine is given to children over a year old in the absence of contraindications. The protective effect of the vaccine lasts, according to some data, up to 20 years. There are plans to introduce such a vaccination into the vaccination calendar due to the disappointing statistics on the incidence of chickenpox not only among children, but also among adults.

Answers to questions about chickenpox:

1. A child was diagnosed with chickenpox simply after being examined by a doctor. Is it legal to make such a diagnosis without undergoing tests?
If a child has a rash characteristic of chickenpox, the diagnosis can be made after examination and collection of complaints. Tests are necessary only in case of protracted or complicated course of the disease.

2. The child has a fever and pimples appear all over his body and in his hair. Is it chicken pox?
The diagnosis of chickenpox can only be made experienced doctor after a face-to-face examination of the child.

3. The child has chickenpox, what folk remedies can we use it to help him recover faster?
For any infectious disease, including chickenpox, vitamin berry fruit drinks or fruit drinks would be appropriate to help with the main treatment. herbal teas, but you need to be sure that the child is not allergic to them (that is, the child has already tried this tea and no allergies have arisen)

4. Is it necessary to feed a child if he is eating (he has chickenpox)?
The body fights the infection, and it needs strength to do this, so it certainly needs to be fed. But a lot of energy is also spent on digesting food. Therefore, during chickenpox, if the child refuses the usual food, replace it with chicken bouillon and jelly.

5. A friend’s child has chickenpox. I went to visit them when he first got chickenpox. Can I bring chickenpox to my child?
If you are not infected, then you will not infect your child. Chickenpox is not transmitted through third parties.

Pediatrician T.P. Novikova