Chickenpox is what the common people call chicken pox. Let's figure out where it comes from, consider its symptoms, how children and adults tolerate it, and what complications it can cause. Does chickenpox cause fever?
General characteristics
Chickenpox is an infectious disease. The causative agent of chickenpox is a virus of the Herpesviridae family. It can live and reproduce only inside the body. The source of infection is a sick person. The route of transmission of the disease is airborne. In other words, you can become infected with it not only through direct contact with a sick person, but simply by being in the same room with him. However, the virus itself is extremely unstable and dies quite quickly outside the body. Most often, children from 1 to 10 years old get sick, but sometimes teenagers and adults get sick. A person becomes contagious to others about a couple of days before the rash appears, and remains so until the very end of the disease. The entry gates of infection are the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. From there, multiplying, the virusgets into the blood. Does chickenpox cause fever? Let's look at the clinical picture of the disease.
Symptoms
Does chickenpox have a temperature? What are the main symptoms of the disease? The incubation period of chickenpox is quite long - 10-21 days. Sometimes the disease has a prodromal period, i.e. sort of, the time of the preliminary symptoms. As a rule, this is an increase in temperature to 37.5-38, headache, general weakness and malaise. Vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain are sometimes possible.
Chickenpox can begin immediately with characteristic rashes on the body. First of all, the rash appears on the hips, shoulders, chest and abdomen. Moreover, the palms and soles of the feet are usually free of rash.
An important detail is that rashes, as a rule, do not occur immediately, but in several stages, within 2-5 days, and each such stage is accompanied by an increase in temperature.
The rashes themselves at first look like small red spots, in place of which small bubbles then form. Usually, over time, they burst and heal without a trace. If suppuration has occurred, then characteristic small scars may remain in this place.
Course of disease
There is also a temperature with chickenpox in children. Usually the disease in them proceeds quickly, and ends with a complete recovery. The temperature with chickenpox in children, as a rule, lasts up to 5 days. By the fifth day, the rashes usually stop, and the disease "fades out." In an ill childstable immunity is formed, and re-infection is very unlikely. The general condition usually suffers slightly.
Do children always have a fever with chickenpox? No, in mild cases, the disease can proceed without it at all.
Chickenpox is more severe in adults. The symptoms and treatment are similar, but the disease is much more severe. As a rule, rashes are more widespread, up to the complete coverage of the back and chest. In addition, in adults, there is a more pronounced deterioration in the general condition. The likelihood of complications also increases many times, but we will talk about this separately.
Treatment and prevention
What should I do if chickenpox appears in adults? Symptoms and treatment are similar to those for a childhood disease, but the possibility of complications must be excluded. If a disease is detected, it is necessary to see a doctor who will prescribe treatment.
With uncomplicated forms of special therapy for the treatment of chickenpox in children is not required. The main task is to prevent a secondary infection, that is, to avoid suppuration at the site of the rash. For this purpose, various antibacterial agents for external use are used. This is an alcohol solution of brilliant green, an aqueous solution of potassium permanganate. It is possible to use antibacterial ointments. If the temperature is above 38, the doctor may prescribe antipyretic drugs.
How long does a child's temperature last with chickenpox? In classic cases - up to 5 days. In cases wherethe temperature lasts longer, rises more than 38.5 and with a sharp deterioration in the general condition, you should immediately seek medical help.
For adults with chickenpox, in addition to the above treatment, the doctor may prescribe antiviral drugs. Patients are prescribed bed rest. Can there be chickenpox without fever in adults? No, almost always this disease is accompanied by high thermometer readings and poor he alth.
Among the preventive measures, timely isolation of patients should be highlighted. Therefore, you should call a doctor at home, and not go to the clinic yourself.
Today, there are special vaccines against chickenpox that allow you to build strong immunity and avoid the disease.
Atypical shapes
All of the above is true for typical forms of chickenpox. But there are also atypical ones, which are much more difficult. Often they are fatal.
The easiest atypical form is the rudimentary one. With it, the rashes do not reach their full size, are scarce, have the appearance of barely noticeable bubbles.
People suffering from rare diseases of the circulatory system may experience a hemorrhagic form. During the course of the disease, the blisters themselves are filled with bloody contents, and hemorrhages on the skin and mucous membranes can be observed. There may be bleeding from the gums, nose. When the rash dries up, black crusts appear that sit deep in the skin andoften ulcerate.
A "bullous" form of the disease is possible, when, along with the usual vesicles, large flabby blisters with thin walls form on the skin. When bursting, they can form weeping, poorly healing wounds.
In the gangrenous form, necrotic changes in the skin are observed, it is characterized by severe intoxication of the body and high mortality. Fortunately, it occurs infrequently, and, as a rule, in people whose immunity is severely weakened.
The generalized form is characterized by damage to internal organs and is extremely difficult, often fatal.
All the forms described above are extremely rare, and develop against the background of other serious diseases.
Complications
As we said above, chickenpox in adults is more severe than in children, and the risk of complications is much higher. Among them are pneumonia, encephalitis, arthritis, loss or deterioration of vision.
When pneumonia, as a rule, the temperature rises sharply, there is shortness of breath, chest pain. Possible cough with bloody discharge. All this falls on the peak of rashes on the body.
Encephalitis is characterized by deterioration of the general condition, nausea, headache. Symptoms usually begin between days 5-15 of the disease.
Other complications are extremely rare. To avoid them, you need to see a doctor, follow his instructions and monitor your condition.
Summing up
So we figured out how muchthe temperature is kept with chickenpox in a child, and how much in an adult. We have become aware of the ways of infection, the symptoms and complications of chickenpox. Let's briefly summarize. In children, chickenpox proceeds quite easily, the temperature lasts about 5 days, mild cases are possible without it at all. In adults, the disease is much worse. Often there is a high temperature with chickenpox, poor he alth. The disease is often accompanied by complications. Treatment should be determined by a physician and includes antiviral and antipyretic drugs, if necessary, and agents to prevent secondary infection.
Be he althy!
