How does chickenpox manifest itself in a child? Most parents of young children look for answers to this question mainly on the Internet. Few of the kids manage to avoid this disease. Parents treat this disease differently. Some of them are afraid. And some are glad that their child was infected with it in childhood. Because the older the child, the worse he tolerates this disease.
This virus is called varicella zoster. It was opened in 1958. This virus can infect a person at any age.
The article will consider how chickenpox manifests itself in children, photos will also be posted. They will help to more accurately diagnose the disease and distinguish it from other skin diseases.
Chickenpox - what is it
The name of the disease shows that the virus lives in the air and can land anywhere.
How does chickenpox manifest itself in a child? The answer to this question will be discussed in the next section of the article. It should be noted that chicken pox is a contagious disease. It is caused by the herpes virus. If a person gets sickchickenpox, then the source of the disease will settle in his body forever.
About two million people get chickenpox every year. Most are children under 10 years of age. As a rule, they pick up this infection in kindergarten. If there is a person in any institution who has chickenpox, then the probability of infecting the rest is very high. Usually in kindergartens quarantine is introduced in one group or another.
How chickenpox manifests itself in children
The main "culprit" of infection is the mucus from the nasopharynx, not the bubbles.
How long does chickenpox appear in children? Approximately two or three weeks after infection. Therefore, during this amount of time, the child transmits this virus to other children before the appearance of rashes on the skin. He first settles in the air during the game or conversation. After the virus enters the mucous membrane of the mouth or nose. Then it spreads throughout the human body with a current of lymph.
The virus may not manifest itself in any way for three weeks. This period is called the incubation period. The virus can spread at a distance of about 18 meters. Therefore, they become infected even through ventilation holes.
An adult with shingles can also be the source of the virus. The causative agents of this disease and chickenpox are the same.
What are the stages of the course of the disease
So, let's look at how chickenpox manifests itself in children. This disease occurs in several stages.
How does chickenpox manifest itself in children? Symptoms of eachperiod will be described below.
The first one is called incubation. Its duration is from 7 days to three weeks. During this period, the accumulation and reproduction of the virus occurs.
The second stage is referred to as prodromal. It lasts about 24 hours. In young children, it may not be present at all. During this period, the disease manifests itself as a common cold.
There is a slight increase in body temperature, weakness and headaches, as well as a sore throat. Some people develop a small amount of red spots.
Rash falls on the third period. Body temperature can reach 39 degrees. The higher this indicator in a child, the more rashes will be. With a mild form of the disease, there is a slight body temperature. And the disease, as a rule, is evidenced only by a rash.
As manifested in children, the symptoms of each period of this disease have been described above. The following is a detailed description of the different forms of the disease. From these sections of the article it will be possible to find out how chickenpox manifests itself in children in one case or another.
About mild illness
This type of disease is most common in children under 10 years of age. Adults, on the other hand, endure chickenpox much harder.
The main symptom of this form of the disease is a slight malaise. The patient is lethargic and tired, and has a mild headache.
In addition, with a mild form of the disease, the body temperature practically does not rise. For some, it can reach 37.4degrees.
Slight rash appears on the skin. Their number is small, most often they cause a slight itch.
With this type of disease, the child does not develop strong immunity, therefore, most likely, he will suffer this disease again. The specialist warns parents about this.
What are the features of the disease in infants
Chickenpox in newborns is very rare, because it receives antibodies to the disease from the mother during fetal development. Things are somewhat different with those girls who did not have chickenpox before pregnancy. Accordingly, they do not have antibodies. Therefore, the risk of infection of the baby in this case is high.
How does chickenpox manifest itself in children? The first signs of the disease should alert the mother.
Usually the baby becomes lethargic and restless, eats very little. The body temperature also rises. Bubbles appear on the body of the baby. They, in turn, heal very slowly. The disease itself lasts about two weeks.
Chickenpox is dangerous for babies because of intoxication. Therefore, usually such children are hospitalized in an infectious diseases hospital.
What does chickenpox look like in children
In order to determine that this is exactly the disease, you need to know the signs.
So, how does chickenpox manifest itself in children? Symptoms, photos will be presented below.
At first, red spots appear on the baby's skin, resembling insect bites. Then they quickly turn into bubbles that are filled withtransparent liquid. After their content becomes cloudy. Then the bubbles burst. After they dry, a crust forms. Under no circumstances should it be torn off.
On the peculiarities of rashes during illness in children
How does chickenpox manifest itself in children? The first spots of red color look like mosquito bites. They first appear on the body. After the rash spreads to the arms and legs, then to the face.
The appearance of the rash changes rapidly. They fill with liquid, then become cloudy, burst. During this period, there is a very strong itching. After that, a crust forms on them. This was mentioned above. But the process doesn't end there. Then other similar spots appear. And the whole cycle repeats.
The number of bubbles can reach several hundreds or even thousands. They affect the mucous membranes of the mouth, sometimes even covering the palms and soles.
The period of appearance of the rash is three to seven days. Brownish crusts fall off after about seven days. They leave no trace behind. But only for this it is necessary that the child does not comb them. Because they can get infected.
Six days after the formation of the last bubble, the child is considered non-infectious. With it, you can start going out for a walk.
What could be the complications
Chickenpox seems to be a harmless disease, but it is not at all. Complications of the disease can develop in children who have immunodeficiency.
So, the dangerous consequences include a secondary infection. The skin is affected by streptococcus and staphylococcus aureus. Because ofthis develops purulent dermatitis. This ailment is treated only with antibiotics.
Chickenpox virus helps to suppress the protective properties of the body. Because of this, diseases such as pneumonia, myocarditis, laryngitis, otitis, stomatitis develop.
Hemorrhagic chickenpox is a severe and dangerous form of the disease. With this form of the disease, the bubbles are not filled with a clear liquid, but with blood. After there are hemorrhages on the skin and bleeding from the digestive tract. This disease can be fatal.
In chicken pox gangrenous, papules transform into flabby blisters that have symptoms of necrosis. Then large ulcers appear on the body. They get infected. As a result, sepsis begins.
Chickenpox encephalitis is dangerous because inflammation of the brain is possible with this disease. The main symptoms are severe headaches and high body temperature.
Chickenpox can also leave scars and scars. This happens when the child strongly combs the rash and rips off the crusts. Scars are also formed during secondary infection.
What is the treatment for mild to moderate disease
In this case, the hospitalization of the child is not required. As a rule, treatment is based on hygienic skin care and topical therapy.
Bed rest is usually prescribed if the child has a fever. With the latter symptom, antipyretics are prescribed. It is strictly forbidden to take "Aspirin". Hisconsumption may cause liver damage.
It is necessary to carry out antiseptic treatment of vesicles on the body. For this, as a rule, brilliant green or "Fukortsin" is used. These funds dry, disinfect and prevent secondary infection. Antiseptics should be applied with a cotton swab.
Antiseptic treatment of vesicles on the mucous membrane is also carried out. To do this, rinse your mouth and throat with a decoction of chamomile or Furacilin.
How is severe chickenpox treated
If there is a high temperature for a long time and the child is in a serious condition, he is hospitalized in an infectious disease hospital.
With this form of chickenpox, antiviral drugs are prescribed. These include drugs such as Acyclovir and Zovirax. They can be given to children from 2 years of age.
Antibiotics are prescribed in the presence of a secondary bacterial infection and a purulent process. But these medicines do nothing to fight chickenpox because it is a virus.
In some cases, a specialist can prescribe immunomodulators.
Antihistamines are prescribed to relieve severe itching. As a rule, second and third generation drugs are recommended. They do not cause drowsiness and addiction.
About disease prevention
Above, the symptoms and after how many days chickenpox appears in children were considered. And now let's consideris it possible to save your child from this disease at all.
The most reliable way to prevent chickenpox is vaccination. It is optional. It can be done at the request of the parents.
After this vaccination, the child will either suffer from this disease in a mild form, or not get sick at all for about 9 years.
Most parents are of the opinion that it is best for their child to have chickenpox during preschool age. As a rule, at this time the disease proceeds in the most mild form.
But there is an opinion of experts who say that the herpes virus can cause complications in children. And then, in the future, since the parasite remains in the body, a person has a chance to get sick with herpes zoster.
When vaccinated, there is a very small chance of getting sick with the last ailment.
Noticing the first signs of chickenpox in a child, be sure to call the attending physician at home. He will be able to accurately determine the diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment. Make sure that the baby does not scratch the bubbles. Because after that, scars will remain on the body. If all the advice is followed, the ailment will disappear after a certain time and will not remind of itself anymore.
