Chickenpox (chickenpox) is an infectious disease. It is caused by the herpes virus. Children and adolescents under 12 years old are mostly susceptible to chickenpox, but in some cases adults (up to 45 years old) also get sick with it. Is it possible to have chickenpox in a mild form?
Pathogen
The causative agent of chickenpox is the herpes virus. It cannot stay in the environment for a long time. The virus dies within 10 minutes under the influence of the sun, high temperatures and ultraviolet rays.
It is easily transmitted from person to person, because it has the ability to quickly move in space. In some cases, children develop mild chickenpox, the symptoms of which will be discussed below.
In children or people who have not had it before, the probability of infection is 100%. After an illness, a person develops strong immunity, and the virus in an inactive state remains in the body for life. In diseases that cause a weakened immune system, and under stress, an adult may develop shingles.
Ways of contracting chickenpox
Chickenpox in mild form (photo below) is quite common in children.
Getting under the influence of chickenpox viruses is easy. The main source of danger is a sick person. The microorganism has the ability to move in the air over different distances in a short period of time. The sources of the spread of the disease are:
- sick person;
- closed space;
- dry air.
Infection is carried out indoors by airborne droplets. The patient secretes viruses in saliva. It usually spreads germs through coughs and sneezes.
This is how chickenpox is transmitted in kindergartens, schools and other crowded places. An epidemic does not occur in institutions, because the majority of adults have been ill with this disease at an early age. After all, even in childhood they encountered chickenpox, and a strong immunity developed in the body. Most often, infection occurs in autumn, winter and early spring.
In some cases, symptoms of chickenpox in a mild form in adults are observed.
In newborns up to 6 months of age, there are antibodies in the blood that were passed on to him by his mother, who previously had this disease. After recovery, 97% of the population has strong immunity to chickenpox.
Incubation period of disease
Chickenpox has a long incubation period, which ranges from 7 to 21 days. After this period, symptomsfor this disease. How does mild chickenpox go?
The initial period is similar for all forms of the disease. Once in the body, the virus initially strengthens on the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract and begins its adaptation, as well as reproduction in the body. After accumulation, it penetrates into the blood of the patient.
When a certain concentration of viruses occurs in it, the response of the immune system begins to appear in the form of a reaction: high fever, weakness and headache. This condition can be observed within 1-2 days and is called the prodromal period. After it, rashes characteristic of chickenpox begin to appear on the skin.
Chickenpox symptoms
What are the symptoms of mild chickenpox? After the latent period of the disease, its sharp and rapid development begins. First appears:
- general weakness;
- raising the temperature to 38-39 degrees;
- lack of appetite;
- headache.
At the same time as these symptoms, a rash appears. In some cases, there is an increase in lymph nodes.
Chickenpox rashes initially appear as red spots measuring 2.5 mm in size. After a while, they fill with a yellowish liquid, itch and deliver unpleasant moments to children.
After two days, the bubbles with liquid begin to burst, then they dry up, and a crust forms on them. At the site of the rash, pigmentation is formed, which after a whiledisappears. If you comb the wound, then a small scar may appear in its place.
Rash can occur not only on the body, but also on the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and external genitalia. Rashes are found on the scalp, back, lower and upper limbs, abdomen.
New pimples appear on the body every 2 days, after a while, several types of them can be seen on the patient's body: nodules, vesicles and crusts. The number of rashes for the entire period can vary from 200 to 300 pieces.
Chickenpox shapes
The disease according to the nature of the course is:
- Easy. How does a mild form of chickenpox proceed? In this case, the patient's condition is assessed as satisfactory, the temperature is within the normal range or rises to 38 degrees. The rash lasts about 4 days, and the number of them is negligible.
- Average. Headache, weakness, high temperature (above 38 degrees), rashes in large quantities for about 5 days.
- Heavy. Nausea, vomiting, fever above 40 degrees, profuse rash for 9 days.
Chickenpox is mainly manifested in children in a mild form, a photo of the rash can be seen in the article.
This is due to the absence of diseases in babies that weaken the immune system. When a child does not have pathologies of a chronic nature, he eats a balanced diet, then chickenpox will pass easily. The baby will feel some irritation due to the appearance of a rash on the skin. You can reduce the impact of this symptom if you follow all the recommendations.doctor.
Features of chickenpox in mild form
Mild disease occurs in children under 7 years of age. Breastfed babies rarely get chickenpox because they have antibodies to the disease (if the mother has had it herself).
With a mild form, the child feels as usual: cheerful and active. However, it must be protected from contact with other children, as chickenpox is infectious.
What does chickenpox look like in mild form? Signs of a mild form are: weakness, dizziness, a single rash that can occur both on the body and on the mucous membranes. If the child does not comb them, then they will dry out on the 2-3rd day. If an infection gets into the wounds, then the healing process can take from 14 to 21 days. Then the scabs will fall off and small scars will remain on the skin.
Symptoms of the disease in adults
In adults, a mild form of chickenpox (photo below) is either absent or extremely rare. This is due to the fact that they have chronic diseases or bad habits. Chickenpox usually affects a weak spot in the body - the organ that is affected.
In this case, you may experience:
- laryngitis, bronchitis;
- heart failure;
- myositis, arthritis;
- nephritis, hepatitis.
Such complications occur not only in children and adolescents, but also in immunocompromised newborns. Babies are affected by the virus6 months of age who are bottle-fed and do not have antibodies to it. In this case, the doctor prescribes a special treatment.
Severe illness is usually associated with a bacterial infection.
Treatment of disease
How is chickenpox in mild form and its treatment? When all the symptoms of the disease have minor signs, then special therapy is not needed. The doctor will not prescribe antiviral drugs, but will only prescribe drugs to reduce itching and prevent an allergic reaction.
In order for the patient's body to fight viruses, the following is necessary:
- light diet including dairy and vegetable dishes;
- plentiful drink in the form of compotes or fruit drinks;
- walk outdoors if there is no temperature;
- after bathing, lubricate the rash with zinc oxide.
Brilliant Green blemish treatment is not available because it has not been proven effective.
After the discovery of the last pimple, the patient will be considered contagious for another five days.
While walking, the disease cannot be transmitted to he althy people. When the virus enters the open space, it is destroyed within 5-10 minutes. He is afraid of sunlight, high temperatures and heat.
The herpes virus is not transmitted to third parties through toys or household items.
Correct behavior of parents with chickenpox in children
When chickenpox occurs, children need toobserve bed rest. Due to the infectious nature of the disease, the child is isolated from contact with other children.
Be sure to treat the rash sites with drugs prescribed by the doctor. To do this, use a concentrated solution of potassium permanganate or cream "Acyclovir".
When sick, patients should follow the rules of hygiene: change bedding and underwear more often. You can take a shower.
Even with symptoms of chickenpox in a mild form and passing without fever, you must follow the drinking regimen. Drink should be in small sips. After all, toxins are released from the body with urine, which helps the patient recover faster.
The child should be provided with dietary food with the exclusion of foods that can cause an increase in the number of rashes. Meals should predominantly consist of vegetable and dairy dishes.
Complication of disease
With proper treatment and personal hygiene, complications of the disease occur in rare cases. Its most serious course occurs when the rash suppurates, when pathogenic microorganisms enter it. In this case, the wounds are treated with antibacterial ointments.
Complications occur in children:
- with cancer;
- first year of life;
- with pathologies of the immune system.
In such cases, children develop atypical chickenpox with intoxication of the body, with the development of sepsis and damage to the lungs, liver, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract. The child hasviral pneumonia and inflammation of the brain can be diagnosed.
In adults, the disease is complicated by the lack of special attention to it. The danger in such patients is the occurrence of inflammatory processes that affect the internal organs. Sometimes a bacterial infection also joins this process.
Most common complications in adults:
- tracheitis, pneumonia;
- difficulty eating due to mouth rashes;
- encephalitis, meningitis;
- diseases of the heart and blood vessels (myocarditis and thrombophlebitis);
- inflammation of the genital organs in men and women.
Initiate antiviral treatment as early as possible to avoid complications.
Chickenpox Prevention
Vaccination is used to prevent disease in children. It is for babies over 1 year old. The vaccine protects the child's body from the disease for 10 years. Sometimes vaccinated children get sick, but the disease is mild.
The introduction of the vaccine is especially necessary for women who plan to become pregnant in the near future. Emergency prophylaxis can also be carried out if there has been contact with a carrier of the disease. To prevent chickenpox, the vaccine should be given within 48-72 hours afterward.
Chickenpox is a disease that requires a correct and competent approach to treatment, even with its mild form. Only in this case, the patient will have a quick cure and there will be no complications.
