Chickenpox is an acute systemic disease that occurs mainly in children. It begins with the appearance of moderate general symptoms, which turns into rashes on the skin, quickly spreading throughout the body.
Chickenpox is treated with antiviral drugs as well as local remedies. Vaccination is used as a preventive measure.
What is the disease
Chickenpox is an infectious disease of a viral nature. Its distinguishing feature is the appearance of rashes on the skin in the form of very small bubbles.
After a previous illness, immunity is formed. It is worth noting that this virus is able to infect many cells of the skin and mucous membranes. Often the disease proceeds in a fairly mild form. Severe damage can be observed in people with reduced immunity, as well as predisposed to allergic reactions.
You need to be especially careful during pregnancy, as the virus very easily crosses the placenta and enters the bloodfetus. It poses the greatest danger during pregnancy for up to 20 weeks.
How can you get infected
Chickenpox virus is very volatile, but in the external environment it can live no more than an hour. The source of infection is a sick person. However, it is worth noting that the virus does not have sufficient resistance, which is why it cannot be transmitted through objects.
Although chickenpox and herpes type 1 are different, a child can get chickenpox if they come into contact with a person who has a cold on their lips. In this case, the disease is much more difficult.
When the patient is not contagious
A person becomes contagious when he does not even know about the presence of chickenpox, about 2-3 days before the onset of characteristic rashes. A rash may form a few days after infection. The patient ceases to be contagious when a new rash does not appear, and the old one becomes covered with a crust and gradually disappears.
When the blisters heal a little, the virus is no longer being shed. The duration of quarantine is 2-3 weeks from the moment the rash appears.
What are the forms
Chickenpox treatment is selected strictly individually. It can be of several types and differs in the course of the course; typical and atypical ones can be distinguished. The latter, in turn, are divided into:
- hemorrhagic;
- rudimentary;
- generalized;
- gangrenous.
Typical smallpox is a disease withthe presence of pronounced rashes. Severe illness is very rare, often seen in children with poor immune systems and adults, with persistent fever and signs such as:
- headache;
- loss of consciousness;
- vomit;
- convulsions.
Rashes are quite abundant, large, and there may also be elements with a certain depression in the center. The rudimentary form is most often observed in children who received plasma during the incubation period. The rash is not too pronounced, with single small formations. General he alth is quite satisfactory.
Hemorrhagic form occurs in debilitated children suffering from diathesis. There are subcutaneous hemorrhages. all this can lead to the death of the patient.
Sometimes there is a gangrenous form of the disease. It develops in weakened children, when, with insufficiently good care, it becomes possible to attach an infection. Initially, the bubbles acquire a hemorrhagic character, and then the inflammatory process joins. After the crusts fall off, deep ulcers with torn edges form. The patient's state of he alth is quite severe, and the course of the disease is long.
The generalized form occurs mainly in newborns, and sometimes in adults with immunodeficiency. It is characterized by the presence of intoxication.
Causes of occurrence
Before determining how chickenpox is treated, you need to know exactly the reasons that provoked the occurrence of thisdiseases.
It is believed that the greatest susceptibility to chickenpox in children 1-5 years. When infected at school age, the disease is very acute, in a complicated form. Adults are also susceptible to this disease, and if they did not have it in childhood, then they endure chickenpox very hard.
General symptoms
Symptoms and treatment of chickenpox largely depend on the characteristics of the course of the disease, as well as its form. This infection starts with mild malaise and mild fever. After a few days, the first rashes form, which are small spots of red color. The rash appears on any part of the body.
Then, these spots gradually thicken, fill with liquid, and small bubbles form. A person feels a fairly strong itching of the skin. The fluid contained in these blisters is highly contagious as it contains many live viruses.
Usually there are several stages of the formation of a rash on the patient's body. They occur within 7-10 days with a break of 1-2 days. Each such stage of precipitation is accompanied by a periodic rise and a sharp decrease in temperature. During this period, a person feels weakness, irritability, sleep and appetite are disturbed. As the bubbles dry, a crust forms and the temperature returns to normal.
There are times when rashes are completely absent. The disease is characterized by the fact that there is intoxication of the body and severe pain. Atin the course of the eye and ear forms of chickenpox, the rash is localized in the area of the trigeminal nerve. There may be blisters on the nose, mucous eyes and lips.
The recovery period occurs approximately 10 days after the onset of the disease. At the same time, the temperature and general well-being are normalized, and after 1-2 weeks the crusts disappear. Symptoms and treatment of chickenpox in an adult are more difficult than in a child, since the disease is mostly severe.
The course of the disease in children
Chickenpox symptoms and treatment in children can vary greatly, as the child's immune system and the severity of the disease are important. From the moment the first rashes appear on the body, their number can increase simply instantly or vice versa, slowly, it all depends on the state of immunity. Each element of the rash quickly turns from a small pink dot into a rounded spot protruding above the skin, with a thickening inside and liquid on the outside.
After a certain time, the bubble bursts on its own and becomes covered with a crust, which disappears and leaves no marks on the skin. At the same time, a pink dense spot remains and disappears for another 2 weeks. If pimples appear again, then they are no longer so large, since the child has begun to develop immunity. When the first symptoms of chickenpox appear in children, treatment should be started immediately so that a good result can be achieved.
During this period, lymph nodes may increase, especially on the neck and behind the ears. They may remain inflamed for several days after a completely completecure of the disease. Most skin rashes go away on their own, leaving absolutely no traces. However, if you comb them, you can bring an infection, resulting in the formation of pustules. In this case, lifelong scars remain, outwardly similar to smallpox. Recovery occurs no earlier than 10 days after the formation of the very first rash.
The severity of the course of the disease largely depends on the age of the child. Often, the disease in children aged 1-7 years proceeds quite easily and does not provoke the occurrence of complications, so special therapy is not required. Treatment of chickenpox in children in this case is reduced to monitoring the rash. Treatment of the rash with brilliant green can be prescribed, since this agent has a drying effect and prevents microbes from penetrating the wound. In addition, it is possible to carry out treatment with the preparation "Castellani". In many countries, Calamine lotion is used, which has an antiseptic effect, reduces the severity of itching, facilitating the course of the disease.
Treatment of chickenpox in children at home involves following a special diet, which includes the consumption of dairy products, fresh vegetables and fruits. It is important to follow all the requirements and rules of personal hygiene. To reduce the severity of itching, the doctor may prescribe antihistamines. Reduce the temperature only if it is above 38 degrees.
Treatment of chickenpox in adolescents is more complex, as various complications can occur. ATsome cases may require hospital stay and constant medical supervision.
Treatment of chickenpox in children under one year old is mainly carried out in the hospital, as this condition can be very dangerous for the baby. It is recommended to exclude bathing the child until the rash is covered with dense crusts. You also need to give the baby an antipyretic according to the instructions, but you should not exceed the dosage. It is important to treat the skin 2 times a day with special products that help dry the rash.
Features of rashes with chickenpox
To define the standard of care for chickenpox, you need to know what the rash is. Sometimes a doctor may mistakenly diagnose chickenpox in atopic dermatitis. To exclude the presence of allergies, you must first exclude various allergens from the diet. With allergies, the rash should no longer appear, and this will not affect chickenpox at all.
In addition, with atopic dermatitis, the rash becomes larger each time, and after the crust falls off, it does not disappear, but, on the contrary, increases, cracks or gets wet. With chickenpox, there will be no rashes on the feet and palms.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis and treatment of chickenpox in the clinic are carried out very carefully so that you can exclude the presence of other diseases and achieve a quick recovery without complications. Diagnostic measures do not present any difficulties at all. It is possible to determine the presence of the diseasebased on clinical data, taking into account the anamnesis.
Chickenpox may be suspected in patients with characteristic rashes. In some cases, apply:
- virological;
- biological;
- serological research methods.
Viruscopic diagnostics consists in staining the liquid from the vesicles using the silver method, which allows you to determine the presence of viruses. From serological methods, ELISA, RSK are used. The main method of diagnosis is PCR. In addition, certain antibodies to the chickenpox virus can be detected.
In the event of complications associated with significant damage to the nervous system, an additional consultation with a neurologist is required. It may also be necessary to conduct a diagnosis by a surgeon with a deep lesion of the skin.
Treatment of disease
Treatment of chickenpox is carried out mainly at home, the only exception is a severe form of the disease. To ease the patient's well-being, he is prescribed antipyretic drugs, the bubbles are lubricated with antiseptic agents, and antihistamines are used for itching.
Chickenpox in immunocompromised adults or on chemotherapy with glucocorticoids is treated in a hospital setting, as there is a high chance of severe complications. In moderate cases, only symptomatic therapy is required. Treatment of chickenpox in adults in this case is aimed at reducing itching, as well as preventing the formationsecondary infection. Special gauze compresses, anti-allergic drugs, as well as lotions based on oat infusion can be very useful.
To prevent the addition of a bacterial infection, you need to take a regular shower or bath, strictly keep bedding clean. Antiseptic drugs for the treatment of chickenpox are prescribed only if there is an infection. Antivirals help reduce the duration and severity of symptoms. In this case, it is recommended to use Acyclovir, Famciclovir, Valaciclovir.
In case of severe chickenpox, treatment in the clinic is carried out under the constant supervision of the attending doctor. Physical therapy may be added. Dispensary observation is shown throughout the month. You need to limit physical activity, eat a balanced diet and avoid hypothermia.
Prevention measures
Treatment and prevention of chickenpox must be comprehensive. A specific preventive measure is the use of the Varilrix and Okavax vaccines. Vaccination is indicated for children over 1 year of age in the absence of contraindications.
Possible Complications
It is very important to know what the complications, symptoms, treatment and prevention of chickenpox can be in order to achieve a good result and eliminate the occurrence of unpleasant consequences. Complications include the addition of bacterialinfection, which can lead to toxic shock. A severe form of the disease can be complicated by pneumonia, which is especially common in newborns. Arthritis, myocarditis, hepatitis may occur.
