Chickenpox is a very common childhood illness that many parents experience. Infection occurs by airborne droplets, and when infected, characteristic rashes appear on the child's body, by which you can independently diagnose the disease. Despite the fact that the disease does not pose a particular danger to he alth and life, and the kids tolerate it very easily, nevertheless, therapy should be started as soon as possible. Let's look at how chickenpox disease occurs in children, what clinical manifestations it is accompanied by. And also consider the main methods of treatment with which you can cure a child at home.
General information
The causative agent of chickenpox in children (the onset of the disease, symptoms and photos will be described and presented below) is Varicella zoster. For life, the virus needscells of a living organism, and in the external environment it quickly dies. Especially detrimental to it is an excessively dry environment and ultraviolet.
Routes of infection
Let's dwell on this aspect in more detail. According to doctors, it is impossible not to notice the onset of chickenpox in children. Symptoms can be different, but the first thing a child has is red spots on the skin. As mentioned above, the causative agent of the disease is transmitted through the air when sneezing, coughing and during communication. In medical practice, there have been cases of contact-household infection, but this is more an exception than a possibility. The main risk group are children of preschool and school age. Newborns have developed good immunity to the virus, as they are protected by the mother's antibodies.
There is a possibility of infection during early pregnancy, but the total share is only 0.4% of such cases. In the second and third trimester, transmission of the virus from mother to fetus is completely excluded. It is worth noting that this disease is very dangerous in the first weeks of gestation, as it can lead to the development of congenital pathologies and involuntary termination of pregnancy. Therefore, it is very important that expectant mothers take their he alth seriously and, if they find any type of herpes, immediately go to the hospital.
Special vigilance should be exercised immediately before childbirth. When the disease occurs in the mother during this period, there is a high risk of developing congenital chickenpox disease in children. This form is dangerous because the child will not have immunity to the pathogen, so he can get sick throughout his life, regardless of age. As for children who have been ill, they easily tolerate chickenpox and recover quickly. At the same time, they develop immunity, so the likelihood of repeated relapses is reduced to zero. The only complication is the risk of developing shingles. As a rule, such a pathology makes itself felt as a result of the following factors:
- hematological diseases;
- constant stress;
- emotional instability;
- failure in the functioning of the immune system;
- cancerous tumors.
But in the vast majority of cases, chickenpox disease in children (photos of the symptoms are also presented in the article) passes normally and without any consequences, so there should be no particular cause for concern.
Primary signs of disease
What should I pay attention to first of all? Clinical manifestations are caused by general intoxication of the body. Infection of people with chickenpox occurs gradually. First, the pathogen enters the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, after which it enters the circulatory system, and then it begins to actively secrete its waste products, which provoke the first symptoms of chickenpox in children. As has been repeatedly mentioned earlier, in a sick child, red spots begin to appear on the skin, which eventually become covered with a crust. This andthere are primary symptoms that allow to diagnose the disease. High temperature, deterioration of he alth and general condition of the body is not observed. In the case of adults, things are a little more complicated. They tolerate chickenpox much worse and, in addition to visual signs, may experience nausea and vomiting.
Secondary signs of disease
So what are they? As the disease progresses, the clinical picture may worsen. Primary signs are replaced by more characteristic and pronounced symptoms of the disease in children. These include the following:
- loss of appetite;
- increased irritability;
- hyperthermia;
- sleep disorder.
In addition, a red rash appears all over the body, resembling insect bites. In some cases, it can even affect the eyeballs and the mucous membrane of the oral cavity. If no measures are taken, then after a certain period of time, severely itchy sores form on the epidermis. If you look at the photo of chickenpox disease in children, you will see that at first the formations on the skin have a smooth transparent surface, but then they burst and become covered with a crust. The main thing is to prevent the onset of suppuration, since in this case the child's well-being can noticeably worsen. With timely treatment, the disease completely disappears in a week, and the appearance of the baby returns to normal.
Disease classification
There are sever altypes of pathology. According to profiled experts, in children, the course of chickenpox disease can take one of three forms:
- Typical. Depending on the condition of the patient and the degree of leakage, it is divided into mild, moderate and severe stages. In each case, children have a high body temperature and general intoxication of the body.
- Antitypical. This form is characterized by necrotic lesions of the skin and soft tissues, as well as small hemorrhages. Rashes are most often local, but can also be localized globally.
- Gangrenous. In place of red dots, deep ulcers form, which are very painful and itchy. In this case, it is better not to self-medicate, but immediately go to the hospital.
It is worth noting that depending on the form of chickenpox disease in children, the symptoms and treatment will differ. To select the most optimal therapy program and reduce the intensity of clinical manifestations, a comprehensive examination and a course of medication are required.
Incubation period
It is impossible to say exactly how long the disease will make itself felt. Each case is unique and depends on many factors. According to statistics, the average incubation period for chickenpox in children lasts from one to three weeks. But here it all depends on the state of the immune system and the protective functions of the body. During this time, the patient does not pose any threat to others and is not a carrier of the virus. Quarantine is required whenpathogen in his body will reach a certain level. After that, the primary phase begins, and after a few days, a characteristic rash begins to appear on the baby's body.
When to sound the alarm
This aspect should be given special attention. At the first stages of the course of the disease, there is no particular cause for concern, since this virus does not pose any danger to human he alth and life, and also does not cause side complications. The onset of chickenpox in children is always the same, but in some cases, its course may be uncharacteristic. The following factors can be a significant reason for making an appointment with a doctor:
- clinical manifestations are intense and last longer than 14 days;
- rashes on the surface of the eyeball;
- spots accompanied by unbearable itching;
- too high temperature, which does not subside for more than 2 days.
If the above symptoms are also accompanied by migraines, continuous vomiting, sleep disturbance and clouding of consciousness, then this may indicate encephalitis or inflammation of the lining of the brain. These diseases are very serious, so the child needs immediate professional medical attention. In addition, chickenpox disease in children can cause the development of pneumonia. If you notice a strong cough in your child, and also that it is difficult for him to breathe, then it is better not to postpone going to the hospital, because pneumonia in some cases can be fatal.
Basic Therapies
Let's take a closer look at them. Treatment of chickenpox disease in children should take place in a hospital, since all activities carried out at home are aimed at reducing the intensity of clinical manifestations, and not at fighting the virus. If the disease is mild, then doctors prescribe a course of drug therapy and send the patient home. But with severe intoxication of the body, therapy should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor, so a hospital is necessary.
It is worth noting that to date, there is no specialized treatment for chickenpox. As a rule, the disease lasts one and a half weeks, after which the immune system manages to cope with it on its own. In this case, the child should be ensured complete rest and ensure that he drinks as much liquid as possible daily. The following medications may be prescribed to improve overall well-being:
- antipyretic - "Paracetamol" or "Acetaminophen";
- antihistamines - "Tavergil" or "Erius";
- antiviral - Vidarabine or Acyclovir.
In addition to drug therapy, it is recommended to take certain measures to care for the skin. The following are considered the most effective at the very beginning of chickenpox disease in children:
- healing baths based on oatmeal;
- rubbing the affected areas of the epidermis with diluted alcohol or vinegar;
- leather processingglycerin.
Also today, many qualified specialists recommend using Calamine Lotion. It was developed specifically for the treatment of chicken pox. Due to the unique chemical formula and composition, the product perfectly relieves itching, and also activates the regenerative processes in the human body, as a result of which the skin is restored much faster.
If chickenpox disease manifests itself in preschool children, then so that they do not comb the rash, they should cut their nails and put on mittens at night. Also, to speed up the recovery time, babies need to be bathed several times a day in warm water, to which a little baking soda is added. It has a detrimental effect on the causative agent of the disease and significantly increases the effectiveness of antiviral drugs.
To reduce the likelihood of chickenpox developing into the middle and difficult stages, as well as to prevent intoxication, vaccinations are carried out with drugs such as Okavax and Varilrix. The drugs are administered intravenously for three days from the moment of the alleged infection. However, there are opponents of the use of these medicines, since their effects on the body and the possible consequences are not fully understood.
What to do when ulcers form
So what do you need to know about this? The timing of chickenpox disease in children can be different. The duration of therapy depends not only on how quickly treatment was started and which drugswere used, but also on the state of immunity, as well as on the form and stage of the course of the disease. Very often, itchy ulcers appear at the site of the rash in patients. To prevent the formation of abscesses and infection, they should be treated with antiseptics. For example, a solution of potassium permanganate and ordinary brilliant green are considered good. They cauterize and disinfect bursting bubbles.
However, it is undesirable to start treating sores with brilliant green on your own without first consulting a pediatrician. The thing is that they are not always associated with chickenpox. There are a number of diseases that have similar symptoms, which will be much more difficult to diagnose with filled bubbles. Therefore, before starting treatment, it is necessary to make an accurate diagnosis.
Foreign hospitals have long abandoned the use of brilliant green. You can also assess the stage of the course of the disease by the appearance of the rash. You can see for yourself if you look at the photo of chickenpox in children. At the beginning of the disease, the vesicles are fresh, and as soon as they begin to dry out, it is possible to diagnose the final stage, after which complete recovery occurs. Instead of brilliant green, it is better to use "Fukortsin". It is a modern antiseptic that kills pathogenic microflora and viruses, dries up wounds and accelerates the regeneration of soft tissues. But here you need to be very careful, since the choice of a particular medication depends on the intensity and severity of the symptoms. Therefore, you should first make an appointment with the doctor and undergo an examination, and only after thatstart treatment.
A few words about diet
Chickenpox disease in children is accompanied by lack of appetite. Many parents begin to force their child to eat, which is not worth doing. The baby does not want to eat because of intoxication of the body. As soon as it passes, the appetite will return to the patient. Throughout the treatment, the diet of children should consist of simple and easily digestible dishes. To support the immune system and replenish the supply of vitamins and minerals, a mandatory component of daily nutrition is fresh fruits and vegetables. You also need to give dishes of oatmeal, pearl barley and rice. These cultures have an enveloping effect that has a positive effect on healing.
Pumpkin, carrot and celery juice is good for increasing the protective functions of the body. And to restore the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, you need to give the child fermented milk products. With chickenpox, drinking regimen is of no small importance. However, it is better to replace ordinary water with herbal teas and cranberry juice. Drinking plenty of water helps to eliminate toxins from the body, so intoxication will pass faster.
Prevention measures
What are they and what is their speci alty? To prevent infection of other children, the sick child should be quarantined. Its duration can be from 10 to 20 days, depending on the severity of the course of the disease. In addition, at the end of the main program of therapy, it is recommended to drink anti-windimmunoglobulin. As for vaccination, it is undesirable to do it. The thing is that it is very difficult to predict the consequences that the introduction of a weakened virus into the body will lead to. Such measures can lead to very serious consequences, getting rid of which is much more difficult than defeating the chickenpox virus.
Possible Complications
This aspect should be read first. If the baby had chickenpox once, then in most cases the disease does not leave any serious complications. However, the same cannot be said about re-infection. It can cause the following:
- purulent inflammation of soft tissues;
- phlegmon;
- sepsis;
- pneumonia;
- laryngitis;
- tracheitis;
- hepatitis;
- inflammatory joint disease;
- myocarditis;
- kidney inflammation;
- keratitis;
- encephalitis;
- meningitis;
- trembling of upper limbs;
- violation of the functioning of the vestibular apparatus;
- mental disorders;
- partial or complete loss of vision.
According to medical statistics, in children, chickenpox in most cases passes normally, after which they develop immunity to the causative agent of the disease. Complications most often develop in adults who did not have this disease in childhood.
What parents write about the disease in their reviews
Many adults are interested in the question of how long the disease lastschickenpox in children and how dangerous it is. According to mothers and fathers whose child has had an illness, chickenpox is easily tolerated and passes quickly. On average, it takes 10 to 14 days to fully recover, but the symptoms subside already on the eighth day after infection. However, despite this, parents in the reviews advise not to risk the he alth of their child, and at the first clinical manifestations, immediately go to the hospital. Only a specialized specialist can make an accurate diagnosis and choose the right therapy.
