Symptoms, treatment and prevention of chickenpox
Chickenpox or chicken pox is an acute infectious disease that is widespread and affects children aged 6 months to 10 years. There are exceptions when the disease affects older people. Knowing the symptoms of the beginning of chickenpox in children will help to take quick medical measures, shorten the recovery period and prevent possible complications.
Paths of transmission of infection
The disease is caused by the herpes virus, is contagious and is transmitted by airborne droplets or by contact with a sick person. When a sick child is detected in a preschool or school institution, a quarantine may be declared - according to the windmill in the kindergarten, for example, it lasts for 3 weeks. The problem is that the patient poses a danger of infection to the environment even before the appearance of obvious signs of the disease. This factor provokes epidemic outbreaks in institutions, it is impossible to stop them, as well as to prevent them.
How long is the incubation period of chicken pox? This period can be 7-21 days, but its symptoms never appear earlier than a week and later than three weeks from the moment of infection. The danger to the environment from a sick person disappears after 7-10 days from the appearance of the first signs.
Symptoms of chickenpox in children
How quickly do signs of chickenpox appear in a child after contact with a sick person? This can happen during the entire incubation period of the disease: 1 - 3 weeks. The beginning is always sharp:
- increase in body temperature to critical values;
- severe weakness, constant drowsiness;
- headaches that appear with a certain periodicity and do not disappear thanks to painkillers.
The initial stage of chickenpox looks the same in children and adults, but in the latter it proceeds acutely - aggressive hyperthermia, a general state of semi-unconsciousness. The main symptom of the disease is a characteristic rash - small pimples with liquid content, localized mainly on the head and trunk. Most often, the face and hairy part of the head, chest and décolletage are affected, less often - the buttocks, limbs and perineum. The rash is distinguished by the strongest itching, which is very difficult to tolerate - even if the patient somehow restrains his urges during the day, at night he starts combing the skin uncontrollably.
The rash appears and spreads very quickly - first a red spot with a small swelling is formed, then blisters form in this place, which transform into sores, become covered with a crust and disappear. The wave-like course of the infection is noted, so rashes may periodically appear and disappear.
Treatment and prevention of chickenpox
Many questions are asked about methods of treatment for chicken pox:
- What to treat the skin against itching and rash with chickenpox? A weak solution of "Zelenka", fucorcin or Castellani liquid. This is done point by point, greasing each bubble, but if the rash is too abundant and merged, then you can smear it continuously. This tactic prevents the transformation of rashes into ulcers with crusts, makes itching less severe.
- Is it necessary to give the child antihistamines? This is allowed - ½ tablet of Suprastin or Diazolin will reduce the intensity of itching and inflammation of the bubbles. Regarding specific appointments, it is better to consult a pediatrician.
- What to smear the rash in the mouth with chickenpox? Sometimes, especially in younger children, the main sign of chicken pox is present on the mucous membrane of the oral cavity. Eruptions of this localization are very disturbing to the patient, he cannot eat, drink liquids and even has difficulty talking. Doctors recommend lubricating bubbles with sea buckthorn oil, chlorophyllipt or Calgel gel, which will help relieve pain and ease the general condition.
- Is it necessary to lower the temperature with medicines? This is done only if hyperthermia is very disturbing and worsens the patient's condition. Standard antipyretics will come in handy - Paracetamol, Nurofen.
- Is it possible to wash and walk outside in the wind? You can take a shower or bath only after all the bubbles and crusts have disappeared, or when they have dried. The effect of water on the bubbles leads to their flaking, and the crusts soften and come off, leaving behind scars. As for walking outside, it is possible only 10 days after the onset of rashes, or you should choose deserted places.
- Is it possible to get chickenpox a second time? This happens extremely rarely, because the immune system produces antibodies immediately after the transfer of the infection. But there are exceptions - secondary chickenpox is difficult, complications are possible.
- If a pregnant woman gets chickenpox, what to do? Such a situation requires constant monitoring by doctors - the woman is placed in the infectious department, her condition is monitored, and an ultrasound of the fetus is performed to detect abnormalities in its development. Complications of chickenpox are dangerous during pregnancy, because the causative agent of the disease is the herpes virus, which provokes a violation of the intrauterine development of the future baby. In some cases, artificial termination of pregnancy is performed for medical reasons.
- Is it possible to vaccinate against chicken pox in childhood? Such a vaccine exists and is given at the age of one year. Doctors believe that it is better to get this infection in childhood - it is easily tolerated, and scars on the face and other consequences of chickenpox go away on their own without additional medical intervention.
Paediatricians and infectious disease specialists deal with the treatment and prevention of chickenpox. It is these doctors who have complete information about the disease, so they will competently advise each patient.
How to treat recurrent chickenpox in an adult, get rid of itching and prevent the formation of scars at the site of rashes - you can learn about this on our website Dobrobut.com.
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