Childhood disease chickenpox. Varicella (chickenpox)

Chickenpox is a disease caused by the activity of a virus herpes simplex Varicella Zoster (type 3 herpes). Occurs in mild, moderate and severe forms. Characteristic symptoms- fever and rash. It is considered a typical childhood infection, although. Doctors say that it is better to get chickenpox in childhood, since at this age the disease is much easier and after recovery, stable, lifelong immunity is developed.

All undertaken therapeutic measures are aimed only at alleviating the patient’s condition and preventing complications. Next, we will consider how chickenpox begins and progresses, what the incubation period is, as well as the first symptoms and methods of treating the disease in children.

What is chickenpox?

Chickenpox in children is an infection that is caused by a certain type of herpes, namely varicella-zoster. More than one and a half million people get chickenpox every year, 90% of whom are children under twelve years of age. Most often, little fidgets “pick up” viral infection in children's institutions - when at least one carrier of VZV appears in acute stage It is extremely difficult to avoid infection.

On average, the incubation period is from 10 to 21 days - this is the time from the moment of contact with the mucous membrane to the first symptoms. The chickenpox virus is characterized by extraordinary volatility, it is carried by air currents and wind (but still does not fly into the window), which is why it is called “chickenpox”. You can become infected from a human carrier not only at arm's length, but also within a radius of 50 meters.

Another interesting fact is that the pathogen can live exclusively in human body . Outside of it, he dies within 5-10 minutes.

Causes

Chickenpox is caused by a virus of the herpes family. The population's susceptibility to this virus is very high, so 70-90% of people manage to contract the disease in childhood or adolescence. As a rule, a child picks up an infection in kindergarten or school. The source of the disease is an infected person in the last 10 days of the incubation period of the virus and the first 5-7 days from the moment the rash appears.

It is believed that chicken pox- this is the only one viral disease, which remains the most common infectious disease among children to this day.

The virus is not adapted to the external environment and dies almost immediately as soon as it leaves the human body. The source of infection will only be the person whose disease is active; it begins two days before the first signs of chickenpox appear in a child.

Infants are also seriously ill and only in very rare cases:

• with intrauterine infection (the mother falls ill in the last week of pregnancy);
• Without breastfeeding and, accordingly, protective antibodies of the mother;
• in severe immunodeficiency conditions (incl. cancer diseases and AIDS).

How does chickenpox begin: the first signs

All parents should know how chickenpox begins in children. This way they can start treatment as quickly as possible and prevent the development of complications.

1. First, the virus enters the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx and respiratory tract, then actively multiplies in the epithelial cells, and this is how the latent period of the disease proceeds. Hidden, initial period The disease is called incubation. This means that the person will look healthy, but the infection is already spreading throughout the body.
2. The onset of chickenpox occurs like a common acute respiratory infection, with typical signs: increased body temperature, weakness, chills, drowsiness, headaches, children become more capricious, lethargic.
3. Then the virus enters the lymph and blood vessels, accumulates there, spreads throughout the body, which causes characteristic features- fever and then rash.
4. Next, a rash forms on the body. Initially, it looks like small, individually scattered red spots of different sizes (see photo of chickenpox below).

As a rule, the first morphological elements on the skin appear in the head area (its scalp), as well as on the back. Subsequently, rashes can be found not only on any part of the skin, but also on the mucous membranes of the mouth or eyes. The skin of the feet and palms is never affected by the pathological process.

Literally a few hours after the first rash appears, the spots turn into small bubbles filled with liquid. Along with the appearance of the blisters, their unbearable itching begins, and the child begins to scratch the rash.

The chickenpox rash does not appear immediately; its elements may appear on the skin within about a week. Thus, children will have skin rashes in three different stages.

When a rash appears, the skin itches and itches, and parents need to ensure that the baby does not scratch the itchy areas. This will help avoid attaching a secondary bacterial infection.

Incubation period

How many days is chickenpox contagious? Within 1-3 weeks, this is how long the incubation period lasts, the chickenpox pathogen does not bother the child and does not manifest itself in any way. Considering the “volatility” of the virus, which easily spreads over a distance of twenty meters, it is possible to become infected even through ventilation openings.

The most contagious disease is considered to be in the active phase, which begins 2 days before the appearance of the first characteristic rash. The disease enters the inactive phase five days after the last blisters appear on the body.

At this time, the virus stops spreading, the rashes dry out and heal, and the child recovers. Treatment of chickenpox must take place under quarantine conditions; the child is isolated from other children for the entire duration of the illness.

During the entire incubation period, a child infected with chickenpox may look absolutely active and healthy. However, even without any external signs disease, he already poses a threat to others.

What does chickenpox look like (photo)

In order not to make a mistake with the diagnosis, not to miss the first appearing symptoms, it is very important to know what it looks like unpleasant disease. In children, chickenpox first appears outwardly as reddish spots on the surface of the skin, which then form small blisters filled with liquid (see photo).

The rashes that occur during chickenpox have the following characteristic features:

• their appearance resembles transparent drops;
• the lower part is surrounded by a scarlet rim, often swollen;
• fresh rashes coexist on the skin with already dried brown crusts.

Skin rashes appear constantly, one wave follows another. The period of appearance of new rashes can last up to 9 days (usually 3-5 days). The child remains contagious for another 5 days after the last rash appears.

For babies under 6 months of age, whose mothers had chickenpox in childhood, the virus, as a rule, does not pose a danger, since antibodies to it, betrayed by the mother through the placenta, still remain in their blood. After suffering from chickenpox 97% of people develop lifelong immunity, That's why reinfection is rare.

Symptoms of chickenpox in children

The period of rash lasts from 4 to 8 days, after which recovery begins. The yellow-brown crusts that appear in place of the bubbles disappear after about a week, leaving no trace. But this is only if the mother helped the baby survive the period severe itching- prevented scratching and infection from getting into the wound.

Premature tearing of the cortical layer can lead to the appearance of a “pockmark” that can remain for life.

Among the main symptoms of chickenpox are the following:

• Sharply increasing body temperature (up to 40 degrees C);
• Pain in the head, limbs and muscles;
• Irritability, tearfulness of the baby, severe weakness and apathy;
• Unreasonable anxiety, sleep disturbances;
• Decreased appetite and even refusal to eat;
• The appearance of characteristic rashes of spots and blisters on the entire surface of the body, which do not affect only the surfaces of the palms and soles.

These signs appear 1-2 days before the rash appears on the child’s body. He may lose his appetite, it is observed Bad mood. Sometimes this period is absent, and parents simply notice a rash on the skin.

All stages of chickenpox in children follow each other sequentially and are characterized by certain typical symptoms.

Itching is the most unpleasant sign of chickenpox. During the period of formation, opening, and growth of blisters, the body itches, children suffer from unbearable itching. One year old baby It’s difficult to explain why you can’t comb or pick off dried scabs.

A vicious circle appears:

• the patient is actively itching;
• serous fluid pours out;
• the virus spreads to new areas;
• further infection occurs;
• Sometimes there are 100 or more itchy blisters on the body.

Take note:

• It is important to relieve the itching, otherwise the child will definitely scratch the scabs. If the surface has not yet completely dried, a deep scar will form at the site of the bubble;
• Gradually (not in one year), many of the depressions resolve, but some of the holes remain for life.

Forms of the disease

Form of chickenpox in children	Symptoms
Lightweight	Characterized by single rashes, no fever and feeling unwell. Herpetic pimples appear in only 2 - 3 days. Doctors suggest that mild form The disease occurs due to strong immunity or hereditary resistance to the virus.
Average	The body becomes covered with spots characteristic of chickenpox, the patient develops a high temperature and symptoms of intoxication of the body. With moderate chickenpox, the body temperature is no more than 38 degrees C.
Heavy	The temperature rises sharply to 40°C, and the patient's entire body becomes covered with an itchy rash. The rashes can merge into a continuous painful crust, intense itching leads to psycho-emotional breakdowns and prevents you from sleeping at night. All the symptoms of severe intoxication of the body are present: headaches and muscle pain, weakness, fever.

Complications

At proper treatment and personal hygiene, complications from chickenpox in children are rare. Dangerous complications sometimes occur with the use of certain medications. For example, it is strictly forbidden to give aspirin to children, as this can lead to dangerous liver damage (Reye's syndrome). You cannot combine chickenpox and taking hormonal and glucocorticosteroid drugs.

Among the most dangerous consequences are:

• Viral encephalitis (brain inflammation);
• Herpes zoster is a severe chronic disease caused by the same virus, but appears extremely rarely in weakened patients;
• Neurological consequences of viral damage occur during early intrauterine infection, during organogenesis, when the mother falls ill in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Parents must be very careful and do not let your baby scratch the rash, because the wounds can easily become infected.

Diagnostics

To clarify the diagnosis, the doctor may write a referral for lab tests for chickenpox:

• Light microscopy of elements with silvering of reagents.
• Serological blood test to identify the viral agent and determine the activity of antibodies to the pathogen.

Be sure to consult a doctor if:

• The child has eczema, asthma, or a weakened immune system;
• Fever lasts more than 6 days or exceeds 39 degrees.
• Any large areas appear red, swollen, and draining of pus.
• The child has coughing, vomiting, headache, drowsiness, confusion, rigidity (inelasticity) occipital muscles, photophobia, or difficulty walking or breathing.

How to treat chickenpox in children

Treatment of chickenpox in children takes place at home; only if any complications arise, the doctor may suggest hospitalization. Parents should help the child cope with the unpleasant condition and alleviate suffering from an itchy rash.

First of all, to prevent possible complications, it is necessary to adhere to strict bed rest throughout the entire febrile period. If a child has lesions of the oral mucosa, then he needs to adhere to a gentle diet, avoiding salty foods, citrus fruits and other foods that irritate the oral cavity.

Standard therapy is considered to be antihistamines to get rid of itching, antipyretic drugs and antiseptics (usually aniline dyes).

• To reduce a high temperature reaction, antipyretic drugs are recommended in appropriate doses, except for Aspirin;
• To relieve severe itching, you can ask your pediatrician to prescribe an antihistamine. Antihistamines are prescribed to relieve and relieve symptoms of itching. medicines, for example, Suprastin, Fenistil in drops, Zodak, and others;
• If the elements of the rash are localized in the oral cavity, it is recommended to gargle with Furacillin solution several times during the day and always after meals;
• If the eyes are affected, a special eye ointment, Acyclovir, is placed behind the eyelids.

Prohibited: amidopyrine, aspirin ( extremely dangerous for children with chickenpox).

Antibiotic therapy is used exclusively in cases of bacterial infection, which usually occurs due to scratching of the vesicles. Therefore, in order to avoid complications, constant monitoring of the child’s behavior is necessary; it is best for children to wear light gloves. Overheating should be avoided as sweating increases itching.

To prevent infection of the vesicles, the following antiseptic disinfectants are used:

• 1% alcohol solution brilliant green (zelenka);
• Castellani liquid;
• aqueous solution of fucorcin;
• aqueous solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate).

When treating elements of a rash with brilliant green, despite all its disadvantages, you can easily and quickly determine when new rashes will stop appearing.

General care for children with chickenpox

1. Nutrition should be complete and contain increased amounts of proteins and vitamins. It is best to give preference to easily digestible foods (dairy-vegetable diet). If the oral mucosa is affected, spicy and sour foods should be avoided.
2. An important condition necessary for compliance with the treatment of chickenpox in children is providing the patient with plenty of fluids. Most complications arise from dehydration; the disease can affect the nervous system. Drinking plenty of fluids will help remove viral breakdown products and toxins. You need to drink boiled water, mineral water without gas, unsweetened compotes, weak teas, herbal decoctions. Dilute freshly squeezed juices by half with water.
3. Chickenpox can be treated folk remedies. It is advisable to give your child fresh blueberries or blueberry juice. Active substances The fruits of this plant have antiviral properties. It is also recommended to give children an infusion of the mixture. linden color, raspberries, willow bark and anise fruits (brew at the rate of 300 ml of water per 1 tablespoon of collection).

Is it possible to bathe a child with chickenpox?

There have been heated discussions on this issue for many years. Now most pediatricians believe that water procedures are permitted subject to certain conditions:

• Swimming with chickenpox is allowed only in the absence of ulcerative-necrotic changes in the elements of the rash– to put it simply, in the absence of wounds into which bacteria can easily penetrate.
• You can bathe from the second or third day of the disease.
• The water temperature should not be high - 38-40 degrees. This will prevent the crusts formed after scratching at the site of the rash from getting wet.
• Do not wash your child with regular bathing products (soaps, shower gels, shampoos).
• Long periods should be avoided water procedures. Recommended frequent appointments(about 5-6 times a day) short (one to three minutes) shower with low pressure.
• Don't use a washcloth to avoid picking off pimples and subsequent formation of scars on damaged areas of the skin.
• After taking a bath, you should not dry yourself with a towel. Better body wet yourself carefully with the softest towel to avoid damage to inflamed skin.
• Swimming with chickenpox not recommended in the first two days when the disease progresses and its main symptom is a constant elevated body temperature.
• At the end of the water procedures, the child’s body in areas of rashes should be treat with brilliant green.

If the parents decide not to wash the child for the entire period of the rash, then the first bath should be carried out as carefully as possible to disinfect the healing vesicles. To do this, doctors advise preparing a weak solution of potassium permanganate. The color of the solution is pale pink; a brighter shade will create a strong effect on the skin and can lead to burns.

Is it possible to walk if you have chickenpox?

While the child complains of weakness, new pimples appear, he has a fever, walking is strictly forbidden, as the virus is actively spreading. At this time, all the strength of the immune system is used to fight chickenpox, so the likelihood of contracting another disease increases greatly, which will be quite difficult.

If the baby does not have a fever or new rashes, and the weather is very good outside, then there are no contraindications for a walk. The only thing you need to take into account is that the child may still be contagious and walking in public places (parks, playgrounds) is unethical. If you live in a private house, then a small amount fresh air definitely won't hurt.

If on the way to the exit with a patient in the active phase of the disease you need to go through the entrance, it is better to abandon the idea of ​​​​taking a walk so as not to infect your neighbors.

Prevention

The only effective measure to prevent chickenpox is vaccination. It is advisable to carry it out for women who have not had chickenpox and are planning a pregnancy, infants who have older brothers and sisters, children and adults with a defect immune system, To old people.

The only way to guarantee protection from the chickenpox virus is by vaccination - the introduction of a weakened virus into the body. This is the main method of preventing the disease. Protect yourself from airborne infection it's difficult the other way. The best way to combat chickenpox is a stable immune system.

You should also always remember about personal protective measures if one of your family members gets chickenpox:

• Mandatory isolation of the patient in a separate room;
• Allocation of individual dishes and towels for the patient, the cleanliness of which also needs to be monitored separately;
• Mandatory daily ventilation of the room in which there is a patient with chickenpox;
• Wearing a mask or gauze bandage when in contact with an infected person.

In children, repeated chickenpox is an exceptional case, because immunity after the disease remains for life. But this is true for those kids whose protective system secured and functioning properly.

And, as a rule, children suffer from it.

Description of the disease

Chickenpox is an acute viral disease, transmitted by airborne droplets from person to person. It is characterized by the appearance of a rash in the form of small blisters and high fever.

The causative agent is considered to be the third type of herpes virus. It enters the blood through the upper Airways and affects the skin. Outside the human body, it loses its viability within 10 minutes. The microbe dies when heated, exposed to ultraviolet radiation and sunlight.

Susceptibility to chickenpox is 100%; it is most often diagnosed in children aged 6 months to 7 years. It is quite rare in adults, since most of them experience the disease in childhood without complications. The strong immunity developed after an infection lasts throughout life.

Stages

There are 4 stages of the disease:

• Incubation– asymptomatic period. The average is 11–21 days;
• Prodromal– characterized by headaches or muscle pain, a significant rise in temperature. It does not always appear in children; in adults it occurs quite often and occurs with complications. This period begins 1–2 days before the first rash is detected;
• Stage of rash characterized by the massive appearance of a rash and a wave-like increase in temperature. Most often, the febrile state persists for 2–5 days, sometimes the temperature lasts up to 10 days. The rash is observed for 2–9 days. Usually they do not affect the deep layers of the skin and disappear without a trace after recovery.
• Restorative– lasts 1 month after recovery. During this period a restriction is required physical activity and taking vitamin complexes.

What causes chickenpox and how can you get it?

The source of the disease is a person infected with the chickenpox virus. The danger of infection remains throughout the entire incubation period until the crusts disappear. The disease is transmitted by airborne droplets, but the maximum concentration of the virus is found in the fluid contained in the blisters typical of chickenpox.

The infection enters the body through the upper respiratory tract and penetrates the mucous membranes. Then gets into circulatory system and spreads to the skin. Expansion occurs blood vessels, accompanied by redness, then the formation of papules is observed - nodules raised above the surface of the skin, and vesicles - bubbles with liquid. The first rashes usually appear on the torso and limbs, later on the face and under the hair. Sometimes the mucous membranes become covered with a rash.

Due to the active reproduction of the virus, body temperature rises, and other nonspecific reactions are noted. After an infection, a person develops strong immunity.

The virus can remain viable in the human body, and in the presence of a combination of provoking factors, it can cause shingles.

Chicken pox in children

Chickenpox has a long incubation period, ranging from 7 to 21 days. From the moment of infection to the appearance of the first symptoms, as a rule, at least a week passes. The child is already a source of infection for other children, but this does not manifest itself outwardly. Usually saved physical activity and good appetite.

Symptoms

A day or two before the appearance of clinical signs, the child may experience:

• headache;
• lethargy, drowsiness;
• lack of appetite;
• nausea;
• a sharp increase in temperature to 38-40°C.

The above symptoms are similar to those of a common ARVI, and only the appearance of a rash allows one to reliably establish the disease.

Rashes usually appear no later than 24 hours after the temperature rises. First, single flat spots of pinkish color are noted on the skin, then their number increases sharply, they become convex and transform into fluid-filled blisters. Their appearance is accompanied by severe itching; children often scratch problem areas, facilitating the penetration of infection into the body. The rash may cover the upper and lower limbs, back, stomach, face and hairline heads. There are usually no spots on the feet and palms.

The disease is often accompanied by enlargement of the ear and cervical lymph nodes.

The rash begins to dry out 3 days after it appears, becoming covered with a red crust. However, chickenpox occurs in waves, so every 2 days new lesions appear on the skin, accompanied by another rise in temperature and headache. Only after 7–10 days do all the blisters become crusty, and the child ceases to be a source of infection.

Diagnostics

For experienced doctor Diagnosing chickenpox is not difficult. A clear clinical picture in most cases makes it possible to accurately determine the disease:

• the rash stage begins 7–21 days after contact with an infected person;
• undulating course of this period;
• simultaneous presence on the surface of the child’s skin of all forms of rash development – pink spots, dense nodules, bubbles with yellowish liquid, dried crusts;
• The infection manifests itself primarily on the torso and limbs, then moves to the face and scalp. The presence of a rash on the feet and palms is atypical.

If the symptoms are not clearly expressed, specialists resort to the following laboratory tests:

• general blood analysis. An increase in ESR indicates the presence infectious process. An increase in the number of neutrophils indicates a bacterial complication;
• a serological blood test for antibodies is carried out in atypical cases; an excess of 4 times or more reliably indicates chickenpox;
• examination under a microscope or immunofluorescent analysis of the contents of the vesicles.

Treatment

In the vast majority of cases, chickenpox in children is mild and does not require hospitalization. If you follow all the doctor’s recommendations, a guaranteed cure for this disease occurs at home. Standard therapy includes:

• taking antipyretic drugs. For children, paracetamol and panadol are recommended (in a dosage calculated based on weight and amounting to 20 mg/kg 3 times a day), as well as Nurofen in suspension (5–10 mg/kg up to 4 times a day). These medications can quickly and effectively reduce fever and improve general state. Taking aspirin, which causes liver damage in chickenpox, is strictly prohibited;
• application antihistamines , reducing itching and preventing the development of allergic reactions. Children are usually prescribed suprastin (the dosage, depending on age, is from ¼ to ½ tablets per day) or fenistil (taken 3 times a day, 3-10 drops);
• treatment of skin rashes. Traditionally, a solution of brilliant green is used to lubricate the elements of the rash, which allows you to thoroughly treat each spot. The product promotes the rapid formation of crusts and briefly reduces itching. More effective is a 5% solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate) or Castellani liquid, which have a slight antibacterial effect. The rash in the mouth and genitals is lubricated with hydrogen peroxide or aqueous solution brilliant greens;
• compliance drinking regime . Increased fluid intake is necessary to remove toxins from the body.

If the disease progresses in a severe form, the doctor prescribes additional specific treatment: taking antiviral, immunomodulating and sedative drugs.

FAQ

What is the incubation period for chickenpox?

The period of time from the moment the virus enters the body until the first symptoms of the disease appear is called incubation period. For chickenpox, its duration ranges from 7 to 21 days and depends on the state of the immune system. Microbes that enter the respiratory tract penetrate the mucous membranes and begin to actively multiply there, accumulating throughout the incubation period. Having reached a critical mass, the infection enters the circulatory system and spreads throughout the body, thereby moving into the prodromal stage.

In most cases, a person is non-infectious during the incubation period. However, with chickenpox 1–3 days before its end and the appearance of the first clinical symptoms The disease is already spreading.

How long does quarantine last in kindergarten or school?

Chickenpox is an extremely contagious disease. In the absence of immunity upon contact with an infected person, it is impossible to protect yourself from the disease.

In kindergartens and schools quarantine is announced for 21 days since the last case was identified. This period is explained by the maximum duration of the incubation period.

Children who have been in contact with a sick person are not prohibited from attending kindergarten or school. Those students who have not interacted with an infected person for more than 3 weeks are advised to move to another group, class, or refrain from attending classes.

Quarantine is declared in a specific group or class after the final diagnosis. During the entire period, daily examination of pupils is carried out medical personnel. If a sick person is identified, he is isolated from other children and his parents are immediately informed.

There is no need to stop the work of the kindergarten or school as a whole. There are a number of measures to help avoid mass infection:

• regular ventilation and wet cleaning;
• using different entrances to move healthy children and quarantined groups;
• ban on visiting physical education and music halls.

Specific measures for disinfection of premises when cases of chickenpox are detected are not taken, since the virus has low viability outside the human body.

How to lubricate the rash with chickenpox?

For many decades, it was customary to smear chickenpox blisters with brilliant green. It was believed that this was the only way to achieve the fastest formation of crusts and reduce unbearable itching. Currently, experts question this method, since brilliant green does not affect the rate of crust formation and the healing process, and also does not cope with itching at all.

As alternative ways The following drugs are offered:

• calamine lotion– quickly relieves itching and redness, promotes active skin regeneration. Suitable for children, does not stain the skin;
• potassium permanganate solution– used from a very early age. Application requires special care, since exceeding the concentration can cause burns. To prevent this, it is necessary in a glass boiled water dissolve several crystals of potassium permanganate until a pale pink solution is formed;
• suspension "Tsindol" has drying and disinfecting properties. Can be used up to 6 times a day.
• gel "Fenistil" promotes active healing of the skin and effectively eliminates itching. However, its use is recommended only for severe chickenpox after consultation with your doctor.

What are the possible complications?

Infection with chickenpox, especially in adults, often leads to the development of complications. The most serious are:

• chickenpox pneumonia;
• secondary infections - abscess, sepsis.

Chicken pox in adults

If a person did not have chickenpox in childhood, there is a high probability of infection in adulthood.

Symptoms

The symptoms are practically the same, but in adults the disease, as a rule, is severe and manifests itself with the following symptoms:

• high temperature for a long period;
• pronounced prodromal signs - headaches and muscle pain, loss of appetite, general toxic manifestations;
• profuse rash, late formation of crusts;
• The mucous membranes are often affected and the lymph nodes become enlarged.

Infection with chickenpox during pregnancy, especially in the early stages, can aggravate the course of the disease in a woman and lead to infection and even death of the fetus. After 20 weeks the risk to the baby is negligible.

Treatment

Treatment methods depend on the form of the disease, the state of the immune system and the age of the person.

As a rule, when the disease occurs in mild and moderate forms, treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis. Infectious disease specialists recommend:

• compliance with bed rest in the presence of elevated temperature;
• drink plenty of fluids to quickly remove toxins from the body;
• balanced diet. It is optimal to follow a protein-plant diet;
• treating the skin with disinfectants. Instead of traditional brilliant green, potassium permanganate, Tsindol, Fukortsin, and Calamine suspensions can be used. Each element of the rash is treated separately using cotton swab. Calamine can be used up to 4 times a day, fucorcin and cindol - up to 6, potassium permanganate - without restrictions;
• carrying out special drug therapy.

• paracetamol;
• panadol;
• Nurofen;
• efferalgan.

Do not use aspirin to avoid side effects.

If a severe form of the disease is observed, doctors prescribe antiviral drugs. The recommended dose of acyclovir is 800 mg 5 times a day for a week. In especially severe cases, intravenous administration of the drug 3 times a day at a dosage of 10 mg/kg body weight is practiced.

Antihistamines help relieve itching and swelling. Showed themselves well:

• tavegil;
• claritin;
• suprastin.

Their daily dose should not exceed 4 tablets.

It is allowed to treat the skin with special preparations that reduce itching and other skin manifestations. For example, “Fenistil-gel” can be used repeatedly during the day.

Chickenpox vaccinations

An effective method of combating chickenpox is vaccination. In a number of countries - Japan, Australia, USA, Austria, vaccination against chickenpox is included in the national vaccination calendar. This procedure allows you to build immunity to the disease for life.

WHO representatives and vaccine manufacturers recommend immunization against chickenpox for children over one year of age. Russian experts do not recommend performing the procedure on children under 2 years of age. Adults have no age restrictions.

Used for vaccination live vaccine and specific immunoglobulin.

When a live, attenuated Varicella Zoster virus is injected into the body, an asymptomatic light form chicken pox. Antibodies are formed, which provide stable long-term immunity.

The following vaccines are allowed to be used in Russia:

• « Okavax» (Japan) is used to vaccinate children from 12 months of age and adults. It is administered once intramuscularly. Used as emergency prophylaxis no later than 3 days after contact with an infected person. The minimum cost of the drug is 1900 rubles;
• « Varilrix» (Belgium) is administered twice with an interval of 6–10 weeks. Allowed for vaccination of children starting from 9 months and adults. average price in pharmacies it is 2200 rubles.

The drug "Zostevir" is a specific immunoglobulin for the varicella zoster virus. It helps ease the course of the disease and speed up the healing process. The medication is administered intramuscularly once a day in a dosage of 1 to 3 ml, depending on the indications. Does not contain live virus and does not provide lifelong immunity.

Infectious disease specialists in a number of countries do not see the need for universal immunization against chickenpox in childhood, since in most cases, before reaching adolescence, a mild course of this disease is observed. Vaccination is prescribed only if there are objective indications, for example, weakened immunity.

British infectious disease specialists have identified a link between immunization in childhood and shingles, caused by the same virus, in adulthood.

For a person who has not had chickenpox in childhood, vaccination is 100% the right decision.

Prevention

The only reliable way to protect against chickenpox infection is vaccination. Other methods do not provide a 100% guarantee. However, the likelihood of infection if one of your family members becomes ill can be reduced by taking the following precautions:

• complete isolation of the sick person;
• use of separate utensils;
• use of cotton-gauze dressings;
• taking antiviral drugs or timely vaccination.

Knowing and following preventive measures allows you to avoid infection with chickenpox or survive it without complications.

You can find out what experts think about chickenpox by watching the video.

Increased body temperature, red spots, terribly itchy blisters are undoubted signs of chickenpox. Chickenpox is a disease caused by a variety. Is affected skin covering and human mucous membranes. ranges from 2 to 3 weeks. The patient begins to infect others a few days before the onset of the rash and a week after the last vesicles appear.

Outside the body, the death of the virus occurs within a minute. The height of the disease is observed in late autumn - early spring. All types of rash are accompanied by intoxication of the body, the degree of which depends on the number and size of the bubbles.

Chickenpox always has a benign course

Transmission of the disease occurs from a patient to a healthy person through airborne droplets. The percentage of appearance upon contact with an infected person is 100%. After entering the body, the virus enters the bloodstream through the human mucous membranes, then is located in the lungs, skin, and internal organs.

The primary symptom is fever(up to 39° C), a decline in which occurs after the appearance of the initial rashes, such surges continue until all blisters appear.

All symptoms in 3 minutes with explanations and photographs:

The rash is most susceptible to the torso and head of a person, less so to the limbs, and occasionally to the mucous membranes and larynx; the feet and palms are not affected. After the initial rash, the recurrence will be in smaller quantities, this is caused by the process of antibody production. Among patients there are 2 types of illness: typical and atypical. Depending on the degree of complexity of the course, a typical type is divided into:

• for mild (duration no more than 4 days). Blisters are minor and appear only on the skin;
• moderate (lasts at least a week, the blisters are very itchy, cover the body abundantly, sudden changes in temperature);
• severe (more than weeks, in addition to signs of the moderate form, vomiting, nausea, severe itching, chills are added);

With and without crust

Atypical is characterized by the following varieties:

• rudimeric (the temperature is low, pimples do not go into the vesicle stage);
• visceral (in addition to the body, they form on the mucous membranes, severe intoxication begins);
• bullous (characterized by the presence of large blisters with cloudy filling);
• hemorrhagic (a small number of red blood cells escape from the vessels and, as a result, capillaries are damaged, patients experience nosebleeds, the oral mucosa is affected by necrosis);
• gangrenous (necrosis begins in large wounds).

Symptoms of chickenpox in adults

It should be remembered that after suffering from the disease, the body develops resistance to chickenpox, but when during contact with the patient the protective properties of the body are reduced, then repeated. It is very difficult to confuse chickenpox with it.

Smallpox is characterized by a rash over the entire body with non-simultaneous stages of blistering and crusting. With hepes-zoster, the rash is one-stage, occurring in the direction of the passage of the nerve processes, most often intercostal or trigeminal.

There are several stages:

1. First, small red spots appear (the primary elements of the rash);
2. After a few hours they swell, turning into papules size 1-4 mm;
3. After 3 hours, the bubbles fill with clear liquid (form vesicles);
4. In a couple of days they dry out completely, leaving a thin crust. No more than 12 hours pass from the appearance of redness to the formation of a crust. Complete removal of residues occurs after 2 weeks.

Due to severe itching, many cannot resist the desire to scratch. As a result, crusts are removed and hidden erosions are exposed. After this, the healing process is delayed. At the site of the wounds, noticeable scars remain as a keepsake.

Typical manifestations are:

1. signs of intoxication (sudden headache, rapid rise in temperature, feelings of weakness, dizziness);
2. itchy rashes on the body;

Chicken pox in children and infants. Symptoms

In children, the disease progresses quickly and causes virtually no complications. After the transfer, the body gains immunity. The greatest number of diseases occurs before the age of 5 years (95% of all cases). Infection of infants occurs most often:

• Through contact with sick relatives, being in the same room with them;
• Mother's illness in the last stages of pregnancy (90% of infections);
• In the absence of protective antibodies in mother's milk.

In infants with natural feeding, chickenpox occurs in a mild stage. This is facilitated protective antibodies in the milk of a mother who had previously been ill, although an increase in temperature cannot be avoided. During this period, the baby becomes more restless and capricious. Due to itchy formations, you should forget about normal sleep. When the illness catches the child at the time of changing the diet or weaning, it is worth waiting and returning to the previous feeding.

When the illness is accompanied by a rapid rise in temperature, the impossibility of sharply lowering it, and the baby does not want to eat, constantly cries, cannot sleep, then you must immediately call a doctor - this may be severe form . Rashes are possible on the walls of the larynx; such signs can lead to suffocation!

During the period of chickenpox or 3-4 days after recovery, the child may experience swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck or behind the ears. This is due to the body’s increased fight against viruses. In children with a weakened protective threshold, after 2–3 days the vesicles become hemorrhagic.

If an adult can understand that he needs to refrain from scratching, then it is almost impossible for a child to do this. As a result, the body becomes covered with many wounds, which can become infected with various infections and bacteria. How to treat combed areas and whole vesicles?

1. Alcohol solution of brilliant green or fucorcin. The drug carries out disinfecting actions and dries out the crusts.
2. Iodine should not be used for chickenpox in children! It disinfects, but increases the itching and the number of torn areas increases.
3. Potassium permanganate (5%) has properties similar to brilliant greens.
4. Boric acid, hydrogen peroxide, furatsilin solution are used to disinfect rashes in the oral cavity.
5. Calamine – disinfects, reduces itching with a cooling effect.
6. Methylene alcohol (1-3%) has bactericidal properties.
7. For hemorrhagic rashes, the following are used: vikasol, rutin, calcium chloride.

Complications after chickenpox

It is not chickenpox itself that is dangerous, but the ailments associated with it. It is impossible to predict the duration of the course and its outcome. The complication occurs in 1 out of 50 patients. Very rarely leads to death. Most of all there should be careful people over 12 years old.

Complications often manifest as:

• Viral pneumonia;
• Encephalitis;
• Damage to the cerebellum, which is responsible for coordination and speech, causes frequent seizures, loss of consciousness;
• Problems with the kidneys (various nephritis) or heart;
• Liver disorders;
• Erysipelas of soft tissues;
• Acute stomatitis;
• Various rashes and accompanying lesions of the genital organs;

When at primary manifestations If you are examined by a doctor in a timely manner, in most cases treatment will relieve concomitant diseases.

Diagnosis of the disease

By conducting an examination for primary suspicions of chickenpox, the doctor determines the degree and type of illness, the period of restriction of contact with others, and prescribes the necessary medications to prevent harmful consequences.

If the disease is in full swing, then tests will help to understand whether there are concomitant ailments. Particular attention is paid to pregnant women with early dates. The disease during this period can cause fetal abnormalities or provoke a miscarriage.

During the period it is necessary:

• Wash linen and towels every day. This is necessary to minimize contact of tissue soaked with infectious fluid from the vesicles with the body. Infection in wounds can cause new rashes to appear;
• Rinse oral cavity and wipe your eyes with disinfectants. These procedures will help prevent the occurrence of concomitant bacterial complications and secondary rashes;
• Children with complications or a reduced natural protective barrier are additionally prescribed antiviral medications;

Comparison

With a simple form of the disease, the doctor allows you to continue treatment at home. To speed up recovery you need to:

• Accept assigned medical supplies, follow all instructions;
• Lying down most of the day;
• Limit the intake of “heavy” and harmful products nutrition;
• If mucous membranes are damaged, treat them;
• Treat with the drug recommended by the doctor;
• Until the appearance of rashes has stopped, it is better to limit contact with water.

If chickenpox does not manifest itself in early age, then it is better to get vaccinated before the age of 13, so that the disease does not bring disastrous consequences in the future. Vaccination will help protect you for at least 20 years. If infection occurs through decreased immunity, the form will be quite mild.

Medicines to prevent the occurrence of the disease have not yet been developed. If a family member becomes ill, all necessary measures should be taken to minimize contact with healthy relatives or friends. The patient needs to be shown to a doctor, follow the prescribed instructions, and treat the rash in a timely manner. Correct and timely treatment will help on the path to recovery.

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Of particular interest are parents whose children have interacted with a child who has been diagnosed with chickenpox. Such information is also important in a situation where a chickenpox quarantine has been declared in a kindergarten or school. How to recognize on early stage this infection and how to understand that a child has chickenpox? To answer such questions, you need to find out where and how chickenpox begins in childhood.

What is chickenpox

Chicken pox, which is traditionally called chickenpox by parents and doctors, is a highly contagious infection that occurs with fever, rash and other symptoms. Most often, this disease is detected in children aged two to ten years. Its causative agent is one of the types of herpes viruses – the Varicella Zoster virus.

Infants can also become infected and get sick from chickenpox, but most babies under six months of age are protected from chickenpox by their mother’s immunity. They receive antibodies to chickenpox from a mother who was ill in childhood, first in utero and then through breast milk. A child older than 6 months is no longer protected by maternal antibodies, so chickenpox in infants who are already six months old is quite possible.

Watch the episode of the program “Live Healthy!”, in which host Elena Malysheva talks about chickenpox in children:

Chicken pox also affects people over 10-12 years of age. At the same time, in adolescents and adults, the infection is more severe, so many parents are not against preschoolers communicating with children suffering from chickenpox or turn to a medical institution for vaccination against this disease.

In the body of a child who has had chickenpox or has been vaccinated against the Varicella Zoster virus, antibodies are formed that provide him with lifelong immunity from such an infection for the rest of his life. Only in 3% of cases is re-infection possible, which is often associated with immunodeficiency.

Incubation period

This period is the time from the virus entering the child’s body after infection to the first symptoms of infection. If you answer the question “how many days after exposure does chickenpox appear?”, then most often in children it will be 14 days. The duration of the incubation period can be shorter (from 7 days) or longer (up to 21 days), but on average, the onset of chickenpox is noted two weeks from the moment of first contact with the virus.

The child becomes a source of transmission of the virus to other people at the end of the incubation period - approximately 24 hours before the first symptoms. In addition, you can become infected from a child with chickenpox during the entire period of the rash and within five days after the last blisters appear on the baby’s skin. Transmission of the pathogen occurs by airborne droplets.

Prodromal period

This is the name for the time period when it is difficult to say what kind of disease a child has developed. With chickenpox it is quite short (lasts one or two days), and in many children it may be absent altogether. In the prodromal period of chickenpox, mothers note such manifestations of malaise in children as weakness, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, loss of appetite and sleep.

Watch the video, which clearly demonstrates the rash on initial stage chickenpox in children:

Period of rash

The rash begins to appear on the first or second day of clinical symptoms of chickenpox. It is associated with the entry of the virus into the surface layer of the skin through the bloodstream. At the same time, the child’s body temperature rises, and the severity of the fever is directly related to the abundance of elements of the rash, and when new rashes appear, the temperature rises again.

Where do rashes appear?

Not knowing whether the child has contracted chickenpox, all mothers are concerned with the question “on what part of the body does the rash begin to appear?” The first elements of the rash in most children appear on the torso, then they spread to the skin of the extremities, and also appear on the head (first on the face, and then on the scalp). In some children, the rash also affects the mucous membranes; for example, pimples can be seen in the mouth.

Can it start from the feet?

The first spots of chickenpox may appear on the legs and head, but they soon spread to the skin of the body. At the same time, there is practically no rash with chickenpox on the palms and soles. It can appear in these areas mainly in severe cases of the disease.

If baby light a form of chickenpox, the rash will be represented by a small number of elements on the body, and the temperature often remains normal.

What does the rash look like?

Chickenpox rashes are represented by several types of elements that appear one after another. At first, small pink-red spots cover the child’s body, and after a few hours papules form in their place. This is the name given to small bumps that resemble mosquito bites.

Over time top part The epidermis in the papules exfoliates and clear liquid accumulates inside - this is how single-chamber vesicles appear. Around each such bubble you can see a red “rim” of inflamed skin.

To learn how to distinguish chickenpox from an allergy, watch the video.

As a rule, the chickenpox rash can be quite itchy, and the parents' task should be to prevent scratching, which can infect the blisters.

What is chickenpox and how does it manifest? What is its scientific name? This infection with high contagiousness. It mainly occurs in children, but can also affect adults without adequate immunity. How dangerous is chickenpox and how should it be treated?

Routes of infection

Where does chickenpox come from and what causes it? This disease is caused by the chickenpox virus, or Varicella Zoster. It belongs to the herpesvirus family. The causative agent of the disease is quite unstable when normal conditions external environment. Despite this, chickenpox is usually transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person through airborne droplets. You can get infected with it with almost 100% probability.

How to get chickenpox? It’s very simple - just be in the same room with a sick person, because the virus is transmitted directly during contact with the patient. Chickenpox is rarely contracted through household items or third parties.

To destroy the virus in the room, increase the humidity, open windows to create drafts, or produce UV irradiation.

At what age do people most often get chickenpox? Children of preschool and junior age are more susceptible to chickenpox school age 2-10 years. The disease rarely occurs in newborns and infants in the first months of life. This is due to innate immunity from chickenpox, which is passed on to them from their mother.

Features of the course of the disease

The course of chickenpox can be divided into several periods, each of which is characterized by special manifestations:

Classification of the disease by severity

Depending on the severity, the following types of infection are distinguished:

• A mild form of chickenpox is accompanied by minor rashes. In this case, the body temperature does not exceed 37-37.5 degrees. Chickenpox in a mild form does not lead to a significant deterioration in well-being.
• Moderate severity - body temperature rises to 39 degrees and lasts about seven days, numerous rashes are observed. This form of chickenpox is most common among children.
• Severe form - characterized by life-threatening manifestations of chickenpox. First of all, the high temperature (about 39 degrees) lasts about 10 days; the rash affects not only the skin, but also the mucous membranes. In severe cases of chickenpox, the appearance of symptoms of intoxication of the body is also observed - body aches, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite.

Classification of the disease according to its course

What types of chickenpox are there? It is customary to distinguish the following varieties:

• Typical chickenpox - most often found in children.
• Erased form. Body temperature can always remain normal, and rashes practically do not appear.
• Bullous form. This atypical chickenpox most often occurs in children under two years of age. The disease begins normally, but after some time the rash turns into bullae. These are thin-walled blisters filled with a yellowish liquid. They reach sizes of 1-2 cm, so they take much longer to heal.
• Hemorrhagic form. It is distinguished by the presence of hemorrhages due to damage to small vessels. Almost all rashes are filled with bloody contents. This poses a potential danger to humans and can cause severe bleeding.
• Gangrenous form. Such purulent chickenpox is accompanied by necrotic processes that affect the skin. After the end of the short incubation period, the patient is observed sharp increase body temperature, signs of intoxication appear. This type of chickenpox mainly develops in people with low immunity.
• Generalized form. Accompanied not only skin rashes, but also the defeat of many internal organs . This disease is very often fatal.

What are the first signs that indicate that the rash that appears is chickenpox? You should pay attention to the following distinctive features:

• First, the patient discovers red spots on the body with a diameter of 0.5-1 cm. The first ones are on the head, neck, the next ones are on any part of the body.
• Subsequently, a papule forms in place of the red spot. This is a formation that has a small nodule in the central part.
• After a few hours, the papules transform into vesicles. They are small thin-walled bubbles that are filled with liquid. When subjected to mechanical stress, they burst easily.
• If you neglect the rules of treatment and scratch the rash, pustules will form in its place. These are suppurating vesicles. After healing, scars remain in their place.
• After a few days, the vesicles dry out and dense crusts form. The average time after which they disappear is 3 weeks.

With chickenpox, the rash appears in waves; up to 3 stages of development can be observed acute period diseases.

Possible complications

Chickenpox is usually not dangerous for children, but sometimes it can be accompanied by the following complications:

• Damage to the respiratory system - pneumonia, tracheitis or laryngitis.
• Disruption of the organs that are responsible for detoxifying the body (kidneys, liver). The development of nephritis, hepatitis, abscesses is possible.
• Malfunction nervous system. Chickenpox, under certain conditions, can provoke meningitis, encephalitis, and paralysis.
• Damage to the heart muscle and blood vessels, which is accompanied by the development of myocarditis and thrombophlebitis.
• The development of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, which include arthritis, fasciitis.

Treatment

What to do if chickenpox develops, how should it be treated at home? It is recommended to follow these rules:

• Should be used as prescribed by a doctor antivirals. Acyclovir and its analogues are most often used in ointment form. In cases of complications, internal administration of antiviral drugs is recommended.
• In the presence of high temperature give antipyretics. Children are recommended to take Paracetamol, Ibuprofen or drugs based on them.
• If there is severe itching, antihistamines are prescribed.. They can be in the form of tablets (Suprastin, Eden) or ointments (Fenistil). How many days should I apply chickenpox to relieve itching? Usually a few days (maximum - a week) are enough.
• If a child becomes irritable due to severe itching or cannot sleep peacefully, he is prescribed light sedatives (tincture of valerian, decoction of lemon balm or mint).
• How to cauterize chickenpox so that the resulting rashes do not become inflamed? To do this, use brilliant green, Fukortsin, potassium permanganate, Zinc ointment, Calamine. They have a cauterizing effect and destroy pathogenic microflora.
• In case of severe chickenpox, the child is prescribed antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs. They will help the patient’s body overcome the disease and prevent the development of complications.

Drugs for the treatment of chickenpox in a child or adult are prescribed only by a doctor based on the existing clinical picture. Self-medication can lead to complications: re-infection, scarring, damage to mucous membranes and internal organs.