Unlike most viruses, chickenpox has a tricky incubation period. Therefore, the main question that interests both already infected and potential patients is the following: how much is chickenpox contagious in the latent period and in the open form? What are the medicines for chickenpox, is it possible to prevent the disease, is greenback needed for treatment? We'll figure out.
Where do patients "find" chickenpox?
Before answering the question how much chickenpox is contagious, you need to figure out what this "childhood" disease is. Any medical guide will answer that this is a viral infection that is caused by herpes type 3. The biggest problem of the disease is that it is incredibly contagious.
There are two ways to catch chickenpox:
- By airborne droplets.
- Obtain as a complication from shingles.
In the vast majority of cases, the ailment comes the first way. The virus itself is capable of moving over fairly long distances - several meters from its carrier. If a child “painted” with green paint lives on the landing, there is no point in guessing how much time he has chickenpox. A kind of herpes can get to a healthy person from another floor and even from a neighboring house.
The disease itself prefers people with weakened immunity, so outbreaks of chickenpox occur in the fall-winter.
Chickenpox in children
Most often, children are on sick leave. Moreover, a child under the age of 10 years can easily tolerate this insidious virus. The main symptom of chickenpox is red bubbles. They appear on the chest, face and back, subsequently "capture" the whole body. Sometimes a rash can be found even in the mouth. It is absolutely impossible to scratch “sores”, otherwise the disease will remain in the body longer and can lead to dangerous complications. On average, about 200-300 vesicles spill out in a child over the entire chickenpox.
Sometimes other symptoms of the disease are added to the rash and itching:
- temperature;
- decreased appetite;
- mood decline;
- headache.
Organized children usually suffer from chickenpox . In kindergarten, school, health camp - there is a big risk of contracting an "itchy rash." Surely no one can answer the question of how much chickenpox is contagious in children who go to school with your child. The fact is that not all parents observe safety measures and sometimes lead a child who has been infected or has just been ill to a group.
Big problem for adults
Chickenpox ceases to be a harmless sore already during puberty. After 12 years, she is seriously ill and almost always with complications. The scars and scars remaining after smallpox are considered the safest. Pregnant women suffer the worst. The virus harms not only the adult body, but also the unborn child.
Symptoms in adults are added:
- A sharp increase in temperature to 39-40 ° C.
- Nausea and vomiting (sign of intoxication).
- Dizziness and fainting.
- Body aches.
In addition, in adults, lymph nodes are most often inflamed. The neck and behind the ears are especially affected. In order not to look for the answer to the question of how many days chickenpox is contagious after a rash, and not to be afraid that the virus will spread from a child to an adult member of the family, it is better to play safe and be vaccinated against the virus.
Do you need green?
In Europe and America, they will undoubtedly be surprised if they see a child or adult from head to toe "painted" with green. But the inhabitants of the former Soviet Union, with the first signs of chickenpox, immediately run to the pharmacy to buy “diamond green”.
Actually zelenka:
- does not relieve itching;
- does not stop the appearance of a rash.
Why is it so plentifully smeared with it? The fact is that every doctor knows how much chickenpox is contagious after a rash: exactly 5 days after the last bladder. How to determine when the last sore popped up? It turns out just with the help of greenery.
In Western countries they are guided by a different sign. Look at the rash itself. If there are bubbles without a dark crust, then the disease is still dangerous.
How many days is the disease contagious?
When approaching the question of how much chickenpox is contagious, one should not lose sight of the incubation period of the disease. From 1 to 3 weeks, the virus does not manifest itself. The infected person feels great, and without special tests no one can determine this type of smallpox . This does not prevent the chickenpox from becoming contagious a few days before the rash appears.
That is, the patient goes to school, kindergarten, to work and everywhere carries the herpes virus. Therefore, so often people cannot understand where exactly they caught the disease.
Another question is, how many days is chickenpox contagious after a rash? An exact answer to it cannot be given. On average, bubbles appear 4-12 days after the first "sore." All this time, the patient is dangerous to others.
It turns out that chickenpox is contagious 2-3 days before the rash, the entire period of the rash (4-12 days) and 5 days after the last bubble appears.
Competent treatment
First you need to understand what you can not do with chickenpox . Namely:
- Take antibiotics. The herpes virus, like any other, is not a bacterium, which means that such drugs can not cope with it.
- Aspirin. With chickenpox, its consumption can lead to liver damage.
- Alcohol solutions. Increase the risk of scarring.
What can be done:
- drink plenty of fluids;
- take antipyretic, if necessary;
- change clothes and bedding more often.
With severe itching, antihistamines can be used. For example, potassium permanganate or Castellani ointment. It is extremely undesirable to wash. Otherwise, the bubbles will begin to spread faster throughout the body.
Children usually cope without additional drug therapy. Adults, as well as parents of infants, need to consult a doctor to find the right treatment. If the temperature does not drop for a long time, and pus forms in the bubbles, you should call an ambulance.
Despite the fact that most parents know how much chickenpox is not contagious, it is not worth sending the child to the team immediately after the illness. It’s best to stay home for several weeks to restore your immune system.
Prevention and vaccination
In order not to suffer from the question of how much chickenpox is contagious in adulthood, doctors recommend vaccinating. This is especially true for:
- Women who have not been ill in childhood, planning a pregnancy.
- All other adults who have not encountered chickenpox.
- Children with reduced immunity.
In America and Western Europe, the chickenpox vaccine is given to all children and adults according to the national program. In Russia, this is quite an expensive vaccination. However, if there is a financial opportunity, it is recommended not to give it up. A kind of herpes can have quite serious complications, including inflammation of the brain. But the vaccine will have to be given regularly, it does not give lifelong immunity. In turn, it is impossible to get chickenpox again.