Chickenpox, or chicken pox, is among the infectious diseases. If you believe the statistics, then 80% of the population of our planet manages to get sick with this virus in childhood, up to five years. But the older a person becomes, the more difficult the disease is tolerated. If you are ill in childhood, then a stable immunity is developed, and the risk of re-infection is practically reduced to zero. In this article we will learn how chickenpox occurs in adolescents and how to alleviate the condition of a young man during this period.
The incidence of chickenpox
In order to get an answer to the question in this section, you must again refer to the statistics. Speaking specifically of the Russian Federation, here ten percent of all cases of chickenpox disease occur precisely in young people aged twelve to fifteen. And the disease at this age is extremely difficult.
The situation is significantly aggravated by the fact that it is at this age that various hormonal changes in the body occur, and as a result of this, the child's immunity is greatly reduced. In addition, changes occur in the physiology of the body, the body is more sensitive to stress, even the most minor infections are more difficult to tolerate than usual.
Who is affected
Most often, chickenpox disease occurs in those adolescents whose immunity is greatly weakened. This is especially true for guys and girls who have chronic cancer. At risk are those children who at an early age did not get this disease, which means that stable immunity has not been developed.
Infection is transmitted very simply - as a result of bodily contact with the carrier or by airborne droplets. You can meet an infected person anywhere: at school, in the gym, in a cafe, and a person may not even know about the course of this infection in his body, because the incubation period lasts twenty-one days. And during this time, the disease may not manifest itself in any way.
In a teenager over fourteen, chickenpox will be more difficult as a result of hypothermia or because of a strong nervous strain. These are favorable conditions for the development of infection.
Signs of chickenpox in a teenager
The first symptoms may not be immediately noticeable. Usually they appear no earlier than the eleventh day after infection. In some cases, even later - after twenty-one days. Chickenpox in a teenager will manifest itself in almost the same way as in a preschooler. On the first day, an unexpected increase in body temperature can be observed, severe weakness, headache, drowsiness appear, lymph nodes can increase.
A rash on the body appears the very next day. Moreover, this process takes place in several stages. First, the skin turns red at the site of the papule, and after that, a blister appears in this place, which is filled with liquid. A few days after its appearance, the blister bursts and leaves erosion in its place, which dries and crusts within 24 hours. This phenomenon is not one-time and for the entire duration of the course of the disease can be repeated three or four times. Usually from the moment the first blister appears on the body until the moment when the last is crusted, two weeks pass. If after this period new blisters stop appearing on the body, then this is a clear sign that the patient is beginning to recover.
After all the wounds have healed, pink spots remain in their place, which eventually acquire their original color. However, this does not happen in all ill teenagers.
Features of the disease
Everyone knows that adolescents are especially emotional people. And this is due to the fact that at the age of fifteen to sixteen years, hormonal processes that occur in the body cause mental instability. Some home or school situations often lead to prolonged stress in a teenager, which, in turn, reduces immunity and can contribute to the appearance of chickenpox, which will be especially difficult.
Body temperature rises quite sharply and can exceed the mark of forty degrees. The temperature is accompanied by severe headaches, muscle weakness is observed, and symptoms of acute intoxication are noticeable. If you observe a teenager, you can see that he has muscle twitching and intense photophobia. Rashes can appear not only on the body itself, but also in the nose, mouth, bladder, and genitals.
Each blister begins to itch so hard that even an adult is not able to tolerate this itch. Teenagers are combing blisters, which is impossible to do. If the blisters burst prematurely, then suppuration may begin in their place.
Disease duration
Chickenpox in adolescents 14 years of age and older usually lasts no more than three weeks, but only at the start of timely and proper treatment. After the end of the disease, the body develops immunity to the disease and the risk of re-infection is practically reduced to zero.
It is not recommended to treat chickenpox from the age of twelve years or older on their own, since it is extremely difficult and can have very serious consequences, especially if the treatment is carried out using the wrong drugs. Some doctors are even of the opinion that it is better for a patient in this condition to stay in a hospital. However, it is difficult to say exactly how much chickenpox passes through adolescents, since each case of the disease is individual and requires a special approach and attention.
Possible complications
If in adolescence the infection was particularly severe, then after recovery some complications are possible. This may include:
- The appearance of age spots on the body.
- Scars may appear at the healing sites of the blisters.
- Purulent formations remain on the body, which lead to the formation of fasciitis or phlegmon.
- There is a risk of an abscess and pyoderma.
But the appearance of rash elements on the body is not the worst thing you can imagine. Since in some cases they form on the internal organs, which leads to the development of chickenpox pneumonia if the virus enters the lungs. With blood flow, chickenpox can also enter the brain, which causes the development of meningitis. There is a risk of completely losing vision if a cell parasite settles on the whites of the eyes.
A large accumulation of rashes in one area of the skin also refers to dangerous phenomena. There is a chance that gangrene can develop in such a place.
It is important to start treatment in a timely manner, and if the process is started, then there is a real risk of sepsis - an infectious infection of the blood. Most of these cases end fatally due to intoxication.
If the chickenpox in a teenager goes fine, then treatment can be carried out at home. It is enough to isolate the patient by laying him in a separate room. During this period, you should observe bed rest and drink a lot. If the child attends a school, the class or group where he goes is quarantined. This process is controlled by the sanitary and epidemiological station.
Treatment for chickenpox in adolescents
Before proceeding with the treatment of chickenpox, it is necessary to accurately confirm the diagnosis, which is possible only when examined by a dermatologist. After its confirmation, the doctor must draw up a therapeutic regimen according to which treatment will be carried out.
The first step is to bring down the temperature, and for this, paracetamol or ibuprofen is most often used. The itching is removed quite simply, doctors recommend the use of drugs such as: Suprastin, Diazolin or Fenistil. Also, decoctions of chamomile, oak bark or sage help well.
Skin rashes should be regularly treated with antibacterial ointments or antiseptic solutions. You can use brilliant green or a solution of potassium permanganate for this. It is they who can help ensure that bacterial components do not join the infection. Chickenpox is more easily tolerated if the patient uses antiviral drugs during treatment. Especially popular in the fight against this infection was "Acyclovir".
To avoid serious complications, it is recommended to introduce the patient with immunoglobulin, which will help the body cope with the disease. Many are interested in the question of when you can swim with chickenpox in adolescents. A teenager is not allowed to swim until the body temperature returns to normal. You can take a shower without using shampoos, soaps, washcloths. Only a short rinse in warm water will suffice. After bathing, you can not rub the body with a towel. Allowed only to slightly blot it.
Prevention of chickenpox in adolescents
Scientists have not yet come up with a better way to prevent adolescence than vaccination. You can get this vaccine at any age. A child under the age of thirteen will be sufficient for a single administration of the vaccine. An injection is usually done in the shoulder or under the shoulder blade.
Adults and children over the age of thirteen receive two injections with a frequency of ten years. Experts say that only one percent of vaccinated children and adults showed signs of a mild stage of the disease, which passed quickly and without complications.
Every parent should not forget that chickenpox is particularly difficult in adolescents. And the older a person becomes, the more difficult it will be for him to transfer this ailment. But do not rush to get a vaccine, if at a preschool age you have not found manifestations of chickenpox in a child. Since in babies it can proceed so imperceptibly that parents do not pay attention to the appearance of a pair of pimples that quickly pass. Before a teenager is vaccinated against chickenpox, you need to take an antibody test to make sure that he was not ill with this disease in childhood. Since vaccination can lead to re-infection.
Effective drug
Very popular among doctors is the lotion "Kalamin", which has established itself on the positive side for quite some time. For almost twenty years, Kalamin has received only positive reviews and is able to cure many skin diseases.
This drug in a short period can save you from itching, relieve inflammation, dry the dermis well, which is especially important with chickenpox, and when it is used, swelling and irritation quickly disappear, the skin cools and calms down. For its not too high price, Kalamin Lotion works real miracles with the manifestation of many skin diseases.
Contraindications to the use of "Calamine"
Before using each drug, it is necessary to study the instructions to avoid unforeseen consequences. However, the reviews about "Kalamina" and the instruction itself insist that it has no contraindications and can be used for children from birth. The only contraindication to use can only be individual intolerance to any components of the drug.
It is important to know that the price of Calamine Lotion depends on the pharmacy where it was purchased. However, if we talk about average indicators, then the cost is about seven hundred rubles. This is not a very expensive drug, especially considering its properties and ability to get rid of the problem.
Conclusion
The article maximally disclosed the question of how chickenpox occurs in young people. We examined chickenpox symptoms, treatment, and the incubation period in adolescents. As you can see, the disease at this age is extremely difficult, but with properly organized treatment and patient care, you can quickly get rid of this ailment and get a minimum of consequences for the child.