Chickenpox in adults: symptoms and treatment

Chickenpox is a pathology that is provoked by the Varicella zoster virus . It is attributed to childhood infections, because most often the disease occurs in children and is quite easily tolerated by them. But if in childhood it was not possible to get sick, then in the adult state there is a high probability of catching the virus. Symptoms of chickenpox in adults are much brighter, and the disease is quite difficult, there is a risk of serious complications. How to recognize pathology in the first stages, and what are the features of treatment? We will talk about this later.

Sources of infection

The main source of the spread of pathogenic virus is a person with chickenpox. The causative agent can not be transmitted through things, and in the environment its rather rapid death occurs. The virus is volatile, therefore, it can simultaneously affect a large number of people.

The human body is quite susceptible to the pathogen, so the symptoms of chickenpox in adults can almost always be observed after contact with the patient. Unless, of course, there is an immunity that forms after a childhood illness.

Rarely, but still there are cases in medical practice of re-infection with chickenpox. In this category of patients are those who have a strongly depressed immune system. This is possible in some cases:

• Long stressful situations.
• Permanent stay in the cold.
• Autoimmune pathologies: hepatitis, HIV.
• Infectious diseases.
• Long-term treatment with antibiotics or steroids.
• Abdominal surgery.
• Heavy physical exertion.

Treatment of adults with chickenpox symptoms should be immediately arranged. The incubation period is from 2 to 3 weeks, most often 14-17 days. After this time, if the body could not cope with the virus, you will have to observe in all its glory the unpleasant manifestations of pathology.

Features of chickenpox in adult patients

Children are much easier to tolerate chickenpox, because until a certain time it protects their own immunity and even maternal well. But after 18 years, the immune system is not able to withstand the attacks of the virus, so the signs of chickenpox in adults and the symptoms of the disease have their own distinctive features:

• The pathology of the adult body is very difficult to tolerate.
• Symptoms of intoxication are very pronounced.
• Often temperature readings reach 40 degrees.
• Rashes may not always appear on the first day.
• The rash is very common with the formation of volumetric pustules.

• Most patients develop complications.
• The most severe chickenpox in adults shows its symptoms in patients older than 50 years.

It is important to understand how the disease begins, what manifestations can be observed after infection, in order to urgently take measures.

Stages of chickenpox development

The course of the disease involves the passage of the following stages:

1. Infection. At this point, the first symptoms of chickenpox in adults are not yet manifested. The virus is embedded in the epithelial tissue and begins to multiply.
2. Prodromal stage. The virus with blood flow is actively spreading throughout the body. The immune system is activated and begins to synthesize immunoglobulins. You can observe the first symptoms of chickenpox in adults, which can resemble any infectious pathology.
3. The acute stage. Rashes begin to appear on the patient's body. There is a “charm” of the disease in all its manifestations.
4. Stage of recovery. Normalization of the state occurs, the rashes gradually dry out.

As one stage of development is transformed into another, the symptomatology also changes.

Signs of the initial stage of the disease

The first bells of pathology begin to appear already 14-17 days after contact with a chickenpox patient. It is important to know the initial symptoms, so as not to confuse it with an infectious disease. It perfectly demonstrates the first symptoms of chickenpox in adult photos. They are as follows:

• Muscle pain
• General weakness.
• Headache.

• Fever.

At this stage, rarely does anyone consult a doctor, believing that the manifestations are caused by a catarrhal disease or SARS.

Symptoms of the acute stage of the disease

The first symptoms of chickenpox in adults (a photo of the initial stage perfectly demonstrates them) are replaced by specific manifestations of the disease. In children, as a rule, rashes appear, and body temperature begins to decline. In adults, the course is more severe, the following manifestations are observed:

• The temperature rises to 39-40 degrees.
• The symptoms of intoxication of the body are amplified.
• Vomiting begins, stool is disturbed.
• Vesicular eruptions appear on the skin. They can merge, forming large plaques with purulent contents. As the bubbles burst, a dry crust appears on the skin. Rashes are usually very itchy.

• There is an increase in lymph nodes. Most often, nodes in the groin, on the stomach, in the armpits are susceptible to this.
• A cyclical course can be observed, when the symptomatology weakens, then worsens with a new force.
• High risk of complications.

The symptoms of chickenpox in adults depend on the severity of the pathology. The photo on the first day of the acute period demonstrates the complexity of the situation.

The nature of the rash during chickenpox in adults

If in children rashes are usually characterized by single vesicles with watery contents, then adults have their own characteristics of a rash:

• Polymorphic character. At the same time, blisters, inflamed rashes, pustules and crusts can be seen on the skin.
• Rashes appear undulating.
• New items can be formed up to 4 days.
• Most of the rashes on the face, head, trunk.
• There is a chance of a rash on the mucous membranes with a high probability of ulceration.
• The rash is profuse, accompanied by severe itching and sometimes soreness.

Depending on the severity of chickenpox, rashes can stay on the body for a different period of time.

Principles of Therapy

We examined above how the symptoms of chickenpox in adults manifest at different stages. Further, it is important to understand the principles of treatment. Therapy is possible at home if there are no serious indications for hospitalization.

If chickenpox symptoms are found in adults, and treatment is prescribed by a doctor, then all recommendations and instructions must be followed

The principles of therapy include:

• Bed rest.
• Taking medications.
• Use as a complement to traditional medicine recipes.
• Taking multivitamins and drinking plenty of fluids.
  

It is also important to adhere to the following recommendations:

• If possible, isolate a sick person.

• Exclude any physical activity.
• At high temperatures, observe bed rest. This will help to avoid serious complications.
• Increase the amount of fluid.
• Revise the diet, include low-carb meals with a normal amount of protein.
• Water procedures are not prohibited, but do not rub the skin with a washcloth. After wet slightly, so as not to break the drying crust.
• To prevent infection when combing rashes, you need to monitor the cleanliness of your hands and nails.

If all the requirements are observed, it will be noticeable how quickly the symptoms of chickenpox in adults decrease in intensity, and the treatment will be completed successfully.

Medication for chickenpox

With the development of pathology, certain groups of drugs are prescribed for a speedy recovery.

1. Given that the pathology is provoked by viruses, one can not do without antiviral agents. The doctor prescribes: "Acyclovir", "Famciclovir."
2. To reduce the intensity of the itching, "Suprastin", "Cetirizine" are prescribed.
3. At high temperatures, antipyretic drugs should be taken.
4. In the presence of a large number of purulent rashes, antibiotic administration is indicated. This, for example, "Oxacillin", "Cefazolin."
5. To reduce intoxication in severe cases of the disease, a glucose solution, reopoliglukin, is prescribed intravenously.
6. In the most severe cases, specific antibodies to the virus may be administered.

Any self-medication is unacceptable, this is fraught with the development of complications.

External remedies for chickenpox

Not only taking medications inside is necessary during an illness. The symptoms of chickenpox in adults will be much faster (in the photo) and the treatment will be effective if external agents are used.

Among them, the following can be recommended:

• Antiseptic agents: brilliant green, Castellani paint. With severe itching, zelenka can be replaced with potassium permanganate.
• If ulcers appear on the mucous membranes, use “Furacilin”, boric acid for processing.

• Ointments with antibacterial effect, if bacterial infection has joined.

All external products must be applied precisely with a cotton swab.

Folk recipes against the manifestations of the disease

In adults, the symptoms and signs of chickenpox will be much faster if folk remedies are added to medical methods of therapy. The most effective are the following:

• Combine olive oil and bergamot essential oil. Mix rashes with a mixture. The procedure relieves itching, reduces the inflammatory process.
• Prepare a celandine broth from 60 grams of grass and a liter of water. After insisting, add to bathing water.
• 20 grams of calendula flowers pour 500 ml of boiling water and leave to infuse. Means to wipe neatly affected areas of the skin.
• In case of sores in the oral cavity, rinse with sage infusion: pour 20 ml of boiling water into the grass and insist.
• Wipe the skin with a decoction of barley. Prepare at the rate of 1 part of grain and 5 parts of water.

This article discusses the symptoms and treatment of chickenpox in adults, but it is important to remember that the pathology is fraught with serious complications.

Severe consequences of the disease

Many people consider chickenpox to be a childhood infection, so adults mistakenly assume that it is not worth paying special attention to therapy. After a while, everything will pass by itself. But this is a big mistake, it is in adult patients that most often the pathology is accompanied by severe complications:

• Herpetic eruptions in the respiratory system.
• The development of tracheitis and pneumonia.
• Respiratory failure.
• Stomatitis.
• Damage to the liver and kidneys, which are forced to actively fight the virus.
• The appearance of lesions in the nervous system, the development of meningitis, brain cysts.
• Joint diseases.
• Problems with the heart and blood vessels.
• Inflammatory processes in the genitals.
• Scars on the skin and atrophic changes as a result of purulent rashes and their combs.

It is possible to reduce not only the intensity of the symptoms of chickenpox in adults, but also the risk of complications if treatment is started in a timely manner.

Chickenpox during pregnancy

If a woman did not suffer from pathology in childhood and did not vaccinate against the disease, then for her, infection during the period of gestation of the baby can become especially dangerous. The symptoms and treatment of chickenpox in adults are discussed above, the photos demonstrate the severity of the course of the disease. A pregnant woman who is in contact with a patient in the absence of immunity will necessarily become infected. During this period, the immune system experiences heavy loads, so re-infection is not excluded, but in this case the pathology will be much easier.

With the primary development of chickenpox, the features are as follows:

• Symptoms are pronounced.
• High risk of developing hemorrhagic, gangrenous forms of pathology.
• The risk of developing respiratory failure increases, in severe situations a fatal outcome is possible.
• High probability of neurological complications.
• There is a risk of abortion.
• A child may develop a congenital form of chickenpox.

The most dangerous for a woman and her baby is infection during the first three months and the last. Chickenpox at the beginning of pregnancy is fraught with a defeat in the fetus of the cerebral cortex and underdevelopment of the limbs. At a later date, developmental delay, convulsive syndrome can be observed.

Therapy of chickenpox in a woman in an interesting position categorically does not allow self-medication. This can be dangerous for the future mother and her baby.

How to prevent infection

With the help of prevention and treatment, the symptoms of chickenpox in adults can be eliminated and complications can be avoided if you consult a doctor in a timely manner. Prevention is to prevent contact with patients with chickenpox. If such a person appeared in the family, and some do not have the vaccine and stable immunity to the disease, then the infected should be isolated from the rest of the family.

At this time, the house should be aired more often, do wet cleaning, and monitor personal hygiene. But given the volatility of the pathological virus, most preventative measures will not bring results. In order to develop a stable immunity in the body, vaccination is needed. Vaccination against chickenpox is not mandatory, but it can be done on a personal request.

Be sure to vaccinate at present in the following categories:

• To babies.
• Adults who are at risk. This includes patients with leukemia undergoing corticosteroid therapy, as well as those awaiting transplant surgery.
• Immunodeficiency patients.

Even the vaccine given in the first 3 days after contact with the patient is considered an emergency aid. The drug "Okavax" is administered once, and "Varilix" is recommended to be administered twice with an interval of 2-3 months. After vaccination, a stable immunity is formed. It should also be noted that, in contrast to antibodies formed after the disease, the vaccine is also able to protect against shingles.

Here is a childhood infection that behaves in a way that is not childish in adults. A negligent attitude to your health during this period is fraught with serious consequences.