Chicken pox is a very common childhood illness that many parents face. Infection occurs by airborne droplets, and when infected, characteristic rashes appear on the child's body, according to which you can diagnose the disease yourself. Despite the fact that the disease does not pose a particular danger to health and life, and the kids tolerate it very easily, nevertheless, it is worth starting treatment as soon as possible. Let's understand how the chickenpox disease occurs in children, what clinical manifestations it is accompanied by. And also consider the main methods of treatment with which you can cure a child at home.
general information
The causative agent of chickenpox in children (the onset of the disease, symptoms and photos will be described and presented later) is Varicella zoster. For life, the virus requires cells of a living organism, and in the external environment it quickly dies. An extremely dry environment and ultraviolet light are particularly damaging to it.
Ways of infection
We will dwell on this aspect in more detail. According to doctors, it is impossible not to notice the onset of chickenpox disease in children. Symptoms may be different, but the first thing a child has is a red spot on the skin. As mentioned above, the causative agent of the disease is transmitted through the air during sneezing, coughing and during communication. In medical practice, there have been cases of contact-domestic infection, but this is more an exception than a probability. In the main risk group are children of preschool and school age. Newborns have a good immunity to the virus because they are protected by the mother’s antibodies.
There is a chance of infection during pregnancy in the early stages, but only 0.4% of such cases account for the total share. In the second and third trimester, transmission of the virus from mother to fetus is completely ruled out. It is worth noting that this disease is very dangerous in the first weeks of gestation, since it can lead to the development of congenital pathologies and involuntary termination of pregnancy. Therefore, it is very important that expectant mothers take their health seriously and, when they discover any kind of herpes, they immediately go to the hospital.
Particular vigilance should be shown immediately before childbirth. When a mother develops a disease during this period, a high risk of developing congenital chickenpox disease in children is created. This form is dangerous because the child will not have immunity to the pathogen, so it can be sick throughout life, regardless of age. As for the sick kids, they easily tolerate chickenpox and quickly recover. At the same time, they develop immunity, so the likelihood of repeated relapses is reduced to zero. The only complication is the risk of developing shingles. As a rule, such a pathology makes itself felt as a result of the following factors:
- hematologic diseases;
- constant stress;
- emotional instability;
- malfunctioning of the immune system;
- cancerous tumors.
But in the vast majority of cases in children, chickenpox disease (photos of the symptoms are also presented in the article) is normal and without any consequences, so there should not be any special reason for concern.
Primary signs of the disease
What should you pay attention to first of all? Clinical manifestations are caused by general intoxication of the body. Infection of people with chickenpox occurs gradually. First, the pathogen enters the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, after which it penetrates the circulatory system, and then begins to actively isolate the products of its vital activity, which provoke the first symptoms of chickenpox disease in children. As has been repeatedly mentioned earlier, in a sick child, red spots begin to appear on the skin, which eventually become crusty. These are the primary symptoms that make it possible to diagnose a disease. High temperature, deterioration of well-being and general condition of the body are not observed. In the case of adults, things are a little more complicated. They tolerate chickenpox much worse and, in addition to visual signs, may experience nausea and vomiting.
Secondary signs of the disease
So what are they? As the disease progresses, the clinical picture may worsen. Primary signs are replaced by more characteristic and pronounced symptoms of the disease in children. These include the following:
- loss of appetite;
- increased irritability;
- hyperthermia;
- sleep disturbance.
In addition, a red rash resembling insect bites appears throughout the body. In some cases, it can even affect the eyeballs and the mucous membrane of the oral cavity. If no measures are taken, then after a certain period of time, severely itchy sores form on the epidermis. If you look at the photo of chickenpox disease in children, you will see that at first the lesions on the skin have a smooth transparent surface, but then they burst and become crusty. The main thing is to prevent the onset of suppuration, since in this case the child’s well-being may noticeably worsen. With timely treatment, the ailment completely disappears after a week, and the baby's appearance returns to normal.
Disease classification
There are several varieties of pathology. According to profiled experts, in children, the course of chickenpox disease can occur in one of three forms:
- Typical. Depending on the condition of the patient and the degree of course, it is divided into mild, moderate and severe stages. In each case, children have a high body temperature and general intoxication of the body.
- Antipic. This form is characterized by necrotic damage to the skin and soft tissues, as well as minor hemorrhages. Rashes are most often local, but can also be localized globally.
- Gangrenous. In place of red dots, deep ulcers form, which are very painful and itchy. In this case, it is better not to self-medicate, but to immediately go to the hospital.
It is worth noting that, depending on the form of chickenpox disease in children, the symptoms and treatment will be different. In order to choose the most optimal treatment program and reduce the intensity of clinical manifestations, a comprehensive examination and a course of taking medications are required.
Incubation period
It is impossible to say exactly how long the disease will make itself felt. Each case is unique and depends on many factors. According to statistics, the average incubation period of chickenpox disease in children lasts from one to three weeks. But here it all depends on the state of the immune system and the protective functions of the body. During this time, the patient poses no threat to others and is not a carrier of the virus. Quarantine is required when the amount of the pathogen in his body reaches a certain level. After this, the primary phase begins, and a few days later a characteristic rash begins to appear on the baby's body.
When to sound the alarm
This aspect should be given special attention. At the first stages of the course of the disease, there is no particular reason for concern, since this virus does not pose any danger to human health and life, nor does it cause side complications. The onset of chickenpox disease in children always goes the same way, but in some cases its course may be uncharacteristic. A significant reason for making an appointment with a doctor may be the following factors:
- clinical manifestations are intense and do not last longer than 14 days;
- rashes on the surface of the eyeball;
- spots are accompanied by intolerable itching;
- too high a temperature that does not subside for more than 2 days.
If the above symptoms are also accompanied by migraines, continuous vomiting, sleep disturbance and blurred consciousness, then this may indicate encephalitis or inflammation of the lining of the brain. These diseases are very serious, so the child needs immediate professional medical care. In addition, chickenpox in children can cause pneumonia. If you notice a strong cough in your child, and also that it is difficult for him to breathe, it is better not to put off going to the hospital, because pneumonia in some cases can be fatal.
The main methods of therapy
Let's look at them in more detail. Treatment of chickenpox disease in children should be stationary, since all activities carried out at home are aimed at reducing the intensity of clinical manifestations, and not at fighting the virus. If the disease is mild, then doctors prescribe a course of drug therapy and send the patient home. But with severe intoxication of the body, therapy should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor, so a hospital is necessary.
It is worth noting that today there is no specialized treatment for chickenpox. As a rule, the disease lasts one and a half weeks, after which the immune system manages to cope with it on its own. In this case, the child should ensure complete rest and make sure that he drank as much fluid as possible daily. To improve overall well-being, the following medicines may be prescribed:
- antipyretic - "Paracetamol" or "Acetaminophen";
- antihistamines - Tavergil or Erius;
- antiviral - "Vidarabine" or "Acyclovir".
In addition to drug therapy, it is recommended to carry out certain skin care measures. The most effective at the very beginning of the chickenpox disease in children are the following:
- healing baths prepared on the basis of oatmeal;
- rubbing the affected areas of the epidermis with diluted alcohol or vinegar;
- skin treatment with glycerin.
Also today, many qualified specialists recommend using Calamine Lotion. It was developed specifically for the treatment of chickenpox. Thanks to the unique chemical formula and composition, the product excellently relieves itching, and also activates regenerative processes in the human body, as a result of which the skin is restored much faster.
If chickenpox disease manifests itself in preschool children, so that they do not comb the rash, you should cut off your nails and also put on gloves for the night. Also, in order to speed up the recovery time, babies need to bathe several times a day in warm water, to which they add a little baking soda. It adversely affects the causative agent of the disease and significantly increases the effectiveness of antiviral drugs.
To reduce the likelihood of chickenpox developing in the middle and complex stages, as well as to prevent intoxication, vaccination with drugs such as Okavax and Varilrix is carried out. The drugs are administered intravenously for three days from the date of the alleged infection. However, there are opponents of the use of these medicines, since their effect on the body and the possible consequences are not fully understood.
What to do with the formation of ulcers
So what do you need to know about this? The timing of chickenpox disease in children can be different. The duration of therapy depends not only on how quickly treatment was started and what drugs were used, but also on the state of immunity, as well as on the form and stage of the course of the disease. Very often, itching ulcers appear on the site of rashes in patients. To prevent the formation of ulcers and infection, they should be treated with antiseptics. For example, a solution of potassium permanganate and ordinary zelenka are considered good. They cauterize and disinfect bursting bubbles.
However, it is undesirable to start independently treating sores with brilliant green without first consulting a pediatrician. The thing is that they are not always associated with chickenpox. There are a number of diseases with similar symptoms, which will be much more difficult to diagnose with filled bubbles. Therefore, before starting treatment, it is necessary to make an accurate diagnosis.
Foreign hospitals have long abandoned the use of greenbacks. You can assess the stage of the course of the disease by the appearance of the rashes. You can see this for yourself if you look at the photo of chickenpox in children. At the beginning of the disease, the vesicles are fresh, and as soon as they begin to dry out, you can diagnose the final stage, after which there is a complete recovery. Instead of brilliant green it is better to use "Fukortsin". This is a modern antiseptic that kills pathogenic microflora and viruses, dries wounds and accelerates the regeneration of soft tissues. But here you need to be very careful, since the choice of a particular drug depends on the intensity and severity of the symptoms. Therefore, you should first make an appointment with the doctor and undergo an examination and only after that proceed with treatment.
A few words about the diet
In children, chickenpox disease is accompanied by a lack of appetite. Many parents begin to make their child eat, which is not worth it. The kid does not want to eat because of intoxication. As soon as it passes, the appetite will return to the patient. Throughout the treatment, the diet of children should consist of simple and easily digestible dishes. To support the immune system and replenish the supply of vitamins and minerals, an essential component of daily nutrition is fresh fruits and vegetables. You also need to give dishes of oatmeal, barley and rice. These cultures have an enveloping effect that has a positive effect on treatment.
Pumpkin, carrot and celery juice contribute well to increase the protective functions of the body. And to restore the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, it is necessary to give the child dairy products. With chickenpox, drinking regimen is of no small importance. However, it is better to replace ordinary water with herbal teas and cranberry juice. Abundant drinking helps to eliminate toxins from the body, so intoxication will pass faster.
Preventive actions
What are they and what is their feature? To prevent infection in other children, a sick child should be quarantined. Its duration can be from 10 to 20 days, depending on the severity of the course of the disease. In addition, at the end of the main treatment program, it is recommended to drink anti-veterinary immunoglobulin. As for vaccination, it is undesirable to do it. The thing is that it is very difficult to predict the consequences that will result in the introduction of a weakened virus into the body. Such measures can lead to very serious consequences, getting rid of which is much more difficult than defeating the chickenpox virus.
Possible complications
This aspect is worth exploring in the first place. If the baby has had chickenpox once, in most cases the disease does not leave any serious complications. However, this cannot be said about reinfection. It can cause the following:
- purulent inflammation of the soft tissues;
- phlegmon;
- sepsis;
- pneumonia;
- laryngitis;
- tracheitis;
- hepatitis;
- inflammatory joint damage;
- myocarditis;
- kidney inflammation;
- keratitis;
- encephalitis;
- meningitis;
- trembling of the upper limbs;
- impaired functioning of the vestibular apparatus;
- mental disorders;
- partial or complete loss of vision.
According to medical statistics, in most cases chickenpox in children passes normally, after which they develop immunity to the causative agent of the disease. Complications most often develop in adults who in childhood did not have this disease.
What do parents write in reviews of the disease
Many adults are interested in the question of how long the chickenpox disease lasts in children and how dangerous it is. According to mothers and fathers, whose child suffered the disease, chickenpox is easily tolerated and quickly passes. On average, it takes 10 to 14 days to fully recover, but the symptoms go away by the eighth day after infection. However, despite this, parents in the reviews advise not to risk the health of their child, but at the first clinical manifestations immediately go to the hospital. Only a qualified specialist can make an accurate diagnosis and choose the right therapy.