Chicken pox is a viral disease. Most people believe that the infection is childhood and does not occur in adults. Contrary to popular belief, an illness in 10% of cases is diagnosed in people over 17 years of age. At the same time, the treatment of chickenpox in adults should be treated especially carefully, since the disease, as a rule, is difficult, often provoking the occurrence of dangerous complications.
Pathogen
It is a virus from the herpetic family - Varicella Zoster. It has the highest degree of infectiousness, that is, you can get chickenpox by simply walking along the corridor in which the sick person was for some time. In most cases, outbreaks of infection are observed in institutions.
Having been ill once, a person, as a rule, acquires a lifelong immunity to the virus. In rare cases, under the influence of negative factors, the disease awakens again in the form of shingles.
Development mechanism
The main way to infect a healthy person is airborne. The virus is extremely volatile, and a second contact with a person who already has characteristic symptoms is enough for infection.
The pathogen is released into the environment from the biological material of the patient a day before the rash appears on his body. From the moment of infection to the onset of the first symptoms, approximately 1.5-2 weeks pass - this is the incubation period of chickenpox. There is no treatment in adults at this time, since the patient practically does not feel any discomfort. Due to this, the pathogen freely penetrates the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract. Through it, it enters the blood and lymphatic fluid, rapidly spreads throughout the body and multiplies at great speed.
Symptoms
As the pathogen spreads, a person may complain of general malaise and rapid fatigue. Immediately before the onset of the rash, his well-being worsens, during this period he himself becomes a source of infection. In most cases, people attribute the ailments to the onset of a common cold.
Soon, a rash appears on the human body - the first characteristic sign of chickenpox in adults. Treatment, as a rule, begins at this stage of the development of the disease.
The typical symptoms of the disease in adults are:
- high body temperature;
- aching muscles and joints;
- headache.
Often chickenpox is accompanied by more serious signs indicating involvement in the pathological process of the nervous system:
- muscle cramps;
- hypersensitivity to light;
- nauseous, turning into vomiting;
- impaired coordination of movements.
The standard clinical picture of the disease is formed, as a rule, by the 5th day after the rash on the body. In almost all cases, inflammation appears not only on the skin, but also on the mucous membranes covering: genitals, oral cavity, and respiratory tract. During the formation of new papules, body temperature can increase to the maximum allowable values.
Often a secondary infection joins the rash. As a rule, this is due to combing of existing rashes. In this case, the papules do not heal for a long time, in their place weeping zones and ulcers form, which is fraught with abscesses and necrosis of the skin.
Symptoms of the disease also depend on its type. Chicken pox can be:
- Typical. This is a mild form in which the body temperature rises slightly and a mild rash appears only on the skin.
- Moderate New inflammation forms within 5 days, while they affect both the skin and mucous membranes. Symptoms of intoxication are present, body temperature rises to 39 degrees.
- Heavy. A profuse rash is localized throughout the body, affecting the mucous membranes. In addition, body temperature rises and signs of intoxication are pronounced. This form requires serious treatment - chickenpox in adults in this case affects the nervous system, meninges and internal organs.
- Gangrenous. It is characterized by secondary infection of inflamed areas, which occurs against the background of a weakening of the body's defenses. With this form, it is necessary to use drugs with antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects for the treatment of chickenpox in adults.
- Hemorrhagic. The most rare form, characterized by the appearance of bleeding in the area of the rash. The prognosis in most cases is unfavorable.
- Generalized. With this form of the disease, the virus infects internal organs and systems, disrupting their work. Often this happens against the background of artificially weakened immunity, for example, with chemotherapy.
Without the lack of timely treatment, chickenpox in an adult can lead to extremely negative consequences. At the first alarming symptoms, seek medical attention.
Treatment
In most cases, it is carried out at home. In severe forms of the disease, the patient can be moved to a hospital (in the infectious ward).
The process of standard treatment of chickenpox in adults at home involves the following steps:
- Isolating the patient. He should not be in contact with people, especially those who have never had chickenpox, as they lack immunity to the pathogen.
- The organization of bed rest. The patient should be constantly at rest. At elevated body temperature and symptoms of damage to the nervous system, any physical activity is prohibited.
- Compliance with the drinking regime. It is necessary to significantly increase the daily intake of fluid. It is recommended to give preference to berry fruit drinks.
- Follow a diet. Adjusting the diet for the period of the disease involves reducing the amount of carbohydrates.
- Daily body hygiene. Allowed only to take a shower, the water should be warm. Using a washcloth and scrubs is strictly prohibited. After water procedures, you need to gently pat your body with a towel so as not to damage the crust or papules.
- To bring down the temperature only if the thermometer has risen above 38 degrees. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are suitable for this purpose. With chickenpox, it is forbidden to bring down the temperature with aspirin.
- Take antiviral drugs. This is necessary in order to stop the reproduction of the pathogen, prevent the appearance of new papules and accelerate the healing of existing ones, and reduce the likelihood of complications. To combat the virus, as a rule, one of the following drugs is prescribed: “Acyclovir”, “Panciclovir”, “Virolex”.
- To get rid of itching, it is necessary to take antihistamines: Suprastin, Tavegil or Diazolin.
- Twice a day , rashes should be treated with an antiseptic solution on an aqueous or alcohol basis. It will also relieve itching and speed up the healing process.
- If the rash is present on the mucous membranes, they must also be regularly treated with an antiseptic solution (for example, Furacilin).
- When a secondary infection is attached, antibiotic therapy is performed .
If the patient worsens, it is necessary to immediately call an ambulance team. Further treatment should be carried out in a hospital under the supervision of a physician.
Causes of Re-chickenpox
After recovery, the pathogen remains in the body, but does not manifest itself. With a sharp weakening of the immune system, it can again make itself felt. In most cases, the secondary disease appears as shingles. For a long time it was believed that this ailment has nothing to do with chickenpox. To date, it has been proven that the development of these pathologies occurs due to the activity of one pathogen.
Symptoms of Re-chickenpox
At the next infection, the signs of the disease are the same as with the primary. They appear shortly or simultaneously with the appearance of a rash. Moreover, it is more plentiful than the first time.
If secondary chickenpox manifests as shingles, its symptoms are as follows:
- In places of future rashes, a person feels pain, burning and severe itching.
- Inflammation appears only on one part of the body (for example, on the left or right side, arm, leg). In this case, the blisters are small and are located very close to each other, causing associations with a belt or chain.
- Acne is always filled with a clear liquid, purulent contents or blood.
- The rash appears during the day, then new blisters are then not observed.
- After ripening, acne remains on the site of acne, which heals for a very long time.
Shingles also has an extremely high degree of infectivity. Any person can get it, even someone who has not previously had chickenpox.
Re-infection treatment
As with primary infection, the goal of therapy is to relieve symptoms.
During the treatment of repeated chickenpox in an adult, it also needs to be isolated from others. The drugs are prescribed the same as during the initial infection.
Therapy duration
The treatment period for chickenpox in adults is 2-3 weeks. After getting rid of the signs of the disease, a person ceases to be a source of infection and can begin his usual activities.
Treatment of chickenpox in adults with repeated infection is longer - about a month.
Possible complications
Most people are frivolous about the disease, considering it a childhood illness. But the pathology transferred precisely at an older age can lead to various complications. That is why you need to know the methods of treating chickenpox in an adult, and the consequences that may arise.
The most common complications include:
- tracheitis;
- pneumonia;
- respiratory failure;
- herpetic stomatitis;
- damage to the liver and kidneys;
- deterioration of the musculoskeletal system;
- pathology of the cardiovascular system;
- genital diseases;
- cosmetic skin defects.
In order to reduce the risk of complications to a minimum, it is necessary to follow all the doctor's recommendations, do not comb the areas affected by the rash and carry out daily hygiene measures.
Diet
Dietary adjustment is one of the important steps in the treatment of chickenpox in adults. Compliance with the diet reduces the period of the disease, improving well-being and eliminating the rash in a shorter time.
The diet should contain boiled or steamed dishes from:
- fish;
- meat (beef, veal, lean pork, chicken);
- vegetables.
As part of the diet, it is also necessary:
- Drink plenty of fluids. It is advisable to give preference to fruit drinks and freshly squeezed juices.
- Eat fermented milk products.
- Eat fresh vegetables and sweet fruits.
Alternative methods of treatment
Using non-traditional methods does not eliminate the need to consult a doctor. Even knowing the symptoms and treatment of chickenpox in adults, as in the case of primary infection, you need to seem to a specialist. Using folk methods, you can accelerate the onset of recovery, enhancing the effect of medicines.
The most effective recipes:
- To strengthen the body's defenses. Grind 100 g of viburnum berries and mix them in 0.5 l of boiled and cooled milk. To taste, you can add honey. Drink a little during the day.
- Against itching and rash. To get rid of unpleasant symptoms, decoctions of oak bark, calendula and succession are best suited. It is necessary to moisten the cotton cloth in the liquid and attach to the affected areas. Compress can be left all day.
Prevention of chickenpox in adults
The main measure is the complete exclusion of any contact with a sick person. If one of the family members becomes infected, it is necessary to isolate him. The rest should constantly wear medical masks and wash their hands as often as possible. The room should be regularly ventilated, wet cleaning must be carried out daily.
Today, the most effective method of prevention is vaccination. Injections are optional. After the introduction of the vaccine, a stable immunity to shingles is formed.
Finally
An adult who has chickenpox suffers a severe illness. In some cases, the patient is placed in a hospital, in the infectious ward. In addition, all kinds of complications of the disease are not uncommon. To date, the most effective preventive measure is vaccination, after which a person develops a stable immunity.