Chickenpox - so in common people chicken pox is called . Let's figure out where it comes from, consider its symptoms, how children and adults carry it, and what complications it can cause. Is there a temperature with chickenpox?
general characteristics
Chickenpox is an infectious disease. The causative agent of chickenpox is a virus of the Herpesviridae family. He can live and multiply only inside the body. The source of infection is a sick person. The transmission route is airborne. In other words, you can become infected with it not only by direct contact with a sick person, but simply by being in the same room with him. However, the virus itself is extremely unstable and dies quite quickly outside the body. Most often, children from 1 to 10 years old get sick, but sometimes teenagers and adults get sick. A person becomes contagious to others around a couple of days before the rash appears, and remains so until the end of the disease. The entrance gates of the infection are the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. From there, multiplying, the virus enters the bloodstream. Is there a temperature with chickenpox? Let's look at the clinical picture of the disease.
Symptoms
Is there a temperature for chickenpox? What are the main symptoms of the disease? The incubation period of chickenpox is quite long - 10-21 days. Sometimes a disease has a prodromal period, i.e. sort of, time for preliminary symptoms. As a rule, this is an increase in temperature to 37.5–38, headache, general weakness and malaise. Vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain are sometimes possible.
Chickenpox can begin immediately with characteristic rashes on the body. First of all, the rash appears on the hips, shoulders, chest and abdomen. Moreover, the palms and soles of the feet, as a rule, are free from rashes.
An important detail - rashes, as a rule, do not occur immediately, but in several stages, within 2-5 days, and each such stage is accompanied by an increase in temperature.
The rashes themselves first have the appearance of red spots of small size, on the site of which then small bubbles form. Usually over time, they burst and heal without a trace. If suppuration has occurred, then characteristic small scars may remain in this place.
Course of the disease
There is also a temperature with chickenpox in children. Usually their disease is fast, and ends in a full recovery. The temperature during chickenpox in children, as a rule, lasts up to 5 days. By the fifth day, rashes usually stop and the disease "fades." A sick child develops stable immunity, and re-infection is very unlikely. General condition usually suffers slightly.
Do children always have temperature with chickenpox? No, in mild cases, the disease can occur without it at all.
The chickenpox in adults is harder. Symptoms and treatment are similar, but the disease manifests itself much harder. As a rule, rashes are more massive, up to the full coverage of the back and chest. In addition, in adults there is a more pronounced deterioration in the general condition. The likelihood of complications also increases manifold, but we will talk about this separately.
Treatment and prevention
What should I do if chickenpox appears in adults? Symptoms and treatment are similar to those for childhood illness, but the possibility of complications must be excluded. If a disease is detected, it is necessary to see a doctor who will prescribe treatment.
With uncomplicated forms of special therapy for the treatment of chickenpox in children is not required. The main task is to prevent a secondary infection, i.e., to avoid suppuration at the site of the rash. For this purpose, various antibacterial agents for external use are used. This is an alcoholic solution of brilliant green, an aqueous solution of potassium permanganate. Perhaps the use of antibacterial ointments. If the temperature keeps above 38, the doctor may prescribe antipyretic drugs.
How long does the child have chickenpox? In classic cases, up to 5 days. In cases where the temperature lasts longer, rises more than 38.5, and with a sharp deterioration in the general condition, it is necessary to immediately seek medical help.
Adults with chickenpox, in addition to the above treatment, the doctor may prescribe antiviral drugs. Patients are prescribed bed rest. Can there be chickenpox without temperature in adults? No, almost always this disease is accompanied by high rates of the thermometer and poor health.
Among preventive measures, timely isolation of patients should be highlighted. Therefore, you should call a doctor at home, and not go to the clinic yourself.
Today, there are special vaccines for chickenpox, which allow you to form a stable immunity and avoid the disease.
Atypical forms
All of the above is true for typical forms of the course of chickenpox. But there are also atypical ones, which are much more difficult. Often they are fatal.
The lightest atypical form is rudimentary. With it, the rashes do not reach their full size, are scarce, look like barely noticeable bubbles.
In people suffering from rare diseases of the circulatory system, a hemorrhagic form can be observed. During the course of the disease, the bladders themselves are filled with bloody contents, while hemorrhages on the skin and mucous membranes can be observed. Bleeding from the gums and nose may appear. When the rash dries up, black crusts appear that sit deep in the skin and often ulcerate.
A “bullous" form of the disease is possible when, along with the usual vesicles, large flaccid bubbles with thin walls form on the skin . When bursting, they can form weeping, poorly healing wounds.
With the gangrenous form, necrotic changes in the skin are observed, it is characterized by severe intoxication of the body and high mortality. Fortunately, it occurs infrequently, and, as a rule, in people whose immunity is greatly weakened.
The generalized form is characterized by damage to internal organs and is extremely difficult, often leading to death.
All the forms described above are extremely rare, and develop against the background of other serious diseases.
Complications
As we said above, chickenpox is more severe in adults than in children, and the risk of developing complications is much higher. Among them, pneumonia, encephalitis, arthritis, loss or loss of vision can be distinguished.
With pneumonia, as a rule, the temperature rises sharply, shortness of breath, chest pain appears. Possible cough with spotting. All this occurs at the peak of rashes on the body.
Encephalitis is characterized by worsening general condition, nausea, headache. Symptoms usually begin from 5-15 days of the course of the disease.
Other complications are extremely rare. To avoid them, you must consult a doctor, follow his instructions and monitor your condition.
To summarize
So, we found out how much the temperature is kept with chickenpox in a child, and how much in an adult. We became aware of the methods of infection, the symptoms and complications of chickenpox. Briefly summarized. In children, chickenpox proceeds quite easily, the temperature lasts about 5 days, mild cases are possible without it at all. In adults, the disease is much worse. Often there is a high temperature with chickenpox, poor health. The disease is often accompanied by complications. The doctor must choose the treatment and it includes antiviral and antipyretic drugs, if necessary, and means to prevent secondary infection.
Be healthy!