Chickenpox is an acute systemic disease that occurs mainly in children. It begins with the appearance of moderate general symptoms, which turns into rashes on the skin, quickly spreading throughout the body.
Treatment for chickenpox is carried out using antiviral drugs, as well as local remedies. As preventive measures, vaccination is used.
What is a disease?
Chickenpox is an infectious disease of a viral nature. Its distinguishing feature is the appearance of rashes on the skin in the form of very small vesicles.
After a previous illness, immunity is formed. It is worth noting that this virus is able to infect many skin cells and mucous membranes. Often the disease proceeds in a fairly mild form. Severe damage can occur in people with reduced immunity, as well as predisposed to allergic reactions.
Particular care should be taken during pregnancy, since the virus very easily penetrates the placenta and enters the fetal blood. He poses the greatest danger during pregnancy for up to 20 weeks.
How can you get infected
The chickenpox virus is very volatile, but in the external environment it can live no more than an hour. The source of infection is a sick person. However, it is worth noting that the virus does not have sufficient resistance, which is why it can not be transmitted through objects.
Despite the fact that chicken pox and type 1 herpes are different, a child may develop chickenpox in contact with a person who has a cold on his lips. In this case, the disease is much more complicated.
When the patient is not contagious
A person becomes contagious when he does not even know about the presence of chicken pox, about 2-3 days before the occurrence of characteristic rashes. The rash may form a few days after infection. The patient ceases to be contagious when a new rash does not appear, and the old one is covered with a crust and gradually passes.
When the vesicles heal a little, it means that the virus no longer stands out. The duration of quarantine is 2-3 weeks from the moment of the formation of rashes.
What are the forms
Treatment for chickenpox is selected strictly individually. It can be of several types and differs in the course of its course; typical and atypical can be distinguished. The latter, in turn, are divided into:
- hemorrhagic;
- rudimentary;
- generalized;
- gangrenous.
Typical smallpox is a disease with severe rashes. A severe degree of the disease is very rare, often in children with a poor immune system and adults, it is characterized by prolonged fever, and signs such as:
- headache;
- loss of consciousness;
- vomiting
- cramps.
The rash is quite plentiful, large, and there may also be elements with a certain depression in the center. The rudimentary form is most often observed in children who received plasma in the incubation period. The rash is not very pronounced, with isolated small formations. Overall health is quite satisfactory.
The hemorrhagic form is found in debilitated children suffering from diathesis. Subcutaneous hemorrhages are observed. all this can lead to the death of the patient.
Sometimes there is a gangrenous form of the disease. It develops in weakened children, when with poor care, it becomes possible to attach an infection. Initially, the vesicles acquire a hemorrhagic character, and then the inflammatory process joins. After the crusts fall off, deep ulcers with torn edges form. The patient's health is quite severe, and the course of the disease is long.
The generalized form is found mainly in newborns, and sometimes in adults with immunodeficiency. It is characterized by the presence of intoxication.
Causes of occurrence
Before determining how the treatment of chickenpox is carried out, you need to know exactly the reasons that triggered the onset of this disease.
It is believed that the greatest susceptibility to chickenpox in children 1-5 years old. When infected at school age, the disease is very acute, in a complicated form. Adults are also susceptible to this disease, and if they have not been ill with them in childhood, then they carry chickenpox very hard.
General symptoms
Symptoms and treatment of chickenpox largely depend on the characteristics of the course of the disease, as well as its form. This infection begins with a slight malaise and a slight increase in temperature. After a few days, the first rashes form, which are small spots of red. A rash appears on any part of the body.
Then these spots are gradually compacted, filled with liquid, while small bubbles form. A person feels a rather severe itching of the skin. The fluid contained in these vesicles is highly contagious, as it contains many live viruses.
Usually there are several stages of the formation of a rash on the patient's body. They occur within 7-10 days with a break of 1-2 days. Each such stage of rashes is accompanied by a periodic rise and a sharp decrease in temperature. During this period, a person feels weakness, irritability, sleep and appetite are disturbed. As the bubbles dry, a crust forms and the temperature normalizes.
There are cases when the rash is completely absent. The disease is characterized by the fact that there is intoxication of the body and severe pain. With the flow of the ocular and ear forms of chickenpox, the rash is localized in the trigeminal nerve. There may be blisters on the nose, mucous membranes of the eyes and lips.
The recovery period begins approximately 10 days after the onset of the disease. At the same time, temperature, general health are normalized, and after 1-2 weeks the crusts disappear. Symptoms and treatment of chickenpox in an adult are more complex than in a child, since the disease mainly proceeds in a severe form.
The course of the disease in children
Symptoms and treatment of chickenpox in children can vary greatly, since the child’s immune system and the severity of the disease are important. From the moment of the appearance of the first rashes on the body, their number can increase simply instantly or vice versa, slowly, it all depends on the state of immunity. Each element of the rash from a small pink dot quickly turns into a rounded spot protruding above the skin, with a seal inside and a liquid outside.
After a certain time, the bubble bursts on its own and becomes covered with a crust that falls off and leaves no residue on the skin. At the same time, a pink dense spot remains and disappears for another 2 weeks. If pimples appear again, then they are not so large, since the child began to develop immunity. When the first symptoms of chickenpox appear in children, treatment should be started immediately, so that a good result can be achieved.
During this period, lymph nodes may increase, especially on the neck and behind the ears. They can remain inflamed for several days after a completely complete cure of the disease. Basically, skin rashes pass on their own, leaving absolutely no residue. However, if you comb them, you can bring the infection, resulting in pustules. In this case, life-long scars remain that are outwardly similar to smallpox. Recovery occurs no earlier than 10 days after the formation of the very first rashes.
The severity of the course of the disease largely depends on the age of the child. Often the disease in babies 1-7 years old is quite easy and does not provoke complications, therefore, special therapy is not required. Treatment of chickenpox in children in this case comes down to monitoring the rashes. Treatment of the rash with brilliant green can be prescribed, since this agent has a drying effect and prevents the penetration of microbes into the wound. In addition, it is possible to carry out treatment with the Castellani drug. In many countries, Kalamin Lotion is used, which has an antiseptic effect, reduces the severity of itching, facilitating the course of the disease.
The treatment of chickenpox in children at home implies the observance of a special diet, which implies the consumption of dairy products, fresh vegetables and fruits. It is important to follow all the requirements and rules of personal hygiene. To reduce the severity of itching, the doctor may prescribe antihistamines. Reduce the temperature only if it is above 38 degrees.
Treatment of chickenpox in adolescents is more complicated, as various complications can occur. In some cases, hospitalization and ongoing medical supervision may be required.
Treatment of chickenpox in children under one year of age is mainly carried out in a hospital, as this condition can be very dangerous for the baby. It is recommended to exclude bathing the child until the moment when the rashes are not covered with dense crusts. You also need to give your baby an antipyretic according to the instructions, but you can not exceed the dosage. It is important to treat the skin 2 times a day with special means that help to dry the rash.
Features of rashes with chickenpox
To determine the standards for the treatment of chickenpox, you need to know what rashes are characterized by. Sometimes a doctor may mistakenly diagnose chickenpox with atopic dermatitis. To exclude the presence of allergies, initially you need to exclude various allergens from the diet. With an allergy, rashes should no longer appear, and this will not affect the chickenpox at all.
In addition, with atopic dermatitis, the rash becomes larger each time, and after the crust falls off, it does not disappear, but rather increases, crackes or gets wet. With chickenpox there will be no rashes on the feet and palms.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis and treatment of chickenpox in the clinic are carried out very carefully so that it is possible to exclude the presence of other diseases and achieve a quick recovery without complications. Diagnostic measures present absolutely no difficulties. The presence of the disease can be determined on the basis of clinical data, taking into account the history.
Chickenpox may be suspected in patients with characteristic rashes. In some cases, apply:
- virological;
- biological;
- serological research methods.
Virusoscopic diagnostics consists in staining fluid from bubbles with the silvering method, which makes it possible to determine the presence of viruses. From serological methods, ELISA, RSK are used. The main diagnostic method is PCR. In addition, certain antibodies to chickenpox virus can be detected.
In the event of complications associated with significant damage to the nervous system, additional consultation with a neurologist is required. It may also be necessary to conduct a diagnosis by a surgeon with a deep lesion of the skin.
Disease treatment
The treatment of chickenpox is carried out mainly at home, the exception is only a severe form of the disease. To ease the patient's well-being, he is prescribed antipyretic drugs, lubricate the vesicles with antiseptic agents, and antihistamines are used for itching.
Treatment of chickenpox in adults with poor immunity or receiving chemotherapy, glucocorticoids is carried out in a hospital, as there is a high probability of serious complications. In moderate cases, only symptomatic therapy is required. Treatment of chickenpox in adults in this case is aimed at reducing itching, as well as preventing the formation of a secondary infection. Special gauze compresses, antiallergenic drugs, as well as lotions based on the infusion of oats can be very useful.
To prevent the attachment of a bacterial infection, you need to regularly take a shower or bath, strictly keep the bedding clean. Antiseptic drugs for the treatment of chickenpox are prescribed only in case of infection. Antiviral agents help reduce the duration and severity of symptoms. In this case, it is recommended to use "Acyclovir", "Famciclovir", "Valacyclovir".
In severe cases of chickenpox, treatment in the clinic is carried out under the constant supervision of a treating doctor. Physiotherapeutic therapy may be additionally prescribed. Dispensary observation is indicated for a month. It is necessary to limit physical activity, maintain a balanced diet and avoid hypothermia.
Preventive actions
Treatment and prevention of chickenpox must be comprehensive. The use of the Varilrix and Okavax vaccines is considered a specific preventive measure. Vaccination is indicated for children older than 1 year in the absence of contraindications.
Possible complications
It is very important to know what complications, symptoms, treatment and prevention of chickenpox can be in order to achieve a good result and eliminate the occurrence of unpleasant consequences. Among the complications, the attachment of a bacterial infection can be distinguished, which can provoke toxic shock. A severe form of the disease can be complicated by pneumonia, which is especially common in newborns. Arthritis, myocarditis, hepatitis can occur.