Complications of chickenpox, possible consequences of the disease

Many people consider chickenpox a harmless disease. However, this viral infection often leads to dangerous consequences. The older the person, the more difficult the disease is for him. Complications of chickenpox are much more common in adults than in children. Why is chickenpox dangerous? And how to treat the effects of infection? We will answer these questions in the article.

Complications Types and causes

In children from 2 to 12 years old, this disease usually goes away without complications. Severe chickenpox is most commonly found in infants, adolescents, and adults. It is in this age group that the dangerous consequences of infection are most often diagnosed.

Complications of chickenpox can be divided into two varieties:

  1. Viral Chickenpox is caused by type 3 herpes virus. If the patient has reduced immunity, the pathogen has a strong toxic effect on the body. The rash spreads to the mucous membranes and internal organs.
  2. Bacterial Very often, bacteria join the herpes virus. The patient introduces microorganisms into the skin while combing the rash. This leads to the appearance of pustules on the skin. In severe cases, bacteria can spread through the body through the bloodstream and affect the internal organs.
Chickenpox virus

ICD codes

According to the International Classification of Diseases, chickenpox refers to viral infections accompanied by damage to the skin and mucous membranes. These pathologies belong to departments B00 - B09. The code for chicken pox without complications according to ICD-10 is B01.9.

If chickenpox proceeds in a more serious form, then the ICD code depends on the type of comorbidity:

  1. B01.0 - chickenpox with meningitis.
  2. B01.1 - Encephalitis during chickenpox or after an illness.
  3. B01.2 - chickenpox pneumonia.
  4. B01.8 - other complications.

Next, we will consider in detail the possible consequences of the disease, their symptoms and treatment methods.

Skin complications. Features

Bacterial skin infections are a fairly common complication of chickenpox in children. It is very difficult for a small child to endure severe itching, so children comb rashes and bring the infection into the epidermis. There are times when adults damage the surface of chickenpox. As a result, bacteria enter the papules.

Spreading bacteria when combing

The following pathologies are related to skin complications of chickenpox:

  • streptoderma;
  • furuncle;
  • abscess;
  • phlegmon.

If streptococci enter the chickenpox, streptoderma develops. This complication is more common in children. A characteristic sign of this disease is the appearance of pustules on the skin. These formations are the size of a pea and filled with a cloudy liquid. They appear at the site of chickenpox.

Streptococcal abscesses grow rapidly and reach a size of 1 - 2 cm. After breaking through, ulcers appear in their place. Then the wounds heal, becoming covered with a crust. In place of the pustules, a depigmented area remains. Streptoderma is always accompanied by intolerable itching. When combing, the patient spreads bacteria to other areas of the skin.

Purulent infections can be attributed to skin complications of chickenpox in adults:

  1. Furuncle. This is a purulent inflammation in the area of โ€‹โ€‹the hair bulb and sebaceous gland. The boil looks like a large red pimple with a white head. The patient feels a throbbing pain in the affected area. Inside the boil is a purulent rod, consisting of dead white blood cells. After breaking through the abscess, a small scar remains on the skin.
  2. Abscess. This is a purulent-inflammatory process in the subcutaneous tissue. The causative agent of pathology is most often Staphylococcus aureus. The purulent cavity is delimited from healthy tissues by a capsule. The skin in the abscess area becomes hot, swollen and painful.
  3. Phlegmon. This is a diffuse inflammation in the subcutaneous tissue. The purulent cavity does not have a capsule, so suppuration quickly spreads to healthy areas. Without treatment, phlegmon can lead to blood poisoning - sepsis.

With an abscess and phlegmon, the patient has a strong fever and a deterioration in well-being. After breaking through such formations, deep scars remain. Purulent complications most often occur in patients with diabetes mellitus and chronic pathologies of internal organs.

Stomatitis

Stomatitis is a common complication of chickenpox in infants. Breasts often comb a rash, and then pull their hands into their mouths. The herpes virus enters the mucosa and causes inflammation.

Chicken pox is accompanied by the appearance of red spots on the oral mucosa. Subsequently, these rashes turn into vesicles, it becomes very painful for the baby to chew food. He often cries and refuses to eat. The child's temperature rises and the lymph nodes swell under the jaw.

Stomatitis in a child

Respiratory Effects

Chicken rash can spread to the laryngeal mucosa. This leads to acute inflammation - laryngitis. Patients are concerned about dry cough, sore throat and sore throat, hoarseness. The temperature rises slightly. In severe cases, suffocation (chickenpox) appears due to swelling of the laryngeal mucosa. This requires immediate medical attention.

Severe complications of chickenpox include pneumonia. An inflammatory process in the lungs develops as a result of the ingestion of the herpes pathogen in the lower respiratory tract. Sometimes bacteria join a viral infection.

The first signs of pneumonia can occur even before the appearance of chickenpox rashes. Body temperature rises to +39 degrees, a wet cough and shortness of breath appear. In severe cases, sputum contains an admixture of blood or pus.

Chickenpox pneumonia occurs in 16% of adult patients. Inflammation of the lungs most often develops in people with immunodeficiency conditions. Severe forms of pathology can lead to the death of the patient from respiratory failure.

Chickenpox pneumonia

Dangerous effects on the brain

Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) is one of the most serious and dangerous complications of chickenpox. This disease is divided into three varieties:

  • leeward;
  • chickenpox (early);
  • post-lethal (late).

The causative agent of pre-restorative and early forms of encephalitis is the herpes virus. These are the most dangerous types of inflammation of the brain. Preworm encephalitis occurs at the initial stage of chickenpox before the rash appears. An early form of inflammation of the brain develops at the stage of the first rash.

These types of encephalitis are accompanied by cerebral edema and a sharp increase in cerebral pressure. The patient has a bursting headache, blurred consciousness, cramps. Respiratory, speech and swallowing disorders are noted. Mortality in these types of encephalitis reaches 12%.

Chickenpox encephalitis

Post-leukemic encephalitis develops during the recovery phase after chickenpox. The complication is of an infectious allergic origin. The cause of inflammation is the body's response to exposure to viral toxins. Patients complain of headache, nausea, motor coordination disorders. Visual impairment may be noted. This disease has a better prognosis than early forms of encephalitis.

Chickenpox arthritis

Chickenpox virus can invade the joints. This leads to reactive arthritis. Inflammation of the joints is observed only during the rash, after recovery, all signs of arthritis disappear.

The patient complains of severe pain in the joints and muscles. Most often, the lower limbs are affected. The pain syndrome can be so intense that a person cannot walk, redness and swelling of the joints is observed. In adult patients, after the rash disappears, all signs of arthritis disappear.

However, arthritis is a fairly serious complication of chickenpox in children. After the disease, signs of joint damage may subside. But this does not mean that the inflammation has completely disappeared. In childhood, chickenpox arthritis often goes into the chronic stage. Joint pains can resume with hypothermia, as well as after the transferred flu or SARS.

Chickenpox myocarditis

Together with the bloodstream, the chickenpox pathogen can enter the heart muscle. It affects heart cells (cardiomyocytes), which leads to myocardial inflammation.

Symptoms of this disease usually appear 1-2 weeks after the formation of blisters on the skin. The patient feels severe fatigue and shortness of breath. Subsequently, he has chest pains, and his arms and legs swell. Myocarditis is accompanied by severe fever and sweating at night.

Viral eye diseases

Viral keratitis is a fairly serious complication of chickenpox. Eye damage can cause blindness. Keratitis is called corneal inflammation, it develops due to the chickenpox virus entering the eye. If the patient does not wash his hands after combing the rash, then he can bring the infection into the organ of vision.

The patient forms itchy vesicles on the eyelids. The whites of the eyes turn red, pain and a sensation of a foreign body inside the eye appear. Hypersensitivity to light and excessive separation of tears may occur. Keratitis can be complicated by the appearance of a thorn, which causes loss of vision.

Chickenpox keratitis

Chickenpox virus can also affect the optic nerve. This leads to inflammation - neuritis. The disease is accompanied by visual impairment and the appearance of luminous figures in front of the eyes. Patients have pain in the orbits and distortion of color perception. In advanced cases, nerve atrophy and blindness develop.

Genital affection

In adult men, chickenpox rashes can spread to the area of โ€‹โ€‹the external genitalia. This leads to inflammation of the head of the penis and foreskin - balanoposthitis. The disease is accompanied by severe pain during the separation of urine, itching, burning and redness of the skin.

In women, chickenpox often appears on the external genitalia and on the vaginal mucosa. This is accompanied by inflammation (vulvitis) and severe itching. In severe cases, the patient experiences pain and discomfort when walking.

Chicken pox and vulvitis are quite rare complications after chickenpox in children. Mucosal lesions are more common in adult patients. However, with a reduced immunity in a child, chickenpox can go to the genital area. In adulthood, this can adversely affect reproductive function, especially in boys.

Shingles

This consequence of the infection can occur many years after recovery. Each patient who has had chickenpox acquires a stable immunity to this disease. However, repeated cases of pathology are still noted. But at the same time, a person does not get sick with the classical form of chickenpox, but with shingles.

Even after recovery, the chickenpox virus continues to live in the cells of the body. He is there in a "sleeping" state. However, with a decrease in immunity, the pathogen can be activated again, and a person becomes ill with shingles.

With this pathology, the herpes virus affects the nerve endings. The patient develops itchy, painful rashes on the body, limbs, and neck. Herpes zoster passes on its own within 10 to 14 days, but in older people, the disease can be complicated by pneumonia or meningitis.

Therapies

If vesicle rashes spread from the skin to the mucous membranes, then this is one of the manifestations of the chickenpox clinic. Complications are treated with antiviral drugs. These tools include:

  • Cycloferon;
  • "Acyclovir";
  • "Valacyclovir";
  • Famciclovir.
Antiviral drug "Acyclovir"

These drugs are prescribed both in the form of tablets and ointments. They are also used for damage to the internal organs with chickenpox virus. In addition, rashes must be treated with antiseptic solutions (Miramistin, Chlorhexidine).

With secondary bacterial complications (streptoderma, purulent skin infections), antibiotics in the form of ointments are necessary. The choice of antibacterial agent depends on the type of pathogen.

Prevention

How to avoid complications of chickenpox? It is necessary from the first days of the disease to observe bed rest and take the prescribed antiviral medications. This will help strengthen immunity and prevent the spread of viral infection to internal organs.

You should refrain from combing rashes. However, in many cases, itching with chickenpox becomes unbearable. In this case, it is necessary to treat the affected areas with antihistamine ointments, this will help reduce irritation.

It is very important to wash your hands often and cut your nails shortly. This will reduce the likelihood of infection in the vesicles and on the mucous membranes. For young children, it is recommended to purchase special cotton gloves to avoid scratching.


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