Chicken pox most children get sick between the ages of 2 and 7 years. At this time, they go to the garden or school. Therefore, the likelihood of infection with infectious pathologies increases several times. Many believe that a newborn cannot get chickenpox. Is it really? What to do if a child is sick?
Can a baby get chickenpox?
The first 6 months after the birth of the newborn, maternal antibodies protect against various ailments. They are transmitted at birth, and then enter the body along with breast milk. If the mother continues to feed the baby and does not use the artificial mixture, the baby can still catch chickenpox. Why?
Most people get acquainted with this insidious disease in childhood. Some do not get it at all or become infected at an older age. In a person who has already suffered an infection, a lifelong immunity is formed to the virus.
Maternal antibodies can protect the newborn only in the first few months. If a woman does not have a formed immunity to chickenpox, her milk cannot protect the baby from the disease. She can become infected just before birth. For such a short period, her body is not able to develop protective antibodies. Therefore, the infection often passes to the fetus, and the disease itself takes on a congenital character. Particularly dangerous infection in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. In this case, the virus provokes serious developmental pathologies in the fetus.
Not only babies, but also children aged 7-12 months can get chickenpox. This happens due to artificial feeding, when a woman stops breastfeeding after six months. The likelihood of infection also increases if the body weakens as a result of past illnesses.
Incubation period
Chickenpox in infants appears after contact with a sick person. The disease is quickly transmitted by airborne droplets. The herpes virus type 3 provokes the disease. Also, people with confirmed shingles are a danger to infection. Its development is also preceded by the penetration of type 3 herpes virus into the body. The incubation period of chickenpox is from 7 to 21 days, but in newborns it is reduced to 1 week. This time can be divided into 3 stages:
- The introduction of the virus and its adaptation in the children's body.
- Reproduction and subsequent activation of herpes of type 3.
- Detection of the causative agent of the disease in the blood, after which it rapidly spreads throughout the body.
During the incubation period, specific symptoms of chickenpox in infants are absent. This is the main difficulty in identifying the virus in the body.
Clinical picture
Chickenpox in infants has signs common with other age groups:
- The prodromal period passes almost imperceptibly, since it lasts only a day. During this period, the temperature rises to 37-37.5 degrees. The child is restless, refuses to breast. The first rashes appear on the skin. In children under the age of 11 days, vomiting and convulsions may occur.
- The height of the disease lasts 3-4 days. The temperature rises to 39 degrees. General health is deteriorating sharply. The rash transforms into vesicles with a clear liquid inside. Then the secret becomes cloudy, the bubbles dry out, crusts form on them.
- Convalescence period. After 1-3 weeks, the crusts begin to fall away, pale spots remain in place of the bubbles.
Chickenpox in infants can occur in two forms: mild or severe. Strongly immune newborns tolerate the disease well. Rashes from them are isolated. If the body of the crumbs is weakened, the infection has an intrauterine etiology, it suffers from a severe form of pathology. In this case, the temperature can rise up to 40 degrees. The rash spreads rapidly throughout the body, sometimes affecting internal organs and mucous membranes. Some relief comes between the waves of rashes. With the formation of new vesicles, the condition of the child only worsens. Treatment of a severe form is carried out only in a hospital.
What does a rash look like with chickenpox?
A little higher is a photo of chickenpox in an infant. Each mother can recognize this insidious disease by a characteristic symptom - rashes. At first, they resemble small red spots with dots inside that quickly spread throughout the body. Then in the center of each papule appears a bubble with a transparent secretion. After the appearance of blisters of a small patient, severe itching begins to torment. After a while, they open, and a crust forms in this place.
Rashes always carry a wave-like course. New fluid bubbles appear every two days. During this period, the child usually rises in temperature, the accompanying symptoms are aggravated. During the period of the disease, up to 4-5 such exacerbations occur. Therefore, on the child’s body you can see both new and already dried up acne.
Congenital form of the disease
Chickenpox is recognized as congenital if its symptoms appear up to 11 days from the moment of birth. We are talking about seizures, high excitability, vomiting and fever. This form of the disease is dangerous because it can affect the internal organs and central nervous system. In a third of confirmed cases, it ends in death.
Diagnostic Methods
It is necessary to immediately seek medical help if symptoms of chickenpox appear in infants. Both the pediatrician is engaged in the treatment and prevention of the disease. A physical examination and temperature measurement are usually sufficient to confirm a preliminary diagnosis. In severe cases of the pathological process, an instrumental examination may be required to assess the condition of the internal organs.
Recommended treatment
A mild form of the disease can be treated at home. To make skin rashes faster, they should be treated with brilliant green. It helps prevent suppuration and quickly dries out pimples. What else do pediatricians recommend to process the vesicles?
- "Fukortsin." This tool perfectly dries rashes. It is sufficient to treat the skin 3 times a day.
- Calamine Lotion. Use the drug several times a day. Its main advantage is not only the drying of pimples, but also the relief of itching, which causes the baby discomfort.
- "Rivanol." Use the product twice a day. This is a potent drug, and it is not sold in every pharmacy.
The listed medicines to eliminate rashes on the mucous membranes are not suitable. They should be treated with decoctions of chamomile, calendula or a string.
Severe treatment of chickenpox in infants requires a hospital stay. In no case should you refuse hospitalization. Rashes on the mucous membranes of the throat can lead to suffocation. Constantly under the supervision of doctors allows you to avoid the development of complications.
To stop the itching, the child can be given Fenistil. In case of deep damage to the skin and to avoid the formation of scars, “Kontraktubeks” ointment is used. When an increase in temperature is observed, the help of antipyretic drugs will be required. These are Nurofen and Panadol. You can treat a skin rash in the same ways as with a mild form of the disease.
Useful care tips
Proper care for chickenpox in infants can significantly alleviate the condition of the baby and speed up the healing process. The patient should first be protected from other possible sources of infection. In addition, pediatricians recommend:
- provide plenty of drink;
- regularly measure body temperature;
- try to observe comfortable conditions in the room;
- change clothes in a child more often, and preference should be given to options without adding synthetics;
- trim your nails in a timely manner.
Is it possible to bathe a baby? Opinions of pediatric doctors on this issue vary. It is believed that water procedures contribute to a greater spread of the virus, increasing the risk of infection in open wounds. At high temperatures, the child should not be washed either.
After drying the baby's bubbles, you can bathe. In this case, the water should be at a comfortable temperature. The use of gels and shampoos is not recommended, as they can provoke excessive skin irritation. It is better to add potassium permanganate or herbal decoctions to the water.
Possible complications
According to the famous pediatrician Komarovsky, chickenpox in infants requires competent treatment under the supervision of a specialist. Lack of timely therapy can lead to the development of complications. Among them, the following are considered the most dangerous:
- meningitis;
- the transition of chickenpox into shingles;
- visual impairment;
- viral pneumonia;
- brain damage;
- sepsis;
- myocarditis.
Parents should be calm and take good care of the child. After recovery, measures must be taken to strengthen immunity. It should be remembered that infants suffer from chickenpox most often in severe form. However, it is better to cure the disease in childhood than to contract the virus after 18 years.
Prevention Methods
The most effective option for preventing infection is timely vaccination. In a one-year-old child, such a vaccination is mandatory. The following prevention options are also used:
- isolation of sick family members;
- protecting the child from direct contacts with unauthorized persons;
- thorough processing of objects surrounding the baby (toys, dishes, hygiene items);
- regular cleaning and disinfection of the room.
In the external environment for the herpes simplex virus type 3, it is detrimental not only heating, but also the effect of UV rays. Sunlight kills the pathogen within 15 minutes. On cloudy days it can be replaced with quartz lamps.