Chicken pox is a very common disease. Most often, children of preschool and primary school age suffer from it. In most cases, the disease is not dangerous, as small patients tolerate it easily. However, many parents are interested in information about what stage chickenpox has, how they manifest themselves, what methods of therapy and prevention of this disease exist.
Our article provides information on how this ailment spreads. We also consider the symptoms that should be addressed in various stages of chickenpox in children. Although this disease is not considered particularly life-threatening, it can lead to some complications. It is important to know what effective therapies are for chickenpox. If the treatment is carried out correctly, this ailment passes without a trace.
What is chickenpox
It should be said that this disease is called by the people. Its medical name is chicken pox. This is a disease of a viral nature, which is accompanied by the appearance of a skin rash and symptoms of general intoxication of the body. This ailment is assigned to the group of childhood infections, since in most cases the virus infects preschool and primary school children. The human body is extremely sensitive to the causative agent of chickenpox.
Transmission routes
Again, chickenpox is a viral disease caused by the so-called Zoster herpes. This is a DNA-containing virus that is very sensitive to ultraviolet light and the effects of the environment (the spread of infection through the household is almost impossible).
The source of the pathogen is a sick person who becomes contagious 1-2 days before the onset of the first symptoms and is such until the rash completely disappears. The virus spreads very quickly through the air, passing from the carrier to a healthy person. Most often, children become victims of the infection, although they tolerate the disease much more easily than adults. The gates for infection are the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract.
Stages of chickenpox in children: photos and general information
Many parents are interested in questions about what signs should be paid attention to. What does the rash with chickenpox look like in the initial stage? The photo below shows the disease in the early stages of its development, when the rashes are not so extensive and concentrated on small areas of the skin.
The first step is infection. The virus enters the body through the organs of the respiratory system and settles on the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, where it begins to multiply actively, spreading to other tissues. The incubation period lasts from 11 days to 3 weeks. At this time, the person is not contagious, and any external signs of the disease are absent.
Gradually, viral particles penetrate the blood. As soon as their number rises, the immune system begins to produce specific antibodies. The initial stage of chickenpox is characterized by general intoxication of the body. There is an increase in body temperature, weakness, the appearance of headaches and aches in the body. This period lasts approximately 1-2 days.
Then comes the acute stage of chickenpox, which is characterized by damage to nerve cells and skin tissues. It is during this period that a specific rash appears. At first, a small red spot forms on the skin, but after a few hours a papule is formed in this place, and then a vesicle. Rashes are in the form of small bubbles with transparent contents. After a day, the liquid inside the vesicle becomes cloudy. Over the next 2-3 days, the bubbles begin to dry out, forming crusts on the surface of the skin. Rashes can also appear on the mucous membranes.
The acute stage of the disease lasts from 3 to 7 days. It is worth noting that the rash appears gradually. That is why on the skin of the patient at the same time it is possible to observe small vesicles with transparent contents and dried crusts. They fall away on their own, leaving no trace. This type of rash affects only superficial tissues, so scars do not form after it. But given the fact that the disease is accompanied by severe itching, there is a risk of scarring due to constant scratching of the skin.
Features of the stage of recovery
If the patient has a sufficiently strong immune system, then the disease usually goes away after 3-7 days from the moment the first rashes appear. A crust forms at the site of the bubble. The patient's well-being improves markedly, his temperature returns to normal, weakness disappears, and appetite appears. It is worth noting that the virus does not completely disappear from the body. A small number of viral particles will always remain in the structures of the nervous system.
The further course of the disease
We have already examined what chickenpox looks like in the initial stage, the symptoms of the disease and recovery. But if we are talking about a patient with a weakened immune system, then the re-development of the disease is possible. In this case, skin reactions (in particular a rash) will be localized in the region of the nerve that contains the largest number of viral particles. During the period of reactivation of the infection, the patient is contagious, therefore, during therapy, it must be isolated.
Atypical forms of the disease
We repeat, the rash with chickenpox appears when the virus has already taken root in the body and has entered the nerve fibers with a blood stream. Rashes are very few at the initial stage. Chickenpox in children (a photo of how the rash looks at different stages, are presented in the article) appears in several forms. Above we considered typical. There are atypical forms of chickenpox. You should familiarize yourself with their features.
- The rudimentary chickenpox is hidden. Most often, patients are not even aware of the presence of the disease, but can spread the infection.
- A pustular form of pathology is accompanied by suppuration of rashes. They last a long time, do not dry out, their contents become cloudy. Most often, adult patients suffer from such a severe form of chickenpox.
- Bullous chickenpox is quite dangerous. The skin rash is gigantic and very difficult to treat. The disease is characterized by severe intoxication. Patients tend to recover slowly.
- A hemorrhagic form of the disease is also dangerous. In this case, the papules formed on the skin begin to fill with blood. Over time, rashes turn into sores. The appearance of foci of necrosis is possible. Such a disease can turn into a gangrenous form, which sometimes causes the death of the patient.
- Visceral chickenpox is accompanied by the appearance of rashes not only on the skin, but also on the membranes of the internal organs. As a rule, a similar form of the disease develops in newborns with immunodeficiency. Unfortunately, in most cases, the disease ends with the death of the patient.
Diagnostic measures
In fact, it is rarely difficult to diagnose a disease such as chickenpox. The stages of the disease are accompanied by very characteristic symptoms. Their presence is enough for the doctor to make a diagnosis.
Nevertheless, additional tests are also being conducted. In particular, virological studies that help isolate viral particles from tissues are informative. Serological tests are carried out in order to determine the presence of antibodies of certain classes in the patient's blood.
Drug treatment
Most often, the initial stage of chickenpox in children is not an indication for hospitalization. Only patients with severe forms of the disease enter the hospital. Of course, the doctor prescribes a complex of certain drugs.
- Skin rashes should be lubricated 3-4 times a day with antiseptic solutions, for example, brilliant green, fucorcin, potassium permanganate.
- Antiviral drugs such as Acyclovir, Valaciclovir, etc. must be included in the treatment regimen. These drugs are available in the form of tablets, as well as gels that need to be treated with skin vesicles.
- If there are severe symptoms of intoxication (fever, weakness), then it is advisable to take anti-inflammatory drugs such as Nurofen, Ibuprofen, Panadol.
Patient Care Tips
Regardless of the stage of chickenpox (photos of the symptoms were presented above), the patient needs care. Of course, medicines will help, but the correct regimen, nutrition and some therapeutic measures will help the patient's body recover.
- The issue of hygiene is a matter of dispute between domestic and foreign doctors. In Europe, experts do not recommend abandoning water procedures even during the appearance of a rash. Our doctors say that taking a shower or bath, pustules on the skin are easily damaged, which increases the risk of secondary bacterial infection. But in hot weather, the baby must be washed, because the sweat will scratch the skin even more.
- The initial stage of chickenpox, as already mentioned, is accompanied by the appearance of the first nodules of the rash and severe itching. That is why patients are advised to wear long-sleeved clothing (there the baby will not have the opportunity to comb the skin). All items of clothing and bedding should be made of natural fabrics - this will ensure the flow of air to the skin. Of course, you need to wash your clothes at high temperatures (this applies to towels, bedding, etc.).
- For a patient with any infectious disease, drinking is extremely important. Heavy drinking speeds up the process of eliminating toxins from the body.
- Nutrition during the illness should be light, but high-calorie. Foods rich in vitamins and minerals must be present in the diet.
- Baths with decoctions of medicines help accelerate skin regeneration. Experts recommend adding extracts of lemon balm, chamomile, and sage to the bathing water.
How many times can you get chickenpox
Some patients are sure that this ailment can be ill only once in a lifetime. In most cases, this is true, but the virus settles in the body forever. He behaves quietly and calmly until a person has serious health problems, as a result of which his immunity decreases. Then the insidious virus again reminds itself, but manifests itself in another disease called shingles.
Chickenpox in adults: features of the clinical picture
Despite the fact that the disease is considered childhood, adults are also not immune from chickenpox. The stages of development of the disease look the same way, but pathology proceeds in more severe forms.
For example, intoxication symptoms in adult patients are more pronounced. Their temperature rises to 40 degrees. Patients complain of severe weakness, dizziness, nausea. The infection affects the nervous system, which is accompanied by the development of photophobia, hypersensitivity to sounds. Delusional states are possible.
The rash covers almost the entire surface of the skin and the external mucous membranes. If you remove the vesicles, you can notice the formation of deep ulcers, which heal very slowly. Chickenpox in adults is often associated with suppuration of rashes, there is a risk of further necrosis. The mucous membranes of the mouth, genitals, respiratory tract are covered with enanthema.
Possible complications
In children, in most cases, the disease is relatively easy. But it is not worth excluding the likelihood of developing complications. These include:
- Lesions of the respiratory system (tracheitis, laryngitis, pneumonia, respiratory failure).
- Cerebral edema, inflammation of the meninges, paresis and muscle paralysis, cerebellar ataxia and other lesions of the nervous system.
- Severe disorders of the cardiovascular system, including thrombophlebitis, myocarditis, hemorrhagic syndrome.
- Diseases of the joints and muscles (myositis, fasciitis, arthritis).
- Nephritis, hepatitis and liver abscesses can also be added to the list of possible complications.
Preventive measures
You already know how the stages of chickenpox look and what symptoms you should pay attention to. But are there any prevention methods?
Modern medicine offers a specially designed vaccine. This tool is effective, as it helps to start the production of antibodies without the full development of the disease. If this procedure was performed on a immunocompromised patient, there is a risk of complications.