Chickenpox in a child: symptoms and treatment

Chickenpox/chickenpox is an acute viral disease characterized by a rash all over the body. For treatment of chickenpox, you should visit your family doctor, pediatrician, or infectious disease specialist.

Chickenpox: what is it and how to recognize it?

Chickenpox is an acute viral disease that usually affects children under 12 years of age. The peak incidence occurs in the fall and winter, as the virus is actively multiplying at this time. After the infection, lifelong immunity is formed (very rarely do people get sick again).

How does chickenpox spread among people?

Chickenpox is caused by the Varicella zoster virus (the record holder for virulence, close to 100%). Transmission occurs by airborne droplets, as well as through contact with open sores on the patient’s skin. That is, in a confined space, one source of infection is enough to make many people sick. A child becomes contagious a few days after the rash appears.

What are the signs of chickenpox?

Chickenpox in children begins to appear 1-2 weeks after contact with the virus. The disease lasts about 10 days, but it can be longer. The main symptom is a characteristic rash, by which the doctor can make a diagnosis. But besides this, other symptoms of chickenpox in children may appear

-high fever

-lack of appetite;

-nausea, vomiting;

-swollen lymph nodes;

-migraine;

-fatigue.

If the child’s immunity is strong, the rash is moderate. In adults and in case of severe chickenpox, rashes can cover the whole body, appear in the mouth, on the mucous membranes of the eyelids, urethra, anus and vagina.

What types of chickenpox are there?

Chickenpox can be typical and atypical. Typical varicella involves the appearance of rashes and symptoms of intoxication. Atypical varicella is classified into several more types:

Rudimentary chickenpox has a mild form, a small number of rashes, no fever and no migraine.

Pustular chickenpox is accompanied by a bacterial infection, the rash becomes darker and purulent.

The hemorrhagic form has bubbles with blood, there may be subcutaneous hemorrhages.

The gangrenous form is accompanied by tissue necrosis around the hemorrhagic bubbles, and festering ulcers remain.

The generalized form has many rashes and is accompanied by damage to internal organs.

What are the stages of chickenpox?

Probably everyone knows what chickenpox looks like at the initial stage. However, few people know that this disease has 2 forms – latent and acute, as well as 4 stages:

Incubation. Lasts from 10 to 21 days, no symptoms.

Pre-acute. Lasts 2-3 days, accompanied by weakness and rash.

Developmental stage. It lasts from 5 to 8 days. The body becomes intoxicated, the temperature rises, and the red spots turn into nodules with fluid inside.

Recovery. It lasts from 1 to 2 weeks. There are no new rashes, old nodules become crusty, dry up and fall off.

What does a skin rash with chickenpox look like?

At first, the rash is flat and pink in color. Later, they turn into round or oval bubbles with fluid. In the atypical form of the disease, the vesicles can grow up to three cm. The skin is covered with a large number of spots. During recovery, the spots are covered with a crust, which later falls off.

How does chickenpox affect children’s health?

If the mother has immunity, the child cannot get sick until six months of age, because the body has antibodies that prevent the infection from entering. In other cases, chickenpox has different effects on children’s health:

in infants (if the mother has not received immunity), it can be severe, with a large number of rashes and inflammation of the internal organs;

in children aged 1 to 3 years, it is usually mild, there are few rashes, and the temperature rarely reaches 38 degrees;

after 3 years of age, the symptoms of intoxication are more pronounced, the temperature can reach 40 degrees, there are many rashes and they cover the whole body.

Chickenpox in children: how to treat? The main thing is to start treatment in time, maintain good hygiene and not scratch the rash, then the disease goes well. In other cases, complications are possible.

How does chickenpox affect adult health?

Rashes in both children and adults look the same. However, in adults, the intoxication of the body is much stronger. Adults have:

-fever

-runny nose

-difficulty breathing

-photophobia

-joint pain;

-swollen lymph nodes.

Severe cases may be accompanied by convulsions, fainting, dehydration. Quite often, adults have complications – post-herpetic neuralgia, so it is necessary to be checked by a neurologist.

What are the risks of chickenpox for pregnant women?

If a pregnant woman gets chickenpox, the baby is at risk. Miscarriage may occur in the first weeks. In the first trimester, a spontaneous abortion may occur or the fetus may have malformations. But this percentage is low, especially compared to rubella. In the last trimester of pregnancy, the disease can adversely affect the fetus, as the virus is transmitted through the placenta. A newborn child may be born with severe chickenpox.

When should I see a doctor for chickenpox?

Even if the number of rashes is minimal, you should see a doctor right away. You should definitely visit a doctor if you have:

-fever

-rashes on the eyes

-difficulty breathing

-tachycardia

-convulsions;

-weakness, fatigue.

Also, a doctor’s examination is mandatory in case of dehydration, in the presence of a rash in the mouth. All of the above signs indicate a secondary infection.

What methods can help diagnose chickenpox?

Chickenpox is diagnosed based on the analysis of the clinical picture of the infection. Laboratory tests can also be used:

PCR, which determines the DNA of the virus.

ELISA method that detects antibodies to the virus.

Serological method (examination of fluid from bubbles).

What methods can help treat chickenpox in children and adults?

“How to get rid of chickenpox in 4 days?” – this question is often asked by doctors at the Zdravo.life clinic. However, there is no answer to it, because it is impossible to cure chickenpox in such a short time.

Treatment of chickenpox in children is carried out by the following methods:

1)skin and nail care;

2)daily water procedures using a soft towel;

3)prohibition of scratching wounds;

3)local treatment of vesicles with antiseptics that eliminate itching;

4)lubrication of the crusts with a fat cream.

If complications arise, a secondary infection occurs, or the disease is severe, other treatments are prescribed:

antimicrobial therapy (if there are purulent processes);

detoxification treatment (in case of severe intoxication);

immunoglobulin.

What home remedies can be used to treat chickenpox?

“What medicines for chickenpox should I use for home treatment?” – this query is often found on the Internet. Treatment can take place at home and is accompanied by

-warm baths;

-wearing light, soft clothes;

-drinking plenty of water;

-frequent change of bed linen.

It is difficult to explain to young children that they should not scratch rashes, so doctors advise them to wear mittens. Chamomile decoctions can be used to reduce itching.

What does the skin look like after recovery from chickenpox?

During the recovery stage, new rashes do not appear. The previous ones burst and a crust forms on top. With proper care, no scars or scars remain after the crusts fall off.

What complications can chickenpox cause?

What to do when a child has chickenpox? Answer. Properly treat and care for the rash. In most cases, it goes away easily, but if another viral or bacterial infection is added to the infection, it can cause a number of complications.

Serious consequences of chickenpox can be

1)Reye’s syndrome – acute encephalopathy with fatty infiltration and brain edema

inflammation of the heart muscle;

2)glomerulonephritis

3)ataxia

4)pancreatitis

5)arthritis

6)pneumonia;

7)encephalitis.

To avoid such consequences, you should visit a doctor at the first manifestation of chickenpox and be monitored during the illness.

How can chickenpox infection be prevented?

Prevention of chickenpox includes

vaccination with a vaccine containing a weakened live virus that stimulates the child’s immune system to produce protective antibodies

isolation of the sick child from other people, especially from those with weakened immune systems;

maintaining good hygiene;

the use of immunoglobulin to prevent or mitigate the course of the disease (in some cases, and only as prescribed by a doctor).