Causes and symptoms of chickenpox. The period of rashes in chicken pox. Possible complications of chickenpox

Those who encounter chickenpox for the first time are primarily interested in what kind of rashes are with chickenpox, and whether there can be chickenpox without rashes. As you know, this disease is quite serious, because it can give a lot of complications. This disease is especially dangerous for adults. In childhood, chickenpox is much easier to carry, and the symptoms are not as pronounced as in adolescents or adult patients.

It is very easy to identify chickenpox in a patient. The first days after the end of the incubation period, the virus begins to actively act in the body, which leads to fever, general weakness and headache. That is, the first symptoms of chickenpox most often resemble a usually acute respiratory disease and do not cause any concern in humans. At a time when taking cold medicines will not work, and the first spots of a rash will appear on the patient's body, there can be no doubt - this is chickenpox.

As a rule, the varicella-zoster virus in the human body is manifested by symptoms such as fever, moderate intoxication and papulovesicular rash. As for where the first rashes of chickenpox appear, blisters can form anywhere, not only on the skin, but also on the mucous membrane. Thus, a rash with an aggressive form of chickenpox sometimes appears even in the throat, which can lead to sad consequences, as it causes suffocation.

The danger of chickenpox lies not only in how chickenpox pours out, but also in the high temperature and serious intoxication of the body, which occurs against the background of fever and fever. Moreover, in most cases, a high temperature is a reaction to a rash, so the more acne there is on the patient's body, the longer the fever will last. Sometimes the thermometer readings linger for a long time at around 40 ° C. In such a situation, you need to call an ambulance.

Features of chickenpox in patients of different ages

The virus of the causative agent of this disease is very dangerous, and primarily because it is easily transmitted indoors. Chickenpox is considered a highly contagious disease, so if a certain number of people are infected, quarantine is declared. For example, if at school or kindergarten the chickenpox virus manifests itself in 1-2 children, the group or class is immediately sent to quarantine. Infected people are isolated from society for the first time. The most contagious patients are considered at the time when they have the maximum amount of rash on their body. The entire period when a person has new acne, he is still a carrier of infection.

The virus is best transmitted indoors. In the natural environment, chickenpox does not live long, but with close contact with an infected person, you can pick up the virus even on the street.

Chickenpox is most common in children older than one year. Children aged 10-12 rarely visit doctors. Teenagers get chickenpox, but they usually have a severe disease. Moreover, it is at this age that the greatest danger of getting complications and scars appears. It is very difficult to remove pockmarks. As a rule, in this case, one has to resort to expensive cosmetic procedures. Adults are getting sick with chickenpox in recent years more and more often. This is due to the fact that the immune system of a modern person is becoming increasingly weak. This is facilitated by a lot of different factors, which include bad ecology, abnormal rhythm of life, and bad habits.

Chickenpox is very dangerous for infants. But if you take care of the baby, then the likelihood of getting infected with the chickenpox virus will be minimized. The difficulty with chickenpox in very young children is that they cannot explain what is bothering them. After the incubation period, which in infants lasts about 5 days, lethargy may appear, the baby will become very restless and begin to refuse food. The most difficult time is during the period when the rash appears. Since chicken pox does not leak without a rash, parents should limit the child's movements so that he does not scratch the blisters, since they always cause severe itching.

It is during the period of active rashes that a patient diagnosed with chickenpox is most contagious.

But the disease itself has several stages. As a rule, chickenpox is ill for 10 to 20 days, if there are no serious complications. This includes the incubation period, the height of the disease and recovery. The rash, like high fever, comes immediately after the end of the incubation period. The rashes last for about one week.

It should be noted the wave-like nature of the course of the disease. That is, the main symptoms, such as a rash and fever, can go away, and return after a while. If the rashes have disappeared the day after the appearance, you should not rejoice in advance, as they may return the next day.

In the most dangerous period, when the rash is especially active, you need to be especially careful, since at this time symptoms of intoxication of the body will be observed. They can be expressed not only in the form of a high temperature, which rises to 40 ° C, but also cause nausea and vomiting. The fever with chickenpox is closely related to the rashes: the more intense they are, the higher the temperature rises.

What does a chickenpox rash look like?

Attention: As for how chickenpox rashes look, these are vesicles on the skin (vesicles) that are filled with fluid. The rash is an integral part of the disease.

It is this symptom that is considered the main symptom of this disease. A rash begins in small red pimples, which eventually become larger and filled with liquid. The size of the blisters is from 1 to 5 mm. The largest elements of the rash are distinguished by an umbilical retraction in the center.

The rash that occurs with chickenpox lasts an average of about 5 days. During this time, the elements of the precipitation evolve significantly. At the initial stage, only a small red spot appears, more like a dot. Quite quickly, it is filled with liquid and a full-fledged vesicle is obtained. After a while, the blister bursts. This usually takes from an hour to a day. A bursting blister is covered with a crust, which is formed from a dried liquid. Almost the entire period is accompanied by severe itching.

During the period of the appearance of acne and blisters, the patient is considered the most contagious. The crusts fall off in about 5-7 days. After new formations cease to appear on the patient's body, it can be considered not dangerous to others. But one can speak of a complete recovery only in the case when there was no new rash for 3-4 days. Sometimes after the first rash of chickenpox there is a break of up to 2 days. This is normal, as chickenpox is characterized by its undulating nature.

Many parents who are trying to understand the reason for their child's poor health are wondering where the first rashes of chickenpox appear in children.

Important! The rashes that occur with chickenpox do not have a specific location, the first rash may appear on the face, under the hair or on the limbs. Initially, acne appears on the skin, and after that it spreads to the mucous membrane.

Rashes on the mucous membranes are considered one of the most dangerous symptoms. The thing is that the blisters that appear in the throat can cause suffocation (especially in young children). A big danger is a rash on the eyes. This does not happen very often, but, as a rule, ends with negative consequences. The thing is that often rashes leave pockmarks. If such a scar appears on the cornea of ​​​​the eye, the patient will have vision problems that will remain for life.

Features of rashes with chickenpox

For the diagnosis of chickenpox, rashes play a crucial role. Often, doctors do not prescribe additional tests if the patient has a rash in the form of small blisters, which is accompanied by a high fever. As a rule, if a patient says that he recently had contact with an infected person, this leaves no doubt. Here you can be 100% sure that we are talking about chicken pox.

Chickenpox rashes, photos of which can be found in this article, have a lot of features, so they cannot be confused with manifestations of an allergy or an infectious disease. A specialist in the type of blisters and rash alone can make the correct diagnosis.

If we talk about where the first rashes of chickenpox appear, then a rash can form on any part of the body. First of all, acne covers the face, scalp, neck, abdomen and limbs. Much less often you can see rashes on the mucous membrane, eyes, genitals and anus. This usually causes serious complications.

As for what rashes are with chickenpox, it is worth noting that a rash on the human body can be seen in several stages at once. At the same time, crusts from bursting blisters, whole vesicles, as well as acne that has just appeared, may be present on the skin. In this case, the rash will not be localized in one place. They tend to be distributed throughout the body, but not evenly. The greatest accumulation of acne will be in the area where the patient combs the rash. So he spreads the infection over the skin, which causes an increase in the number of blisters.

A rash with chickenpox is certainly associated with other symptoms of this disease. For example, the more acne on the body, the higher the temperature will be. Moreover, it is the rash that causes itching. Most of all, bursting blisters that are covered with a crust itch. They should not be touched in any case, as this leads to the appearance of scars. If you do not touch the crusts and let them reach the state of complete healing on their own, there should be no pockmarks. The main thing is that the crusts fall off on their own.

When the first rashes appear with chickenpox, photos of which can be seen just below, this is considered the main symptom of the disease. Doctors say that this disease can be tolerated without a high temperature, but chickenpox cannot do without rashes. The severity of acne is different for every person. Some have only a dozen acne on the whole body, while others suffer from the fact that they have 1 square. see the skin appears on several blisters.

Parents who suspect chickenpox in their children need to pay special attention to the scalp. This is where the first blisters can hide. In the summer, many confuse rashes from chickenpox with mosquito bites, but here the disease can already be identified by high temperature. Moreover, with chickenpox, rashes at the stage of acne will not itch as much as mosquito bites. The most itching is felt when bursting blisters are covered with a crust.

It is the presence of blisters that distinguishes chickenpox from all other types of rashes. It is this symptom that doctors look for when examining patients if they suspect that it is a varicella-zoster virus.

Can you have chickenpox without a rash?

Answering this question, doctors say that chickenpox without rashes in a child, teenager and adult is almost impossible. The thing is that rashes are the main sign that the chickenpox virus is operating in the body.

As for the question of whether there can be few rashes with chickenpox, it should be noted that the rash is far from always intense. For example, a person may have a mild form of chickenpox, in which the amount of acne will be minimal. It happens that at the initial stage, rashes appear on the scalp, where they are completely invisible. After a while, a wave of improvement may pass, that is, there will be no acne at all, and then several formations will appear on the body, which the patient may confuse with an allergy or an insect bite. In addition, if there was a break after the first rash of chickenpox, this is also normal.

If at the same time there is still no high temperature, which is quite possible with a mild form of chickenpox, then a person can even endure the disease without even knowing it. But he will develop immunity to chicken pox, and he will no longer be infected.

Thus, with regard to the question of whether there can be chickenpox without rashes, doctors say that the chickenpox virus cannot pass without a characteristic rash, but hyperthermia is not always observed. But here much depends on the intensity of the appearance of blisters, as well as on the state of the human immune system.

Bathing during breakouts

The appearance of blisters on the human body is the main sign that the patient at this stage is the most contagious. In this case, it is not only about other people, but also about the patient himself. The thing is that the liquid that appears when the blister breaks is highly infected, so when it gets on a clean area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe skin, new acne appears there. For other people, this period is dangerous because the virus from open wounds can easily travel through the air. As a result, only 2-3 minutes in the same company with the patient is enough for the chickenpox virus to be infected by everyone who has not had it before.

The infection can spread not only through the air, but also in water. For this reason, bathing during the period of active acne will not be the best way out. The thing is that the water will soften the blisters, and they will begin to burst more actively.

Nevertheless, a complete rejection of hygiene procedures for the period of rash, that is, for 5-7 days, can adversely affect human health. It is possible and even necessary to swim at a time when the skin is attacked by a rash, but everything must be done according to the rules.

During chickenpox, both a shower and a bath will do. But bathing should take place exclusively in warm water. In no case should it be hot or too cold. It is also forbidden to use washcloths. The whole hygienic procedure should be reduced to the fact that a person is simply rinsed. You can supplement bathing with water with a decoction of medicinal herbs. We are talking about chamomile, string and sage. These plants simply work wonders, as they can significantly reduce itching and even speed up the healing process of wounds.

Bathing during chickenpox does not include long baths or thorough cleansing of the skin with a hard washcloth in the shower. Everything should be reduced to a light rinsing of the body.

Chickenpox Rash Treatment

The most important rule for quickly getting rid of chickenpox is that in no case should you tear off the crusts and comb the blisters, as this will provoke a further spread of the disease. It is especially difficult for adolescents and adult patients, in whom this disease most often occurs in a severe form. As a result, the rashes become very extensive and cause very intense itching. It is much easier for children from one to ten to transfer chickenpox. They mostly have a mild disease, so few rashes with chickenpox are also normal. Sometimes the rash is so minor that parents even doubt that it is really about chicken pox. Doctors do not exclude the complete absence of blisters, but this is a huge rarity, which is possible only with very strong immunity.

If a person is unlucky enough to endure a mild form, and the disease manifests itself in its aggressive form, then the rash will be significant. Moreover, a very high temperature and severe intoxication are not ruled out here. In this case, it is necessary to observe bed rest and completely exclude physical activity. The doctor also prescribes a special diet and plenty of fluids. This allows not only to strengthen the body, but also to reduce itching, no matter what rashes are observed with chickenpox. Blueberries have shown themselves well, which are used both in the form of juice, and in raw and frozen form.

It is necessary to carefully monitor the air temperature in the room, as well as humidity. If the body overheats, this will lead to increased work of the sweat glands. Sweat can cause even more itching, so you need to avoid overheating the body.

If the body itches simply unbearably, antihistamine gels can be used. They are used for both children and adult patients. But the best remedy for treating rashes from chickenpox is the usual brilliant green. It is gently applied with a cotton swab only to the affected areas of the skin. Do not rub the drug on the surface of the skin, as this can lead to an even greater spread of infection. This also applies to antihistamines, and brilliant green.

With chickenpox, special attention should be paid to the issue of hygiene. This is an integral part of treatment, without which recovery can be delayed for a long time. It is not only about water procedures, but also about the timely change of bed linen and clothes of the patient. To reduce itching, you can use baths not only with medicinal herbs, but also with soda. Adherents of traditional medicine recommend wiping the crusts with a solution of soda or starch. This will allow the affected areas to heal faster and also relieve itching. To create a healing solution, it is enough to dissolve one tablespoon of soda or starch in a glass of water.

One of the most common infectious diseases is chickenpox - this is a disease that in most cases occurs in childhood, adults rarely suffer from this disease. This disease is difficult to confuse with another, since it has characteristic signs in the form of watery rashes all over the body that cause itching. With proper and timely treatment, the disease passes very quickly, but when combing acne, ugly small scars can remain on the body. As a rule, they suffer from the disease once in a lifetime, after which cells are produced in the body that are able to fight the chickenpox virus. Relapses are possible in exceptional cases, when the disease was mild for the first time.

What is a windmill?

Chickenpox (chicken pox) is an infectious disease that develops acutely and is characterized by the appearance of a number of specific symptoms. The disease is very contagious, therefore, when the first symptoms appear, a quarantine regimen is recommended for the patient. The carrier of chickenpox is the Varicella Zoster virus, and the disease is transmitted by airborne droplets, therefore, all people who have been in contact with the patient, are not vaccinated against the disease and have not had it, are at risk.
The disease goes through several stages of development, which are characterized by special signs. Chickenpox stages:

• infection and incubation period. At this stage, the virus enters the body, most often through the mucous membrane of the mouth or nose. During the incubation period, the disease does not manifest itself in any way, there are no signs and the person is not contagious.
• The first symptoms of chickenpox. The virus develops in the cells and the immune system begins an active fight against it, which provokes an increase in temperature, the appearance of a headache. From the onset of the first symptoms, a person becomes contagious to others, so he should be placed in quarantine.
• Acute stage of the disease. At this stage, nerve cells and skin are damaged, the first rashes appear.
• The final stage is characterized by an improvement in general health, normalization of temperature and the cessation of the appearance of rashes on the skin. The person no longer poses a threat to others and he can return to his usual way of life.

There are several forms of chickenpox typical and atypical, the latter, in turn, is divided into several types:

• The rudimentary form develops in those who received an injection of immunoglobulin during the incubation period, as well as in children who have residual immunity. This type of chickenpox is characterized by a mild course of the disease, the rash appears in minimal amounts, there is no fever or deterioration in well-being.
• Hemorrhagic. A severe form of the course of the disease, which manifests itself in people with immunodeficiency or those who take hormones. The main characteristic symptoms are very high temperature, pronounced intoxication of the body, often there is hemorrhage into the skin, nosebleeds. The main danger of this form is the high probability of death.
• visceral form. This type manifests itself in premature babies, newborns, people with immunodeficiency syndrome. The form is characterized by a severe and prolonged course, a long period of fever and profuse skin rashes. Often there is damage to the internal organs, the nervous system.
• Gangrenous form. A rare form of chickenpox, which is characterized by high intoxication, a long period of treatment and the appearance of large rashes, on which crusts with necrosis form in a short time. After the crusts fall off, ulcers and scars remain. As a rule, this form is characterized by a complication in the form of sepsis, and often the disease ends in death.

Reasons for the development of chickenpox

The main cause of chickenpox is infection with a virus. In medicine, at the moment there is no clear answer why some people become infected with chickenpox, while others do not, but weakened immunity is a significant factor in infection.
The reasons contributing to the development of the disease include:

• Weakened immunity, which can be caused by various factors: chemotherapy, the presence of immunodeficiency, a weakened child's body, taking medications of a certain group, for example, antibiotics.
• Close contact with a person who is a carrier of the chickenpox virus and a patient with this disease.
• Not vaccinated against chickenpox.

Signs of chickenpox

The first symptoms of chickenpox may appear 10-20 days after contact with the patient and are expressed by such signs:

• A significant increase in body temperature up to forty degrees, the appearance of fever.
• Enlarged lymph nodes.
• The appearance of a headache.
• Lack of appetite, general weakness of the body.
• A rash with chickenpox is a specific sign of the disease. By its nature, it is a huge number of single blisters filled with liquid, which are very itchy and cause a lot of discomfort. Initially, blisters appear on the mucous membranes, on the abdomen and face, after which they spread throughout the body. The appearance of new blisters and the persistence of high fever can last for several days, after which all symptoms subside and only an itchy rash remains, which also disappears with time. It is important to remember that it is strictly forbidden to comb blisters, otherwise scars and scars may remain.

In adults, the disease is much more complicated and severe: a very high temperature that persists for a long time; profuse rashes, the localization of which is observed on the mucous membranes. Often, patients with such a diagnosis are hospitalized and treated under the supervision of doctors.

Diagnosis of chickenpox

Diagnosing the disease is very simple according to specific signs (appearance of a rash and fever), which can be done independently at home. To get advice and confirm the diagnosis, you need to seek help from a pediatrician or therapist (you should not go to the hospital to prevent the spread of the disease, but you should call the doctor at home).

Chickenpox treatment

You can treat chickenpox at home on your own, if there are no complications. After examining the patient, the doctor prescribes a number of medications and gives recommendations that will help alleviate the patient's condition. The main thing is to correctly follow all the doctor's recommendations and not scratch the skin in order to avoid infection or the formation of ugly scars and scars.
How to treat chickenpox at home:

In the absence of timely treatment, complications can develop that will cause significant harm to health. In children, they are much less common, since they are all vaccinated against chickenpox and their body copes with the disease faster. In older people, the development of complications is very common, and men are much more difficult to tolerate the disease than women.
Of particular danger is chickenpox during pregnancy, since infection in the first trimester can provoke infection of the fetus and lead to pathological changes in the fetus. Being in an interesting position, girls should limit contact with patients with chickenpox, even if they themselves have already been ill or vaccinated.

Frequently asked questions about chickenpox

Is it possible to get chickenpox a second time?
Recurrence of chickenpox is extremely rare, because, as a rule, after the illness, immunity to the chickenpox virus is developed. Most often, people who have significantly weakened immunity (in particular, HIV-infected people, with the presence of leukemia after chemotherapy, with donor organs) get sick the second time.
How to smear chickenpox?
For quick healing of blisters, doctors recommend using a 1% alcohol solution of brilliant green or a 5% solution of potassium permanganate. Lubrication of the rashes will prevent the development of infection and accelerate the drying of the crust. Rubbing the skin with glycerol or water with vinegar or alcohol will help reduce itching.
What is the incubation period for chickenpox?
From the moment of contact with a sick person until the first signs appear, 10-21 days can pass.
How to treat chickenpox in adults?
Treatment of chickenpox in adults includes basic therapy, as in children (antihistamines, antivirals, drugs to reduce fever). For older people, stronger drugs are used, including aspirin to lower the temperature, drugs to fight the virus with a strong effect.

Disease prevention

The main method of prevention is the chickenpox vaccine. Children and adolescents receive vaccinations during which a live viral infection is introduced, which contributes to the development of immunity from the disease or reduces the severity of the disease. Often, a combined vaccination is carried out, which includes vaccination against measles, rubella and chickenpox.
In special cases, vaccination with immunoglobulin is carried out to increase the immune response to the chickenpox virus. This drug is administered in the body no later than 36 hours after contact with a patient with chickenpox. As a rule, this vaccination is indicated in such cases:

• During pregnancy, women who have not had chickenpox and are not vaccinated against this disease.
• Premature babies.
• Newborn babies whose mothers have obvious signs of chickenpox.
• Adults and children who have a weakened immune system and do not produce antibodies to the chickenpox virus.

Thanks

Chicken pox ( chickenpox) is an infectious disease caused by a type of herpes virus. Windmill is considered childhood illness, because most people endure it at preschool and school age. However, if the infection did not occur in childhood, then you can get chickenpox at any age.

Outbreaks of chickenpox among adults often occur in closed groups, in the army among recruits, in boarding schools for people with disabilities. Also at risk are parents of preschoolers who do not have immunity. The incidence is independent of gender and race.

Chickenpox in adults has its own characteristics:

• adults are more difficult to tolerate the disease;
• stronger than in children, intoxication is expressed;
• the temperature rises to 40 degrees and above;
• the rash appears only on the 2-3rd day of illness;
• rashes are numerous and can cover the entire surface of the face and trunk;
• in half of adult patients, the elements of the rash suppurate, pustules form;
• scars remain at the site of deep inflammation - pockmarks;
• complications occur in 20-30% of patients.

Causes of chickenpox in adults

The virus can only exist in the human body. In the environment, it dies within 15 minutes. This is facilitated by drying, heating, freezing. The causative agent of chickenpox is not transmitted through things and third parties. Animals do not get chickenpox and cannot serve as carriers of the infection.

The main characteristics of the chickenpox virus, which allow infecting a large number of people, are volatility and susceptibility. Virus particles with air currents scatter and penetrate into neighboring rooms, apartments and from one floor to another. And the high susceptibility of people to the chickenpox virus means that upon contact with the patient, almost all people who have not been ill before become infected. In a family where one person falls ill, the risk of illness in the rest of the household is 80-90%. Moreover, in those who became infected later, the disease is more severe and with a large number of rashes.

Source of infection and the main reservoir of infection is a person with chickenpox. There is a risk of infection from a person with shingles.

Ways of infection- airborne and transplacental, when the virus is transmitted from mother to fetus through the placenta.

Incubation period- 10-21 days, more often 14-17. During this time, the virus multiplies on the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx and spreads through the lymphatic system.

Immunity to chickenpox produced after an infection. Post-infection immunity is thought to provide lifelong protection against infection. However, in some people, repeated cases of chickenpox are recorded, which is associated with a weakened immune defense.

What happens in the patient's body?

1. The virus multiplies on the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract.
2. Its number is rapidly increasing. Through the palatine tonsils, the virus enters the lymphatic system, inhibiting its work and reducing the activity of T-lymphocytes.
3. The virus is released into the blood at the end of the incubation period. Viral particles and their metabolic products present in the blood cause fever, weakness and other signs of intoxication.
4. The virus penetrates into the nerve ganglia - the nuclei of the spinal nerves, causing lysis (destruction) of nerve cells. In the future, the virus remains for life in the nerve ganglia. When immunity is weakened, it is activated and spreads along the nerve, provoking the development of herpes zoster.
5. The virus settles in the cells of the epidermis. It causes the appearance of vacuoles - intracellular elements resembling bubbles. Vacuoles of neighboring cells merge with each other, forming cavities, which are the basis of papules. These papules are filled with fluid, which contains a large number of viral particles and protein molecules. The contents of the papule is a good breeding ground for bacteria, so the elements of the rash can fester. In this case, a pustule (a vesicle with purulent contents) forms in place of the papule.
6. The bubble bursts, its contents are poured onto the skin. In place of the bubble, a crust forms, under which the epidermis heals.
7. Starting from the first days of illness, the immune system recognizes the pathogen and begins to produce immunoglobulins that bind toxins and stimulate phagocytosis (absorption) of viral particles. In the future, anti-varicella antibodies remain in the blood of an ill person for life. They provide protection against the recurrence of chickenpox.

Symptoms of chickenpox in adults

There are several periods in the development of the disease:

• Incubation period- the virus multiplies in the cells of the nasopharyngeal mucosa. There are no symptoms of the disease.
• prodromal period- the release of the virus into the blood. Symptoms: fever, deterioration in general condition, weakness, loss of appetite.
• Eruption period- the active phase of the disease, when the virus is localized in the epidermis. It is characterized by the appearance of a rash and itching, which is accompanied by an increase in temperature.
• Period of crusting- the elements of the rash dry up. Anti-varicella antibodies are actively produced in the body, which ensure the binding of the virus and recovery.

Symptom	Development mechanism	Manifestations
General intoxication	Toxins formed during the life of the virus poison the nervous system.	Weakness, drowsiness, loss of strength. Headache, aches in the lumbar region and in large joints. Nausea, repeated vomiting. The first signs of chickenpox resemble the flu. In adults, intoxication is very pronounced.
Temperature rise	In the process of death of viral particles, pyrogens are formed - substances that provoke an increase in temperature. A large number of pyrogens enter the bloodstream during massive rashes.	Wave fever - during the period of the disease, there are 2-3 rises in temperature, which coincide with massive sprinkling. The temperature rises to 38-40 degrees. The temperature in chickenpox in adults lasts 3-9 days, depending on the severity of the course of the disease. Prolonged fever over 10 days indicates the development of complications.
Rash	Chickenpox is characterized by a maculopapular rash. Its appearance is associated with viral damage to the cells of the epidermis. The elements of the rash go through several stages in their development: spots, papules (nodules) and vesicles (vesicles). All of them can be present on one area of ​​the skin.	In adult patients, chickenpox rash appears 2-3 days after the temperature rises. Spots. Rounded red spots appear on the skin of the upper half of the body, ranging in size from 3 mm to 1 cm. Papules(infiltrates) - nodules without a cavity, located in the center of the spots. Formed within 2-3 hours. Vesicles- bubbles filled with transparent contents. They have a hemispherical shape, are located on a hyperemic (red) base. Formed at the site of red spots, for 12-20 hours. crusts formed at the site of ruptured vesicles. On average, from the moment the spot appears to the formation of a crust, 5-7 days pass. Sprinkling occurs randomly on any part of the body with an interval of 1-2 days. Their number varies from single in mild forms to 2000 in severe disease. New rashes continue for 4-5 days.
Skin itching	Changes in epithelial cells cause irritation of sensitive nerve endings that are in the skin. From them, the nerve impulse enters the central nervous system and is perceived by the brain as itching.	Itching appears simultaneously with spots on the skin. He worries patients up to the formation of crusts. Itching intensifies at night, when there are fewer distractions.
Rashes on the oral mucosa	In the cells of the mucous membranes, the same processes occur as in the skin.	Rashes appear simultaneously with a rash on the skin. On the mucous membrane of the gums, palatine arches and soft palate, red spots of 3-5 mm are formed. Over time, nodules form from the spot, and then bubbles. A few hours later, sores (aphthae) appear in their place, covered with a white-yellow coating. Ulcers cause severe pain. Similar rashes appear on the mucous membrane of the vagina in women. They cause severe itching and discomfort.

Classification of chickenpox in adults. Forms and stages

There are several classifications of chickenpox

1. According to the severity of the current

• Mild form in 7-10% of patients. The temperature rises to 38 degrees. The general condition is satisfactory. The number of rashes is moderate.
• Moderate form in 80%. Temperature 38-39 degrees. Severe intoxication - weakness, nausea, vomiting, aching muscles and joints. Eruptions are profuse, accompanied by severe itching.
• Severe form in 10%. Temperature 39-40 degrees. The general condition is severe, severe weakness, repeated vomiting, headache. Rashes can cover the entire surface of the skin. Various complications develop. In severe form, there are several variants of the course:
  • hemorrhagic form. It is rare in immunocompromised patients who have previously had hemorrhagic diseases - damage to blood vessels: hemorrhagic diathesis, vasculitis, thrombocytopathies, blood clotting disorders. Accompanied by the development of a hemorrhagic rash (small hemorrhages), hematomas, bruises, bleeding gums, intestinal bleeding.
  • bullous form. Simultaneously with typical vesicles, large flabby blisters, bullae, appear on the skin. They are filled with cloudy contents and have a folded surface. Long-term non-healing wounds remain at the site of their resolution.
  • Gangrenous form. It is extremely rare in severely malnourished patients, with poor hygiene and poor care. It develops with infection of papules and the addition of a secondary infection. A black border is formed around the papules, consisting of necrotic dead tissue. The disease is accompanied by intense fever and intoxication.

• The typical form is manifested by intoxication, fever, and a characteristic rash.
• The atypical form has several variants of the course.
  • Rudimentary form - rise in temperature to 37.5, single elements of the rash, which may look like spots or nodules. The disease often goes unnoticed.
  • Atypical include gangrenous, bullous and hemorrhagic forms described above.
• The generalized (visceral) form is associated with massive damage to the internal organs. It occurs in people with weakened immune systems when the virus multiplies in the cells of the internal organs. It is manifested by pain in the abdomen and lower back, severe damage to the liver, kidneys and nervous system, a decrease in blood pressure and pulse rate.

Diagnostics

• A characteristic rash that appeared against the background of elevated temperature and deterioration of the general condition;
• Periodic sprinkling, which is accompanied by a rise in temperature;
• False polymorphism of the rash. On a limited area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe skin, various elements of the rash are simultaneously present - spots, nodules and vesicles;
• Localization of the rash on any part of the body, except for the palms and soles;
• Rashes on the mucous membranes of the mouth, genitals and conjunctiva;
• There was contact with a patient with chickenpox.

• Bacterial superinfection of the skin caused by streptococci and staphylococci is the most common complication. Numerous boils, abscesses and phlegmons form in place of the vesicles. Patients require surgical treatment.
• Chickenpox pneumonia - inflammation of the lungscaused by viral damage to the lung tissue and the formation of bacterial infiltrates. It develops in 20-30% of cases. Characterized by fever, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain.
• Damage to internal organs. The virus multiplies in the cells of internal organs: spleen, pancreas, liver, lungs, heart. It is characterized by damage to several organs at once. On the 3rd-5th day of illness, the patient's condition worsens significantly, there are severe pains in the abdomen. Mortality up to 15%.
• Damage to the central nervous system. It appears 21 days after the onset of the disease. It is characterized by damage to the cerebellum, which is manifested by an imbalance, which is especially noticeable when changing the position of the body, trembling of the limbs, nystagmus (uncontrolled movements of the eyeballs). Diffuse encephalitis is also characteristic, the neurological consequences of which persist for a long time. Manifestations - headache, confusion and mental disorders, nausea, vomiting, epileptic seizures.
• Hepatitis. Liver damage is a rare complication of chickenpox. Predominantly develops in patients with immunodeficiency. Has a high lethality.

Prevention of chickenpox in adults

• specific prophylaxis. Vaccination against chickenpox is carried out for categories of the population that are prone to severe chickenpox. In a number of regions of the Russian Federation, it is included in the vaccination calendar. More details about the groups to be vaccinated and preparations are described below.
• Nonspecific prevention of chickenpox is based on the timely isolation of the patient, who is the source of infection of others. He is isolated at home for 9 days from the moment the disease is detected. The person is then considered non-infectious. There is no need to disinfect the patient's apartment. Enough daily wet cleaning and ventilation.
• Emergency prevention of chickenpox - the introduction of anti-varicella immunoglobulin or a live vaccine within 96 hours after contact with the patient (preferably in the first 72 hours).

Chickenpox in adults: symptoms, forms of the disease, complications, treatment, vaccinations - video

Answers to frequently asked questions

Should adults be vaccinated against chickenpox?

• People who are preparing for organ transplants.
• Prone to severe chickenpox - hemorrhagic diseases, decreased immunity, age over 50 years.
• Patients at high risk for the disease. These include:
  • patients with leukemia;
  • receiving immunosuppressive therapy (including glucocorticosteroids);
  • patients with malignant tumors;
  • people with severe chronic pathologies - bronchial asthma, collagenoses, autoimmune diseases, chronic renal failure.
• People who are in close contact with patients at high risk of the disease - relatives, family members.
• Medical personnel, especially those working in infectious diseases departments.
• Workers of preschool educational institutions.
• Military personnel.

• pregnant women;
• cancer patients;
• people suffering from AIDS and primary immunodeficiency states;
• receiving immunosuppressive therapy;
• with hypersensitivity to the components of the vaccine and neomycin.

Active immunization against varicella- the introduction of a vaccine based on a live attenuated Varicella Zoster virus. A specially treated pathogen causes a mild asymptomatic form of chickenpox. After this, specific immunoglobulins are produced, which remain in the blood, providing long-term immunity.

• Okavax is a Japanese-made chickenpox vaccine. Enter once subcutaneously into the deltoid muscle. The drug is allowed for children from 12 months of age and adults. Suitable for emergency prophylaxis in the first 72 hours after contact with the patient.
• Varilrix is ​​a Belgian-made vaccine. The drug is injected subcutaneously into the deltoid muscle. For adults, the vaccine is administered 2 times: the first dose on the appointed day, and the second after 4-6 weeks. Allowed for adults and children from 9 months of age. Suitable for emergency prophylaxis during the first 96 hours after contact.

• Zostevir is a drug containing immunoglobulin against the varicella-zoster virus. Immunoglobulin against the Varicella Zoster virus can be used for treatment and emergency prophylaxis after contact with the patient. Approved for use from the first day of life, as well as for pregnant women and nursing mothers.

What are the first signs of chickenpox in adults?

• weakness;
• headache;
• loss of appetite;
• temperature rise;
• possible nausea and vomiting.

Is chicken pox possible in adults?

Recurrent chickenpox occurs in some categories:

• In people with weakened immune systems. This condition can occur with prolonged use of antibiotics, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants;
• Have completed courses of chemotherapy;
• Those who have undergone severe emotional upheavals;
• In people with diseases of the digestive system and profound malnutrition.

What does chickenpox look like in adults, photo?

Is it possible to have chickenpox without fever?

Symptoms of the erased form:

• Slight malaise - weakness, loss of appetite;
• Single elements of the rash are a few red spots and nodules that usually do not turn into blisters.

• Weakened immunity. Viruses and their decay products do not cause an adequate immune response.
• Chickenpox, transferred at an early age (up to a year). In this case, chickenpox in an adult is considered repeated. In his blood there is a small amount of antibodies that prevent the virus from actively multiplying and causing a fever.
• Taking drugs that lower the temperature. At the first symptoms of deterioration, many self-medicate and take drugs containing paracetamol. Thus, they bring down the temperature, and the picture of the disease is distorted.

How long does chickenpox last in adults?

In practice, in 90% of patients, the disease lasts 10-14 days:

• prodromal period (without rash) - 2-3 days;
• the period of appearance of new rashes is 3-4 days;
• the period of formation of crusts is 5 days (from the moment the last rash appeared).

Do scars remain on the skin?

Scars appear when bacteria enter the vesicle and purulent inflammation develops. In this case, the deep layers of the skin are melted. After the crust falls off, a depression with jagged edges is found under it - pockmark. In the future, the "fossa" remains, but is aligned in color with the surrounding skin.

How to prevent the appearance of scars after chickenpox?

• Compliance with hygiene rules - regular change of linen, shower;
• Treatment of the rash with antiseptics - brilliant green, fucorcin;
• Prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics at the first appearance of pustules.

• Ointments and gels for the treatment of scars. Rub a small amount of gel into the scar 2-3 times a day. For chronic scars, the gel is applied under a bandage at night. The course of treatment can take from 1 month to a year. For treatment are used:
  • Contractubex;
  • Aldara;
  • Kelofibrase;
  • Scarguard.
• Injection of collagen under the skin. The substance fills the skin defect and stimulates the formation of connective fibers.
• Chemical peeling using phenol. Under the influence of aggressive chemicals, the keratinized layer of the epidermis and dermis is removed. After the restoration of the epidermis (takes up to 2 weeks), the skin becomes smooth.
• Laser skin resurfacing. A focused laser beam penetrates the superficial layers of the dermis and heats them up, evaporating water. After the regeneration of skin cells, its surface is leveled. Caution: Carbon dioxide laser treatment may cause a hypertrophic keloid scar that rises above the skin. Therefore, an erbium or carbon dioxide laser is used.

Of particular interest are parents whose children have talked with a child who has been diagnosed with chickenpox. Such information is also important in a situation where chickenpox quarantine has been declared in a kindergarten or school. How to recognize this infection at an early stage and how to understand that a child has chickenpox? To answer such questions, you need to find out where and how chickenpox begins in childhood.

What is windmill

Chicken pox, which is traditionally called chickenpox by parents and doctors, is a highly contagious infection that occurs with fever, rash and other symptoms. Most often, this disease is detected in children aged two to ten years. Its causative agent is one of the types of herpes viruses - the Varicella Zoster virus.

Babies can also contract and recover from chickenpox, but most babies under six months old are protected from chickenpox by their mother's immunity. They receive antibodies to chickenpox from a mother who had been ill in childhood, first in utero, and then through breast milk. A child older than 6 months is no longer protected by maternal antibodies, so chicken pox in infants who are already six months old is quite possible.

Watch the episode of the program "Live healthy!", In which the presenter Elena Malysheva talks about chicken pox in children:

Chickenpox also affects people over the age of 10-12. At the same time, in adolescents and adults, the infection is more severe, so many parents do not mind communicating preschoolers with children with chickenpox or go to a medical institution for a vaccination against such a disease.

In the body of a child who has had chickenpox or is vaccinated against the Varicella Zoster virus, antibodies are formed that provide him with lifelong immunity from such an infection until the end of his life. Only in 3% of cases, re-infection is possible, which is often associated with immunodeficiency.

In adolescence, chickenpox is more difficult to carry than in preschool children.

Incubation period

This period is the time from the virus entering the child's body after infection to the first symptoms of infection. If you answer the question “how many days after contact does chickenpox appear?”, then most often in children it will be 14 days. The duration of the incubation period can be less (from 7 days) or more (up to 21 days), but on average, the onset of chickenpox is noted two weeks after the first contact with the virus.

The child becomes a source of transmission of the virus to other people at the end of the incubation period - about 24 hours before the first symptoms. In addition, it is possible to become infected from a child with chickenpox during the entire period of rashes and within five days after the last blisters appear on the baby's skin. The transmission of the pathogen occurs by airborne droplets.

The child is a source of infection during the entire period of rashes

prodromal period

This is the name of the time period when it is difficult to say what kind of disease a child has. With chickenpox, it is rather short (lasts one or two days), and many children may not have it at all. In the prodromal period of chicken pox, mothers notice such manifestations of malaise in children as weakness, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, loss of appetite and sleep.

Watch a video that clearly demonstrates the rashes at the initial stage of chickenpox in children:

Eruption period

The rash begins to appear on the first or second day of clinical symptoms of chickenpox. It is associated with the entry of the virus with the bloodstream into the surface layer of the skin. At the same time, the child's body temperature rises, and the severity of the fever is directly related to the abundance of elements of the rash, and when new rashes appear, the temperature rises again.

Where do rashes appear?

Not knowing whether the child has contracted chickenpox, all mothers are concerned about the question “on what part of the body does the rash begin to appear?”. The first elements of the rash in most children appear on the trunk, then they spread to the skin of the extremities, and also appear on the head (first on the face, and then on the scalp). In some children, the rash also covers the mucous membranes, for example, pimples can be seen in the mouth.

On the surface of the body

On the face

On the palms

Can it start from the feet

The first spots with chickenpox can occur on the legs and on the head, but they soon spread to the skin of the trunk. At the same time, there is practically no rash on the palms and feet with chickenpox. It can appear in these areas mainly with a severe form of the disease.

If the child has a mild form of chickenpox, the rash will be represented by a small number of elements on the body, and the temperature often remains normal.

What does the rash look like

Rashes in chickenpox are represented by several types of elements that occur one after another. First, the child's body is covered with small pink-red spots, and after a few hours, papules form in their place. So called small tubercles, reminiscent of mosquito bites.

After some time, the upper part of the epidermis in the papules exfoliates and a clear liquid accumulates inside - this is how single-chamber vesicles appear. Around each such bubble, you can see a red "rim" of inflamed skin.

As a rule, the chickenpox rash can be quite itchy, and the task of parents should be to prevent scratching that can infect the vesicles.

Chickenpox (chickenpox) is a common childhood infection that is mild in most children and is accompanied by a characteristic skin rash.

Chickenpox is manifested by a rash in the form of red itchy spots that turn into blisters filled with fluid. Then they dry out, forming crusts that fall off over time. Some children develop very few spots, while others cover the entire body. The most common places where the rash appears are on the face, ears and scalp, in the armpits, on the chest, abdomen, arms and legs.

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It spreads quickly and easily from a sick child to a healthy child through sneezing and coughing.

Chickenpox most often affects children under the age of 10 years, the incidence increases in winter and spring, especially from March to May. 90% of adults are immune to chickenpox because they had the infection in childhood. However, the remaining 10% may have severe chickenpox. In addition, chickenpox occurs in approximately three out of 1,000 pregnancies. It can cause severe complications in both the pregnant woman and the unborn child.

Can you get chickenpox again?

There is evidence of repeated cases of chickenpox, but they are extremely rare. There are several theories to explain these cases:

• many medical professionals believe that in such cases the first time they were misdiagnosed, but in fact there was another disease with similar symptoms;
• there may be some genetic relationship, but it is not completely clear which one, and more research is needed in this area.

Since chickenpox is highly contagious, do not let a sick child into kindergarten or school. The isolation period lasts from the first days of the disease until the moment when new blisters stop forming and all elements of the rash become covered with crusts (more often, after 5 days from the last appearance of new rashes).

If your child has chickenpox, try not to go out with him in crowded places to avoid contact with those who have not had chickenpox, especially people who can have severe complications, such as newborns, pregnant women and people with immunocompromised (for example, due to cancer treatment or steroid use).

In children, chickenpox is considered a mild illness, but be prepared for the fact that during the illness your child may feel quite ill and become irritable. Your child will likely have a high fever for at least the first few days after the onset of the illness. The rash can be very itchy. There is no specific treatment for chickenpox, but there are medications that can help relieve the symptoms.

In most children, the blisters dry up and heal on their own within 1 to 2 weeks. But for some, chickenpox can be severe. In any case, you need to call a pediatrician at home to confirm the diagnosis of chickenpox, rule out other possible causes of the rash, and also inform the kindergarten or school that your child attends about the start of quarantine.

Adults usually get sick with chickenpox more severely, complications develop more often. Like children, adults should stay at home during chickenpox and not go to work until all the blisters have crusted over. For the entire period of illness, the doctor issues a certificate of incapacity for work (sick leave). It is necessary to consult a doctor again if any unusual symptoms appear, for example, inflammation of the vesicles. Antiviral drugs can help adults with chickenpox if treatment is started at the first sign of illness.

Chickenpox and shingles

After infection with the varicella-zoster virus, the body produces antibodies to fight the disease, and after recovery, lifelong immunity to the disease develops. At the same time, the chickenpox virus remains in the nervous tissues of the body in an inactive (dormant) form. After some time, the virus may reactivate. Then a disease develops, which is called shingles (herpes zoster). A person with herpes zoster can be a source of infection for people who have not had chickenpox.

Chickenpox symptoms

The most common symptom of chickenpox is a red rash that can spread to the entire body. However, even before the rash appears, you or your child may have mild flu-like symptoms, such as:

• nausea;
• temperature 38º C or higher;
• pain, muscle aches;
• headache;
• general malaise;
• lack of appetite.

These flu-like symptoms, especially high fever, are more common in adults than in children.

Shortly after the above symptoms, an itchy rash appears. Some children and adults may only develop a few spots, while others are covered from head to toe. The spots usually appear in groups in the following places:

• behind the ears;
• on the face;
• on the head under the hair;
• armpits;
• on the chest and abdomen;
• on the arms and legs.

Less commonly, the rash occurs on other parts of the body, even in the ears and mouth, on the palms, soles of the feet and in the groin. Although the rash starts as small red dots, after about 12 to 14 hours, they turn into blisters and begin to itch very badly. After a day or two, the liquid in the blisters becomes cloudy, they begin to dry out and become covered with a crust. After 1-2 weeks, the crusts fall off by themselves.

New elements of the rash may continue to appear in waves for 3 to 5 days from the onset of the rash. Therefore, different groups of spots can simultaneously be at different stages, somewhere new bubbles are formed, and somewhere they are already drying up.

Most children and adults recover from chickenpox without consequences if they stay in bed during the illness, as with a cold or flu. But some children and adults may develop more severe symptoms. Call your doctor right away if your child develops unusual symptoms, such as:

• the skin around the blisters will turn red and start to hurt;
• you or your child will develop chest pain or difficulty breathing.

In these cases, prescription drugs and possibly hospital treatment may be needed.

Causes of chickenpox

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. You can catch it when you come into contact with a person who is infected with this virus. This disease is highly contagious. Approximately 90% of people who have not previously had chickenpox will get it when they come into contact with the virus.

Chickenpox spreads in the same way as colds and the flu. The chickenpox pathogens are contained in millions of microscopic droplets flying out of the mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing. You can become infected with the virus by inhaling these droplets along with the air. It is also possible to become infected by touching a surface or object that these microscopic droplets have fallen on and then touching your face.

Chickenpox symptoms appear within 7 to 21 days after exposure to the virus. This period is called the incubation period. A patient with chickenpox becomes a source of infection for others from the moment the first symptoms appear. The contagious period lasts until the last elements of the rash have crusted over (usually 5 days after the last blister has formed on the skin).

If you haven't had chickenpox before, you can catch it from someone with shingles. However, it is impossible to catch shingles from a person with chickenpox.

Diagnosis of chickenpox

For the diagnosis of chickenpox, any special studies are rarely used. To confirm the diagnosis, it is enough for the doctor to record its characteristic symptoms: fever, followed by an itchy rash, blisters and crusting.

Usually, the most typical symptom of chickenpox is a chickenpox rash, and this is enough to distinguish it from other diseases, although it is sometimes mistaken for other skin lesions, such as insect bites or scabies (a contagious skin disease that causes severe itching). If you're not sure what's causing your symptoms, your doctor may do a simple blood test to check for the virus.

When to See a Doctor

1. If a rash similar to chickenpox appears on the skin, fever and general malaise, call a doctor at home. The doctor will be able to rule out other causes of the rash, confirm or refute your suspicions about chickenpox. In addition, the doctor is obliged to enter information about the disease into your medical record and inform the sanitary and epidemic control authorities, organize quarantine measures in the team that the patient visited. For the duration of illness, as well as for the period of child care, adults are entitled to a sick leave.

2. It is especially important to seek medical attention if:

• You are pregnant;
• you have a weakened immune system (the body's defense system);
• the sick child is less than four weeks old.

In these cases, chickenpox can cause severe complications if left untreated. It is extremely important to see a doctor so that you can receive proper treatment.

3. Contact your doctor if you get chickenpox while breastfeeding. Your doctor will tell you if you should continue to breastfeed your baby.

Blood test for chickenpox

After you've seen a GP, you may need to take a blood test to see if you're immune to chickenpox. If you have had chickenpox in the past, it is highly unlikely that you will get it again. If you haven't had chickenpox or you're not sure if you have, an immune test may be needed.

This is a blood test that checks to see if your body is making antibodies to the chickenpox virus. If the results of the blood test show that antibodies are being produced, your body is protected from the virus. If antibodies are not produced, you will be closely monitored for symptoms of chickenpox. If they appear, you may need further treatment.

Chickenpox treatment

There is no specific cure for chickenpox, and the body usually clears the virus on its own without any treatment. However, itching and discomfort can be reduced, and there are some important steps you can take to prevent chickenpox from spreading to others. To alleviate the condition of the patient yourself, use the following tips.

1. Stay hydrated. With chickenpox, children and adults need to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Sugar-free fruit drinks, compotes and fruit drinks are good for children. Avoid any foods that irritate the mucous membrane of the mouth, such as foods high in salt. Eat liquid or mushy food at a pleasant temperature.

2. Don't comb the bubbles. Chickenpox can cause severe itching, so children and adults should not scratch the vesicles so that they do not leave scars later. You can stop scratching by cutting your nails short and keeping them clean. At night, socks can be put on the child's hands so that he does not comb the rash in his sleep.

If your child's itching is very severe, there are various liquids, lotions and gels with a cooling and antipruritic effect. You can buy them at the pharmacy, they are absolutely safe. A doctor or a pharmacy employee will help you choose such a remedy. Antihistamines (anti-allergic) drugs also help relieve itching. They should also be taken only after consulting a doctor.

3. Choose comfortable clothes. If your child has a fever or a rash that is causing them significant distress, dress them in clothing that won't make them too hot or cold. Loose-fitting clothing made of smooth cotton is best to prevent pain and skin irritation. If your child has chickenpox, do not rub it with a sponge of cool water to cool the skin. Because of this, the child may become hypothermic and will shiver from the cold.

Medical treatment for chickenpox

Painkillers. If your child is in pain or has a fever, you can give him an antipyretic and pain reliever such as paracetamol (available at pharmacies without a prescription). Always follow the manufacturer's recommended dosage. Paracetamol is the most appropriate pain reliever for the symptoms of chickenpox, as there is a small risk of an adverse skin reaction when taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen.

Do not give ibuprofen to a child if he has asthma or has had stomach problems in the past. If you are not sure if ibuprofen is right for you, ask your doctor or pharmacist. If your baby is less than three months old, you should always check with your pediatrician before giving your baby any medicine.

If you are pregnant and need to take pain medication, paracetamol is your best bet. It can be taken at any stage of pregnancy. Ibuprofen is allowed to be taken only in the second trimester (14-27 weeks) of pregnancy. If you get chickenpox during pregnancy, you need to call a doctor at home. You may need to take an antiviral or immunoglobulin to avoid complications (see below).

Never give aspirin to your child if you suspect or know for sure that he has chickenpox. In children with chickenpox, aspirin can cause a potentially fatal disease called Reye's syndrome, which causes significant damage to the brain and liver. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure which medicines to give your child.

Antiviral drugs. Acyclovir is an antiviral drug that is sometimes prescribed for chickenpox. Acyclovir can be prescribed to the following categories of people:

• pregnant women;
• adults if they contacted a physician within 24 hours of the onset of the rash;
• newborns;
• people with a weakened immune system (the body's defense system).

Ideally, aciclovir should be started within 24 hours of the onset of the rash. It does not cure chickenpox, but relieves its symptoms. If you are taking acyclovir, drink plenty of fluids. Side effects are rare, but you may experience nausea and diarrhea. Be sure to check with your doctor before taking it.

Treatment with immunoglobulin. Immunoglobulin is a preparation containing antibodies that have been taken from healthy donors. Immunoglobulin for serotherapy of chickenpox contains antibodies to the chickenpox virus and is administered by drip. It is not used to treat chickenpox, but to protect people who are at increased risk of becoming seriously ill. Among them:

• pregnant women;
• newborns;

In pregnant women, immunoglobulin also reduces the risk of infecting the unborn child.

Immunoglobulin may be prescribed in the following cases:

• the person has been in close contact with the virus - for example, face-to-face with a person with chickenpox;
• a person was within 15 minutes in the same room with a patient with chickenpox;
• blood test results indicate that the person has not previously had chickenpox.

In some cases, immunoglobulin may be given to newborns without a blood test.

Complications with chickenpox

In healthy children, complications from chickenpox are rare. The most common complication is infection of the blisters with bacteria. A sign of infection - the skin around the blisters turns red and begins to hurt. If you think the blisters are inflamed, see your doctor, as your child may need to take antibiotics.

The most common complications of chickenpox occur in the following groups of people:

• adults;
• pregnant women;
• newborns less than four weeks old;
• people with weakened immune systems.

Complications of chickenpox in adults

Chickenpox can be more severe in adults than in children. Sick adults are more likely to go to the hospital for treatment. Approximately 5–14% of adults with chickenpox develop lung diseases such as pneumonia. If you smoke, you have a significantly increased risk of lung disease. Although chickenpox may be more severe in adults, most people recover completely.

Chickenpox during pregnancy

If you are pregnant, chickenpox can sometimes cause complications. For example, you will have a slightly increased risk of getting pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs) if you are pregnant, especially if you smoke. The longer the pregnancy, the higher the risk of developing pneumonia with chickenpox.

If you get chickenpox during pregnancy, there is also a risk of miscarriage.

If you get chickenpox in the first 28 weeks of your pregnancy, there is a risk that your unborn baby will develop a disease called fetal varicella syndrome. This syndrome is rare. The risk of developing this disease in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy is less than 1%. From weeks 13 to 20, the risk is 2%. There is only a few evidence that fetal varicella syndrome occurs between 20 and 28 weeks of gestation, and the risk is thought to be less than 1%.

Fetal varicella syndrome can lead to severe complications, including:

• scar formation;
• visual disturbances, such as cataracts;
• limb underdevelopment;
• malformation of the brain.

There are also other risks associated with getting chickenpox from the 20th week of pregnancy. There is a possibility of premature birth (from the 37th week of pregnancy). If you get chickenpox a week before or a week after giving birth, your newborn baby may have more severe chickenpox. In some severe cases, this form of chickenpox can be fatal.

Call your doctor right away if you suspect you have varicella or if you have been in contact with someone who has the disease, if you are pregnant or have had a baby in the last 7 days.

Complications of chickenpox with a weakened immune system

Immunity is your body's defense against disease, bacteria and viruses. If you have a weakened immune system, you are more susceptible to diseases like chickenpox because your body produces fewer antibodies to fight the disease. Your immune system may be weakened if you are taking immunosuppressants. These are drugs that suppress the immune system. Immunosuppressants, such as steroids in pill form, may be taken for inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or certain blood disorders.

If your immune system is weakened, you are also at increased risk of complications from chickenpox. These include:

• pneumonia;
• sepsis (blood poisoning);

Contact your physician immediately if you are immunocompromised and have been exposed to the chickenpox virus.

Chickenpox prevention

If your child has chickenpox, call the pediatrician at home. The doctor must inform the school or other children's group that your child attended about the quarantine.

If you have chickenpox, do not go to work until you are past the contagious period. This is the time from the moment of the first symptoms to the disappearance of the crust on the last elements of the rash, which. This usually happens 5-6 days after the last rash appears.

Particular care must be taken to isolate the patient from:

• pregnant women;
• newborns;
• people who are immunosuppressed, such as those who are undergoing chemotherapy (cancer treatment) or taking steroids.

If you or your child has recently been exposed to the virus, you may not be allowed to visit friends and family at the hospital. Call the front desk first.

If you or your child has chickenpox, you may not be allowed to fly until six days after the last blisters appeared. You and your child are free to fly once the infection stage has passed and all the blisters have crusted over. But it is better to first read the policy of the airline. Notify the airline as soon as you are diagnosed with chickenpox.

Sometimes chickenpox is spread through contact with items contaminated with the virus, such as children's toys, bedding, or clothing. If a family member has chickenpox, you can stop the spread of the virus by wiping objects and surfaces with a disinfectant and washing clothes and bedding regularly.

Chickenpox vaccination

There is a chickenpox vaccine that is used to protect those most at risk of developing complications. Chickenpox vaccination is available only on request. There are no strict indications for vaccination in our country. The vaccine is not included in the National Immunization Schedule.

Pregnant women are not vaccinated. If you have been vaccinated, try to avoid pregnancy for three months after vaccination. The vaccine is also not suitable for immunocompromised people.

Who heals?

Which doctor should I contact with chickenpox?

If you have symptoms of chickenpox, call your doctor at home so as not to become a source of infection during an independent visit to the doctor. With the help of the NaPopravku service, you can find clinics where you can call a therapist or pediatrician at home.