Chickenpox 17 years old what to do. Rash in adolescence: more about the disease. Symptoms and treatment of chickenpox in adolescents

Symptoms of chickenpox in adolescents require special attention from parents and doctors. Chickenpox is a “favorite” disease of preschool children. Almost everyone in the kindergarten gets chickenpox: one person gets sick, but not even a week goes by before the whole group catches the disease. Some parents do not want to take their children out of preschool during quarantine. There is a reason for this: it has been proven that children under 5-7 years of age tolerate the disease more easily, and the immunity earned in kindergarten remains for life.

It’s another matter when chickenpox occurs in teenagers 12-16 years old. Teenagers are unusual people. In addition to mental changes and hormonal changes in the body, during this transitional time many tests fall on the immune system, which becomes especially vulnerable. And if your child did not have chickenpox in early childhood, it is possible that right now he will catch the infection if he becomes cold or overtired. During the period of exacerbation, the infection actively “flies” in public places: swimming pools, educational institutions, sports clubs, discos. That is, wherever a teenager likes to spend time.

How to recognize chickenpox?

Many teenagers are secretive and do not like to complain about their health. Moreover, it is not always possible to recognize chickenpox at the first stage. The first signs of the disease are the same as those of a cold: a runny nose, a headache, chills and shaking, and a sharp rise in temperature. True, if chickenpox occurs in teenagers, the temperature does not behave like a cold. Sometimes the fever lasts for several days at around 38-40 degrees and is difficult to break down. But it happens that after a day the temperature drops and does not rise again. Against the backdrop of the illness, the patient may complain of nausea and aches, the eyes begin to fear daytime sunlight and water.

It happens that it comes to seizures. Only after a few days the disease reveals itself as “signature” red pimples that scatter throughout the body. Literally within a day, pimples transform into unpleasant blisters filled with clear liquid. The rash itches and itches, causing extreme discomfort to the patient. It’s unpleasant to realize that pimples can pop up everywhere: from the eyes to the genitals. Immediately warn your child that scratching and squeezing pimples is strictly prohibited. Remind your teen that the pits left after chickenpox do not always heal. According to doctors' statistics, it is because of chickenpox suffered during puberty that scars most often remain for life. Teenagers are very sensitive to beauty issues, so let your warning be a powerful motivation not to touch the unfortunate rashes. We must be patient and treat the disease according to the rules. The pimples will begin to dry out within a few days, and after a week or ten days there will be no trace left of them.

In a teenager, the symptoms of chickenpox are as follows:

headache;
convulsions;
fear of bright light;
heat;
nausea;
muscle pain;
pimples and blisters all over the body.

How to treat and how to entertain?

At the first symptoms of chickenpox, parents should force the child to lie down. Call a doctor at home immediately. You should not go to the hospital on your own: have mercy on those around you, and do not forget that in the first days the disease is contagious.

Doctors strictly prohibit carrying the disease on your feet. This is why it is important to rest properly. Of course, a moody teenager may refuse to spend all his time in bed. Your task is to captivate and entertain him: download his favorite movies, buy comics. In this case, every day spent in bed counts.

While waiting for the doctor, it is important to encourage your child to drink as much fluid as possible. Let it be your favorite apple juice, dried fruit compote, cranberry and black currant juice, even ordinary water with lemon, slightly sweetened with honey, will do. Give a paracetamol-based antipyretic. It is believed that aspirin is harmful for teenagers and has a very bad effect on the cardiovascular system, but paracetamol is easily tolerated and lowers the temperature for a long time. Be sure to give your child a Suprastin or Fenistil tablet - anti-allergy drugs are great for relieving itching. For convulsions, give the No-shpy tablet. It will quickly relieve pain. The doctor will probably approve if you take a drug that stimulates the immune system at the first stage of the disease. For example, Viferon candles have proven themselves well.

But still, it is the doctor who must prescribe the course of treatment and the sequence of taking medications; you should not rely on your knowledge of medicine and self-medicate.

Treatment can also be carried out using traditional methods: herbs and decoctions will help with medications.

Lotions made from oak bark perfectly relieve itching and help the crusts dry out faster, and compresses with chamomile or calendula relieve inflammation. Remember that bathing the patient entirely in herbal infusions for the first time is extremely undesirable. Water only aggravates the course of the disease, spreading blisters, and making the lesions much wider. But no one forbids rinsing without soap and a washcloth, especially since water perfectly calms and relaxes. The main thing is that after the water procedure, dry each vial thoroughly with a cotton swab or swab dipped in a disinfectant solution.

Many people believe that the best is good old green stuff. Your teenager will most likely refuse to be “speckled.” But now many modern drugs have appeared that do not leave marks on the skin, while being very effective. The drugs “Delaskin” and “Kalamine” received good reviews from parents. True, brilliant green has a huge advantage: in the treated areas it becomes clearly visible whether the bubbles have dried completely or new ones have appeared. And without a contrasting color, the healing process is more difficult to monitor.

So, this will help:

"Paracetamol".
"Suprastin".
"Zelenka."
"Viferon".
Bed rest.
Herbal lotions.

How dangerous is chickenpox?

Be careful: teenagers suffer from the disease seriously, and then the child will need a lot of time to fully recover. It is important to do everything to prevent complications, because the disease is terrible precisely because of its consequences. One of them is inflammation of the optic nerve or spinal cord. It happens that ordinary chickenpox develops into pneumonia. If pneumonia is not recognized in time, it can lead to another dangerous disease - meningitis, which can seriously disrupt a person’s coordination system. Cases have been recorded when a characteristic pimple appeared in a teenager even on the white of the eye and left a scar there for the rest of his life. And this is not only unsightly, but also fraught with deterioration of vision. This is why you should not underestimate chickenpox in teenagers, this is not a preschool child! If your growing child gets sick, you should immediately provide him with good care and cure him, strictly following all the doctor’s recommendations.

So, they can become:

pneumonia;
meningitis;
loss and deterioration of vision;
deterioration of coordination;
inflammation of the spinal cord or optic nerve.

Is it possible to protect yourself in advance?

According to doctors, the best way to protect against chickenpox is vaccination with immunoglobulin. It has been used for over 20 years and has proven itself to be a very effective remedy. Immunoglobulin is recommended for use by everyone who did not get chickenpox in childhood, but wants to protect themselves during an epidemic. Vaccination is suitable for both adults and adolescents; it is tolerated quickly, easily and has virtually no contraindications.

Another proven method of prevention is isolating the patient. It is believed that a person should not have contact with a sick person for 11 days, but it is better if the quarantine lasts three weeks. It is not for nothing that this period is considered optimal even in kindergarten, where all SanPiN standards are strictly observed.

Today, chickenpox in adolescents is becoming quite common. Although it is believed that preschool children are primarily affected by this infectious disease, skin rashes are increasingly appearing in adolescents and adults.

At this age, the first symptoms and treatment of the disease are somewhat different from the characteristics of the disease in young children. This is explained by the fact that with age the virus becomes more difficult to eliminate, and therefore the symptoms become more pronounced. What was easily tolerated by children under one year old can lead to serious complications during adolescence that can develop into chronic illnesses.

Clinical picture

Symptoms of chickenpox in adolescents resemble signs of acute respiratory diseases (ARI). An elevated body temperature occurs, accompanied by chills, runny nose and headaches. The day after these symptoms appear, skin rashes appear on the body, although the person becomes contagious much earlier, and other family members can easily become ill with this disease.

The main symptom of chickenpox is severe itching. With the appearance of the first pink spots on the skin, the disease begins to be characterized by a period of rashes, so the next sign of the disease in a teenager is a profuse rash on the skin, accompanied by itching.

Severe burning and tingling provoke a desire to squeeze out blisters, scratch the skin with rashes that quickly spread throughout the body, affecting large areas. Scratching increases the risk of infection in wounds. Therefore, special attention should be paid to treating affected skin and mucous membranes with antiseptic solutions.

The period of rash at 13 years of age and older occurs on the 5-7th day of illness. During the first 10 days, there is a chance that the rash may reappear on the skin. It can spread to the mucous membranes, affecting the nose, tongue, palate, bladder, urethra, etc.

At the peak of the rash, the patient’s body temperature may rise to 38-40°, and often in this state severe intoxication of the body occurs. Fever and ailments last no more than 5 days.

The period of rash lasts approximately 2 weeks from the onset of the disease, and after that the blisters begin to dry out and crust over. It remains on the skin for a few more weeks and then begins to fall off, leaving behind traces in the form of pink spots. Gradually everything goes away, the spots become smaller and then disappear on their own.

Additional signs of chickenpox in teenagers:

muscle pain, cramps, involuntary twitching;
general weakness, feeling of fatigue;
sleep problems;
swollen lymph nodes;
increased sensitivity to light.

Chickenpox is hard on the legs. The patient should remain in bed. Since this is a highly contagious disease and other family members can easily be affected, the sick person should be completely isolated and quarantined. After exposure to the virus, the incubation period should be at least 11 days or up to 21 days.

Possible complications

Negative consequences can occur as a result of the spread of a viral infection throughout the body. In the period up to 16 years, chickenpox can cause the following complications:

purulent inflammation of tissues, abscesses, the appearance of age spots after scars;
pathologies in the cardiovascular and respiratory systems: myocarditis, nephritis or pneumonia;
in advanced severe forms, arthritis, bursitis, keratitis, enteritis and sepsis can develop.

The most dangerous complication of the disease for children 12 years of age and older is sepsis. This is a general infection of the body with infections and microbes that have entered the blood. If treatment is not started in time, the disease can be fatal.

Chickenpox in adolescents often leads to abscess, pyoderma and phlegmon. There is a high risk that after the crust falls off, age spots and scars will remain on the body. Since viruses and microbes can easily spread throughout the body, the likelihood of complications and the duration of the disease increase many times over.

Chickenpox, which occurs in a severe form, is explained by active processes of changes in hormonal levels and physical development in the body during this period. Teenagers have increased sensitivity and vulnerability of the body, so it becomes more susceptible to bacteria that are unable to resist the effects of infection. A weakened immune system only makes the situation worse.

Children get chickenpox on an outpatient basis if it occurs without severe complications. The patient is isolated from healthy family members and is prescribed bed rest. From the moment the virus takes effect, it can take from 11 to 21 days, and only then can the first symptoms appear.

Therapeutic measures

Treatment of chickenpox in adolescents requires an integrated approach. In order to get rid of an infectious disease, you need to have a clear daily routine, follow a diet, and use general and local types of therapy.

To quickly cure chickenpox, you need to adhere to bed rest and drink plenty of fluids: at least 30 ml per kg of weight. During this period, preference is given to mineral waters, sweet compotes and light teas. It is advisable to avoid acidic drinks, which cause blood oxidation at high temperatures.

Chickenpox in adolescents requires a switch to a light diet. Include more fruits, vegetables, cereals and dairy products in your diet. Eliminate fatty foods from the menu for a while so that the digestive system can rest.

It is also important for parents to understand how to treat chickenpox in adolescents using general therapy medications.

Popular medications:

Acyclovir. It is used to treat chickenpox, regardless of how old the patient is. Since in adolescents and adults the disease occurs in a more complex form than in children, the drug is therefore necessary to reduce the risk of complications. Available in the form of tablets or powder for injection. The treatment period is at least 5 days. The number of days and dosage should be regulated by a doctor.
Anaferon. Belongs to the group of homeopathic medicines. Helps the body fight viral bacteria. Taken in tablet form.
Immunoglobulin. It is obtained from donated blood preparations and introduced into the body intravenously. Prescribed for children 17 years of age and adults in case of severe disease. Also used for enlarged lymph nodes and a weakened immune system.
Isoprinosine. Indicated for both children and adults. This is a serious and powerful antiviral drug, so it should be taken only after consulting a doctor. Side effects: digestive problems, increased urine volume, itching, rashes. For example, a patient who was treated with this drug, which caused unpleasant side symptoms, had Isoprinosine immediately discontinued.

To reduce intoxication and relieve itching, adolescents are often prescribed the antihistamine drug Zyrtec. It is effective even in severe cases of infection and does not cause drowsiness.

Preparations for external use

How to quickly cure chickenpox using external medications? When treating chickenpox in adolescents 14 years of age and older, ointments are excellent:

Baneocin. This is a local antibiotic that successfully copes with suppuration. It is actively used in cases where patients scratch the rash, which causes a bacterial infection.
Betadine. Antiseptic ointment for chickenpox with antiviral properties. Acts as an antibiotic against bacterial infection.
Infagel. The ointment has an antiviral effect. The course of treatment lasts up to 5 days.
Calamine. A remedy for body rashes in the form of a lotion. It fights inflammation, soothing irritated skin.
Miramistin. It is considered a very powerful antiseptic, acting against bacteria, viruses and fungal infections.
Levomikol. This is a topical antibiotic that can relieve inflammation around the affected skin. Used for purulent rashes.

Nowadays, with the advent of modern antiseptic drugs, the use of potassium permanganate and brilliant green has become less and less common. However, you should not completely forget about these funds. Many people note that brilliant green is an excellent remedy against chickenpox, since it dries out the rash well and eliminates itching.

ethnoscience

For chickenpox in adolescents, folk remedies for treating the disease are used only as additional measures. They will help relieve intoxication and reduce skin itching.

Treatment methods for chickenpox:

Blueberry. Eating blueberries at age 15 will help speed up the healing process. This is explained by the ability of the berry to directly affect the virus and weaken it. Blueberries can be used both in the form of berries and juice.
Baths with chamomile infusions. Chamomile has antiseptic and calming effects. To make a decoction, you need to pour 60 g of dry color into 1 liter of water and boil. After the decoction has been infused for several hours, it is added to the bath. You need to be treated with this method once a day. It is forbidden to use a washcloth that can be used to scratch out rashes.
Celery. Since this plant is rich in vitamin C and has antiviral properties, it is often prescribed to children. For chickenpox, take 1 tbsp of celery juice. l. before meals 3 times a day for a week.
Oats. An infusion from this culture is used to relieve intoxication.
Chicory. Used to boost immunity and strengthen the body. The infusion is prepared from 6 tbsp. l. ingredient and a glass of boiling water. Children 12 years of age and older are recommended to take 1 tsp. up to 6 times a day, regardless of meals.

If a person has never had chickenpox before, then to avoid it in adolescence or for older people, it is necessary to get vaccinated. The first vaccine is given at 12 months and provides protection for 10 years. There have been cases that even after the administration of the drug, children still became infected with the virus, but those who had previously had chickenpox are much easier to tolerate. The vaccine is contraindicated for people with weak immune systems and those who often suffer from infectious diseases, as there is a risk of an autoimmune reaction.

You can become infected with chickenpox from a patient without even coming into close contact with him, since the virus is very volatile. The routes of transmission of the pathogen are airborne, very rarely - as a result of close contact with infected underwear of a patient, transplacental or ascending (through the maternal birth canal). Chickenpox is spread through kissing, coughing and sneezing.

Chickenpox forms a strong immunity after suffering from any form of illness. But the pathogen remains in the human body, persisting for a long time in the nerve ganglia. Therefore, immunity after chickenpox is called non-sterile. When immunity decreases due to severe chronic illness or stress, the virus is activated, causing a disease called herpes zoster. Re-infection with chickenpox is extremely rare. This is observed in individuals with severe immunosuppression: with leukemia during chemotherapy, in HIV-infected people, and also after transplantation of donor organs and tissues. These patients may get chickenpox again.

How does chickenpox manifest?

From the moment of infection with the virus to the first signs of the disease, on average, it takes from 11 to 21 days (incubation period). During this latent period, the causative agent of chickenpox from the respiratory epithelium penetrates the lymph, then into the blood and, multiplying, spreads throughout all organs. The patient may feel weakness and increased fatigue, poor sleep. During the incubation period of chickenpox, the day before the onset of the rash, the patient becomes infectious to others. Feeling worse, temperature rises.

What does chickenpox look like? The varicella zoster virus primarily infects the epithelial cells of the superficial layer of the skin. As a result of their death and the development of swelling of surrounding tissues, a rash specific to chickenpox appears on the skin and mucous membranes. It has several stages of development, and can stop at any of them, determining the course of the disease by severity. Stages of skin rash transformation: macula - papule - vesicle - crust - healing, scar or pustule. On the mucous membranes (on the conjunctiva of the eye, in the throat, in the mouth) these are: macula - papule - vesicle - erosion - healing.

There are the following types of chickenpox (some can cause complications):

Typical mild form. Characterized by a satisfactory condition without symptoms of intoxication, low fever, mild skin rash with pronounced polymorphism, no more than 3 days of sleep, no enanthems.
Typical moderate form chickenpox - moderate intoxication, body temperature rises to 39 degrees during a period of repeated rashes, lasting up to 5 days. The rash is profuse, there are enanthems. Diagnosis of the disease based on the morphology of the rash does not present any difficulties.
Typical severe form occurs with high (up to 40 degrees) temperature, severe intoxication. Severe rash on the face, torso, mucous membranes, genitals, and head. Symptoms of damage to the brain and nervous system are added. There is a high probability of complications from internal organs and pyogenic infection.
Atypical rudimentary(hidden form). It is often missed, considering the child healthy. This form is observed if a baby under three months of age falls ill and has maternal antibodies in the blood, or if prophylaxis with immunoglobulin was carried out on time. This form of the disease is dangerous from an epidemic point of view, as it remains infectious.
Atypical gangrenous form. If viral chickenpox is complicated by microbial flora, then against the background of reduced immunity, purulent melting and necrosis of tissue areas with severe intoxication and a very serious general condition are possible. Therefore, careful treatment of the rash is important - bathing, treatment with brilliant green, other antiseptics (calamine, for example). You can use antiviral or zinc ointments.
Atypical hemorrhagic form It is very difficult to treat and has a poor prognosis.
Generalized form chickenpox occurs with the involvement of internal organs and the development of multiple organ failure. It can affect weakened children, newborns, and adults receiving immunosuppressive or chemotherapy treatments.

How to prevent chickenpox and its complications

Chickenpox is contagious for an average of two weeks. The infectious period lasts from the moment the prodrome begins (a day or two before the first elements of the rash appear) until the crusts fall off. The disease is only transmitted by humans, so for the entire duration of the illness the patient should not have contact with healthy children or walk away from kindergartens and schools. Since the virus causes herpes zoster for the second time, it is necessary to exclude contact of these patients with healthy children. The duration of the infectious period is until the rash disappears.

To prevent bacterial complications, it is necessary to follow all the doctor’s recommendations, wash regularly, bathe in herbal decoctions and a weak solution of potassium permanganate. As prescribed by the doctor, start taking antiviral or antibacterial drugs on time.

The most effective way to prevent chickenpox is a specific vaccination, especially vaccination of children under one year of age.

Chickenpox symptoms

Chickenpox in adults over 17 years of age accounts for no more than 10% of all cases. Since the pathogen is widespread, people most often become infected with it already in preschool age. After the disease, lifelong immunity remains, so chickenpox in an adult appears only after the first contact with the varicella-zoster virus. The human body has not developed reliable protection against the pathogen, and therefore, after suffering from chickenpox, it continues to live in an inactive form in the nerve ganglia. There is information that during hormone therapy, chemotherapy for cancer, after organ transplantation against the background of severe suppression of the immune system, re-infection with chickenpox is possible. In less severe cases (stress, exacerbation of chronic diseases), activation of the virus manifests itself in the form of herpes zoster.

Chickenpox symptoms in adults

Typically, such a mild disease in childhood as chickenpox in adults has symptoms of at least moderate severity. At the same time, after the age of 20, adults suffer severe and complicated forms equally often in any age category. Chicken pox is more severe in the presence of concomitant chronic diseases and immunodeficiency conditions.

The duration of the incubation period after contact with the pathogen can be minimal - from 11 days or last up to 21 days. In the prodrome stage, which appears on average 30 hours before the first rash, general infectious symptoms are already expressed in the form of weakness, low-grade fever, headache, and aches.

The first signs of chickenpox in adults often include symptoms of cerebral edema and involvement of the peripheral nervous system. These are photophobia and sound sensitivity, nausea and unrelieved vomiting, impaired coordination of movements, weakness or convulsive twitching in the skeletal muscles.

With the appearance of the first pink spots on the skin, the period of rashes begins. At this time, the following symptoms are characteristic of chickenpox in adults:

A profuse rash on the skin, clearly giving a picture of false polymorphism by the fifth day.
Enanthemas on the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, in the mouth, on the genitals (at the age of over 18 years in almost 100% of chickenpox cases).
Repeated waves of repeated rashes lasting up to 10 days.
Body temperature rises at the peak of the appearance of rashes to 39-40 degrees.
Pronounced symptoms of intoxication.
Chickenpox quickly causes complications in adults caused by pyogenic flora. The vesicles transform into pustules, which take a long time to wet. When opened, deep ulcers are exposed, which heal to form scars. If the immune defense does not work at the proper level, the development of abscesses, phlegmon, fasciitis, even sepsis and the necrotizing form of the disease is possible.
The disease often occurs in atypical severe forms. Chickenpox in adults leads to complications much more often than in childhood.

Complications of chickenpox in adults

Complications after chickenpox in adults are associated with the generalization of the process and damage by the zoster virus to various internal organs, the frequent addition of pathogenic microbes and the disruption of adaptation mechanisms in the endocrine and immune systems. The most common are:

Herpetic lesions of the respiratory system: tracheitis, laryngitis, pneumonia with respiratory failure.
Pathology of detoxification organs: hepatitis, liver abscesses, nephritis.
Damage to the nervous system, both central and peripheral. Encephalitis, meningitis, polyradiculoneuritis, cerebellar ataxia, edema and cyst formation in the brain, paralysis or paresis of skeletal muscles may occur.
Pathology of the musculoskeletal system in the form of arthritis, synovitis, myositis, fasciitis.
Damage to the heart (myocarditis) and blood vessels (arteritis, thrombophlebitis, hemorrhagic syndrome, increased thrombus formation).

There are frequent residual effects of chickenpox in adults in the form of hemiparesis, long-term impairment of motor coordination, asthenic syndrome, scars and areas of skin atrophy, and the formation of chronic liver and kidney diseases.

Treatment and prevention of chickenpox in adults

Chickenpox in adults includes treatment with antipyretics, antihistamines, and rashes with external agents. From the first days of the disease, active prevention of severe complications is required. Therefore, it is necessary to treat chickenpox in adults with the mandatory use of antiviral drugs. They are used not only in the form of ointments, but also tablets and solutions for parenteral administration. Treatment of chickenpox in adults includes the use of immunoglobulins to reduce the activity of the virus. Antibacterial therapy is often required.

Prevention of chickenpox in adult women and men includes avoiding contact with sick people. Since the disease is usually severe and often leaves disabling consequences, it is advisable that a preventive vaccination against chickenpox be given to adults who have not been ill. Emergency prevention of chickenpox is carried out by administering immunoglobulin or vaccination no later than three days after contact.

You can find symptoms of all diseases on our website in the symptoms section.

Causes of chickenpox

The only source of chickenpox is a sick person. The patient is at risk from the onset of chickenpox and for 3-4 days after the last blisters appear. You can also become infected with herpes zoster from a patient, because this disease is caused by the same virus.

Chickenpox is transmitted by airborne droplets (that is, by inhaling it with air) and spreads over fairly long distances. The virus easily spreads with air flow through the ventilation system and stairwells from floor to floor. It can also be transmitted from mother to fetus.

Complications of chickenpox

In the vast majority of cases, chickenpox is mild, without leaving any serious consequences. Severe complications after chickenpox, including death, are observed more often in adults, patients with immunodeficiency conditions and blood diseases, in newborns and adolescents.

Typical complications of chickenpox

Chickenpox causes complications that are directly related to the impact of the virus and the patient’s body’s response to it. It is also possible that secondary bacterial flora can join with the development of purulent inflammation.

The consequences of chickenpox caused by exposure to the virus:

A profuse rash on the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract can cause the clinical picture of chickenpox tracheitis or laryngitis. In this case, the patient experiences a dry, rough cough, pain along the trachea, and difficulty breathing.
Multiple chickenpox sores in the mouth give a picture of acute stomatitis. Painful swallowing and chewing are noted due to erosions on the palate, oral mucosa and gums.
A confluent blistering rash on the genitals causes the development of painful inflammation of the foreskin and glans penis in men. In women, involvement of the labia mucosa and vulvitis is observed.
The most common consequences of chickenpox remain on the skin. Although the virus affects only the most superficial layers of the epidermis, often due to severe itching, patients, especially children, tear off the drying crusts and scratch the resulting erosions. As a result, the germ layer is disrupted. This leads to the formation of chickenpox scars after complete healing. In most cases, they are very gentle, gradually smooth out and disappear without a trace within a few months. But in the folds of the skin and in places where the skin rubs strongly with clothing, the deep layers of the epidermis are usually damaged. In this case, chickenpox scars remain for life. Their characteristic feature is the absence of melanin pigment, and therefore, despite their small size, their white marks become noticeable against tanned skin. Laser correction at a cosmetic clinic will help remove signs of chickenpox.
As a result of virus damage to nerve cells and meninges, chickenpox encephalitis, meningitis, damage to the cerebellum and cranial nerve nuclei are observed. The patient experiences headache, central nausea and vomiting, convulsions and loss of consciousness, impaired coordination of movements and sense of balance. When peripheral motor neurons are damaged, flaccid paralysis occurs, and the face may become outwardly asymmetrical. Neurological consequences after chickenpox are usually favorable. Within a few weeks, complete regression of symptoms and recovery occurs.

Other complications of chickenpox

Chickenpox causes complications associated with bacterial inflammation of the blistering rash. These are purulent conjunctivitis and keratitis, stomatitis, balanoposthitis, vulvitis, pyoderma. Most often, long-lightening pigment spots remain in place of pustules. But with long-term non-healing wounds, complicated by an abscess or inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue, the most likely consequences will be rough scars after chickenpox. The cause of the development of these complications is most often a violation of hygiene rules when caring for the skin or immunodeficiencies.
When the chickenpox virus or bacterial flora spreads through the bloodstream throughout the body, complications after chickenpox are possible, such as serous or purulent arthritis and bursitis, myocarditis, hepatitis, and nephritis. Very often there is a painful enlargement of regional lymph nodes.
Chickenpox, complicated by gangrenous inflammation of the skin, can have consequences in the form of thrombophlebitis of the superficial and deep veins.

Read also on our website about the symptoms of chickenpox.

Diagnosis of chickenpox

Typically, diagnosing chickenpox is not difficult due to the special morphology of the rash and the characteristic clinical picture. The exception is atypical variants of the course of the disease.

Chickenpox criteria

The diagnostic criteria for chickenpox are the following symptoms:

The period of rash begins 11-21 days after contact with the sick person.
Wave-like course of the rash period.
False polymorphism of the chickenpox rash (the presence on the patient’s skin at the same time of all stages of development of the rash element from the macula to the crust).
Specific features of the rash. These are single-chamber soft vesicles in the surface layer of the epidermis, often without an inflammatory basis, completing their development with an itchy crust. Immunofluorescence analysis for chickenpox of smears-imprints of the serous contents of the vesicles or their microscopy (conventional and electronic) identifies the pathogen.
Presence of enanthema.
In doubtful cases, a test for antibodies to chickenpox is performed - a serological blood test (complement fixation reaction) over time, twice with an interval of more than 2 weeks. An increase of 4 times or more in the titer of antibodies to the varicella zoster virus is indisputable evidence.
When diagnosing chickenpox, a peripheral blood test only indicates a viral infection occurring in the patient’s body.
The most informative modern research method is electron microscopy of the varicella zoster virus in tissue culture taken during a lifelong or post-mortem biopsy from the affected organ of a sick person.

Differential diagnosis of chickenpox is carried out with bacterial skin lesions (streptoderma), allergic rash, smallpox, a complicated form of herpetic infection, and other rash infections of a viral nature.

Chickenpox treatment

The best remedy for chickenpox is a prophylactic vaccination against chickenpox. The Okavax vaccine was developed by Japanese scientists back in the 70s of the last century, its effectiveness and safety have been confirmed. The chickenpox vaccine can also be used for emergency immunization in the first three days after contact with a person with chickenpox or herpes zoster. Vaccination is especially indicated for children with immunodeficiencies, severe chronic diseases, and adolescents.

The drug for vaccination against chickenpox has a low price, while a single immunization forms complete and lasting immunity. In some regions, chickenpox vaccination is included in the immunization program. In this case, those who wish can get vaccinated free of charge.

Principles of chickenpox treatment

If symptoms of the disease are detected, treatment of chickenpox includes the following basic principles:

Limitation of all types of loads. For periods of fever or neurological manifestations - bed rest.
Drink plenty of fruit and berry juices.
Diet based on dairy products, fruits and vegetables. Restriction of carbohydrates with normal protein content.
Strict adherence to the rules of personal hygiene, it is especially necessary to carefully monitor the cleanliness of the external genitalia and the skin of natural folds. Daily showers or quick baths. Do not rub the skin with a towel or washcloth, and do not pick off any crusts that have formed.
Use antipyretic drugs to bring down the temperature above 38 degrees. A suitable drug is paracetamol in suppositories, suspensions or tablets. Your doctor may prescribe ibuprofen. Chickenpox requires excluding aspirin from treatment, especially in young children. It can cause very severe liver damage, including death.
Antihistamines (Suprastin, Tavegil, Diazolin, Fenkarol) as prescribed by a doctor. They speed up the drying of crusts and help relieve itching from chickenpox.
External means for treating rash elements (ointment, gel, paste, alcohol and water solutions) are used every day after bathing. They help relieve itching, speed up drying and falling off of crusts, and cure bacterial complications. It is necessary to rinse the mouth and wash the eye slits with antiseptic solutions for enanthems in the throat or conjunctiva.
Antiviral drugs (Acyclovir, Panciclovir, Virolex, adenine arabinoside) in the form of ointments, tablets for oral administration or injection. "Acyclovir" for chickenpox stops the multiplication of the virus and reduces the intensity of the rash. Having an immunostimulating effect, this medicine for chickenpox prevents the generalization of infection and severe complications.
Treating chickenpox with antibacterial therapy orally, parenterally or externally in the form of ointments or powders is justified only if bacterial complications are proven.
Treat only in an infectious diseases hospital in severe cases of the disease. Here, for complications of chickenpox, treatment methods are used aimed at preventing life-threatening conditions and residual consequences.
Since the susceptibility to the Varicella Zoster virus in those who have not been ill approaches 100%, it is imperative that when a patient is identified, they are quickly isolated from healthy people for the entire infectious period. In children's organized groups, to prevent an outbreak of chicken pox, a quarantine is declared.

External remedies for chickenpox

Quick treatment of chickenpox is ensured by regular and frequent use of topical products that have different mechanisms of action. It is only important to know how to use these drugs correctly and in what cases.

Chickenpox requires treatment, first of all, of the rash that appears. To speed up the drying of rash elements and the formation of crusts, alcohol and aqueous solutions of aniline dyes have long been used. The most common is brilliant green. You need to smear each element with a cotton swab. The dye is not washed off until the next treatment, so it allows you to monitor the appearance of new loose elements. The itching after its application also decreases for a short time. But it is better to use a 5% aqueous solution of potassium permanganate, Castellani liquid. They provide quick relief from itching and prevent bacterial infection. Iodine has not been widely used in treatment, as it increases itching. At an older age, fucorcin can be used to remove pustular elements.
To get rid of itching, chickenpox is treated with folk remedies. Baths with a decoction of oak bark, joster, chamomile, and sage are useful. If it itches unbearably between baths, you can apply lotions to pimples several times a day, using the same folk remedies for chickenpox, but with a solution of higher concentration.
For enanthems in the mouth, on the conjunctiva of the eye, on the genitals, you need to gargle and wash the child with a solution of furacillin, a weak solution of potassium permanganate or boric acid. It is also useful to use the above-mentioned traditional methods of treating chickenpox.
What to apply to an itchy rash? Zinc ointment is used to ensure that the crusts fall off quickly. To reduce blisters, use an ointment for chickenpox containing a medicine with antiviral activity (Gerpevir, Acyclovir). Severe itching can be treated with Calamine Lotion.

In one of the sections of our website there is information about vaccination against rabies.

Read also on our website about opisthorchiasis in children and its treatment and features of the eruption of baby teeth.

Prevention of chickenpox

A person has 100% susceptibility to the causative agent of chickenpox. Therefore, it is almost impossible not to become infected with chickenpox during initial close contact with him. The virus is very volatile and extremely unstable in the external environment. Therefore, the main measures to help prevent chickenpox are aimed at quickly separating the patient and quarantine monitoring of contacts.

Principles of chickenpox prevention

Nonspecific prevention of chickenpox includes the following measures:

Isolation of a sick child from healthy children and a ban on visiting an organized group until complete recovery.
Carrying out preventive quarantine measures and monitoring contacts in the period from 11 to 21 days after the fact of contact with the patient. Sanitation of premises in order to avoid infection is not required. Regular ventilation and wet cleaning are enough.
Antiviral drugs such as Acyclovir are not used to prevent chickenpox, but taking them can reduce the activity of rashes and prevent the development of complications.
In closed children's groups, children under one year old and weakened are given a specific immunoglobulin on the first day of contact with chickenpox, which allows them not to get sick or to suffer from the disease in a mild or abortive form.

In the last decade, specific immune prophylaxis for chickenpox has become available.

Chickenpox vaccination

Chickenpox in children

Chickenpox in 90% of cases occurs in childhood. Most often children 4-9 years old get sick. During this period, the most favorable course of the disease is observed with the least number of complications. At the ages of 6 months to 4 years and over 10 years, chickenpox is much less common, but its onset and progression is more severe. Babies up to 6 months are protected by maternal antibodies. Therefore, chickenpox is rare in infants, and they often experience the disease in a mild form.

Features of chickenpox in children

The child is contagious to others during the period starting two days before the rash and until the crusts fall off. Therefore, quarantine in kindergarten begins with the first case of the disease and lasts 21 days from the moment the last sick child is identified. In addition, it is not only childhood chickenpox that is epidemically dangerous for children who have not been sick. The Varicella Zoster virus can remain in an inactive state for a long time and, when the immune system is weakened, cause herpes zoster. When contacting such patients after the incubation period, signs of chickenpox also appear in children who have not previously had it.

For mild and moderate illness, chickenpox in children is treated at home. From the moment the first symptoms appear, the child is given plenty of water and transferred to a dairy-vegetable diet. The rash should be carefully smeared with aniline dyes and tannin solution, which have disinfecting and drying properties, every day after hygienic bathing without a washcloth. As an antipyretic drug, it is prohibited to treat chickenpox in children with aspirin, since in children it can cause life-threatening Reye's syndrome against the background of a viral infection. At high temperatures, it is recommended to use paracetamol and ibuprofen. When chickenpox is diagnosed in children, antibacterial treatment is prescribed only if microbial complications occur. Antiviral drugs, such as acyclovir, reduce the severity of clinical symptoms of the disease and are used to prevent life-threatening complications in weakened children.

Chickenpox in young children

Chickenpox in newborns up to 11 days of life is considered congenital, since this is the shortest incubation period for the virus. The severity of the infection varies and depends on the timing of intrauterine infection. If a pregnant woman becomes infected 10 or more days before giving birth, then her body has time to develop protective antibodies and transfer them to the fetus. Then chickenpox in newborns occurs in a mild or abortive form. If infection occurs less than five days before birth, about 17% of newborns become ill. The infection will have a moderate, severe or generalized form with damage to internal organs and a high probability of death (about 31% of cases).
Chickenpox in premature newborns, due to the low reactogenicity of the immature organism, is usually mild. Chickenpox manifests itself in children by an increase in body temperature to subfebrile levels. The rash is not abundant, often maculopapular, and quickly disappears without a trace. Complications are usually not recorded.
Over the age of one year, chickenpox in children has mild or moderate symptoms.

Chickenpox in older children

The first signs of chickenpox in children over 10 years of age are often detected in the form of headache, nausea and vomiting, and high body temperature. This course at 12 years of age is associated with frequent involvement of cells and membranes of the brain in the pathological process. The rash is usually profuse and is accompanied by the appearance of enanthems in the mouth and genitals. Due to the spread to the eyelids, palms and feet, as well as the multiplicity of erosions and crusts on the face and body, the child looks burned. Complications after chickenpox in children aged 13 years and older are recorded in 7% of cases. There are chickenpox pneumonia, suppuration of the rash, sepsis with damage to the liver, kidneys, and heart. Therefore, in the outbreak of chickenpox, children and adolescents who have not been sick are given a vaccination that 100% protects against the disease.

Chickenpox in teenagers

Chickenpox in adolescents occurs in less than 10% of all reported cases. This is due to the high susceptibility of the human body to the pathogen, its wide distribution, as well as close contacts in large groups of children aged 3-8 years, which contribute to the rapid spread of the disease. Therefore, chickenpox is rarely reported in adolescents over the age of 14 years.

Features of chickenpox in adolescents

A healthy teenager can become infected with chickenpox or herpes zoster from a patient. The incubation period over the age of 16 lasts 14 - 17 days, up to a maximum of 22 days. In the body of a child aged 15 years and older, rapid processes of hormonal and physical changes occur. They cause his vulnerability and increased sensitivity. Frequent breakdowns in the immune defense system cause adolescents to be susceptible to all infections and have weak resistance to them. Therefore, it is recommended that children over 14 years of age who have not had chickenpox get vaccinated.

There are specific signs of chickenpox in adolescents:

If a teenager gets chickenpox, due to severe itching and a high risk of purulent complications, close attention should be paid to thoroughly treating the rash on the skin and mucous membranes with antiseptic solutions.

Pronounced symptoms of the prodromal period. Approximately 30 hours before the onset of the rash, an increase in body temperature, severe headache and muscle pain, general weakness, and a pronounced intoxication syndrome are observed. Encephalic manifestations in the form of convulsive twitching and photophobia are possible.
Profuse itchingrashon the skin and mucous membranes. During the period of rashes, fresh elements appear in repeated “shocks”, so that by 5-7 days almost all of the skin is covered with elements of varying degrees of maturity.
Waves of rashes are accompanied by a significant deterioration in general condition.
Tendency of the rash to pustular degeneration. In children 14-16 years old, complications such as pyoderma, abscesses, phlegmon, and fasciitis are common. After the crusts fall off, there is a greater likelihood of pigment spots and scars forming.
The disease is rarely mild. The older the teenager, the more often moderate and severe forms of the disease are recorded.
There is a high probability of developing complications associated with the spread of the virus and microbes throughout the body. Myocarditis, pneumonia, arthritis, nephritis, bursitis, arthritis, hepatitis, enteritis, keratitis, sepsis may be observed. Gangrenous and hemorrhagic forms of the disease are recorded.

Treatment of chickenpox in adolescents

Chickenpox in adolescents includes treatment of the underlying disease and its complications. Bed rest, dairy-vegetable diet with plenty of liquid, taking antihistamines and antipyretics - the regimen is the same as for a patient of any age.

Chickenpox in adolescents must be treated with antiviral drugs, not only in the form of ointments, but also in parenteral injections. Antibacterial therapy is often required. To prevent severe complications, the administration of immunoglobulin is widely used.

Chickenpox is an infectious disease caused by the Varicella Zoster virus. According to statistics, 80% of the world's population manages to become infected with it at an early age.

Most often, children from 3 to 5 years old suffer from this disease. The infection at this age is mild, and the child who has recovered from the infection develops strong immunity to re-infection. However, the older a person gets, the more severe the disease is.

In adolescents, chickenpox causes progressive symptoms and provokes the development of dangerous complications. Therefore, it is important to immediately recognize the first symptoms of chickenpox and seek medical help in time.

Approximate statistics from the Russian Federation indicate that approximately 10% of identified cases of smallpox occur in children 12-15 years old and are severe.

The situation is aggravated by the fact that during this period children undergo hormonal changes in the body, which causes a decrease in immunity. The physiology of the body also changes. The body becomes vulnerable and sensitive to stress and does not tolerate any type of infection well.

Who is susceptible to the disease

Most often, adolescents with weak immunity and a history of chronic cancer are susceptible to the disease. Also at risk are young men and women who have never had chickenpox before.

The infection is transmitted by airborne droplets, through direct contact with the virus carrier. An infected person who poses a threat can easily appear in places where teenagers like to spend a lot of time: on sports grounds, in hobby clubs, at public seminars and festivals. The slightest hypothermia or nervous strain creates favorable conditions for severe chickenpox in adolescents over 14 years of age.

Signs of chickenpox in teenagers

The first symptoms appear after the end of the incubation period: 11-21 days after infection. Chickenpox in adolescents occurs with the same symptoms as in preschool children.

On the first day:

increased body temperature;
weakness, headache and drowsiness;
enlarged lymph nodes.

On the second day, a rash spreads throughout the body. The process of its formation is carried out in several stages. First, the skin turns red at the site where the papules form, then a fluid-filled blister appears. After a couple of days it bursts and erosion forms. The next day, the affected areas of the skin dry out, and a crust appears in their place. This phenomenon occurs in waves. During the period of illness, two to four phases may change.

Most blisters on the body crust over two weeks after the first blisters appear. If by this point new skin lesions no longer form, the teenager begins to recover.

After the wounds heal, pink spots form on the body. Over time, the skin color will even out and return to its original appearance. But this doesn't always happen.

Features of the disease

At 15-16 years old, hormonal processes cause mental instability. Therefore, situations often arise at school and in the family that lead a teenager to prolonged stress. All this reduces immunity and contributes to the appearance of severe chickenpox.

An increase in body temperature (up to +40 degrees and above) is accompanied by severe headache, muscle aches, and symptoms of acute intoxication. At this point, adolescents often experience photophobia and muscle twitching.

The rashes appear not only on the skin of the body, but are also localized in the mouth, nose, genitals and bladder.

The disease is accompanied by severe itching, which becomes impossible to tolerate. The child begins to scratch his entire body. In adolescents from 12 to 17 years of age, the rash may turn into suppuration at the site of burst blisters.

Complications

Severe infection in adolescence increases the risk of complications. These include:

dark spots;
scars after healing of the rash elements;
purulent formations that can cause the formation of phlegmon and fasciitis;
pyoderma and abscess.

Elements of the rash can appear not only on the body, but also on the surfaces of internal organs. The virus can penetrate the lungs and develop chickenpox pneumonia. It can travel through the bloodstream to the brain and cause meningitis.

A phenomenon in which a large accumulation of rashes forms in one area is considered dangerous. In their place, the onset of gangrene becomes possible.

If treatment is not carried out in a timely manner, sepsis may occur - an infectious blood poisoning. Due to intoxication, it ends in death in most cases.

If chickenpox progresses without complications, then therapy can be carried out at home. The patient is isolated in a separate room. He is provided with bed rest and plenty of fluids. The class in which the child is studying is closed for quarantine.

Treatment

After confirmation of the diagnosis, a therapeutic regimen is drawn up that helps to stop the main manifestations of the disease.

To lower body temperature, antipyretics are prescribed - Ibuprofen and Paracetamol.

Skin rashes must be treated with antibacterial ointments and antiseptic solutions. Castellani's solution, potassium permanganate, and brilliant green are best suited for this. These drugs help prevent the possibility of a bacterial component joining the infection.

To make chickenpox easier to tolerate, internal administration of antiviral drugs is added to the medications. Acyclovir has proven itself well in the fight against Varicella Zoster.

In order to prevent the occurrence of unwanted complications, the administration of immunoglobulin is prescribed.

When the body temperature drops, the teenager can swim. It is allowed to shower without soap, shampoos and washcloths. It is important to reduce the hygiene procedure to a short rinse in warm water. After water procedures, the body can be gently blotted with a towel.

Prevention of chickenpox in healthy adolescents

The best prevention of chickenpox in adolescence is vaccination. You can get vaccinated at any age. Children under 13 years of age are given one dose of the vaccine. The injection is given in the shoulder or under the shoulder blade.

Children over 13 years of age should receive two doses of the vaccine every 10 years. Only 1% of vaccinated children show signs of a mild stage of the disease after receiving a live vaccine.

Parents should always remember that chickenpox in adolescents always occurs with complications. The older the child, the more severe the disease. Sometimes chickenpox in preschool children occurs without visible symptoms, and parents simply may not know that their child has suffered an infection on his legs. In such situations, vaccination during adolescence may provoke re-infection. Therefore, before getting vaccinated, you should play it safe and get tested for antibodies to Varicella Zoster.

Chickenpox occurs frequently in adolescence. In this case, the disease often occurs in a severe form and can cause dangerous complications. The pathology must be treated quickly so that the pathological process does not have time to spread into the germinal layer of the epidermis and form scar tissue.

In approximately 10% of cases, chickenpox is diagnosed during adolescence. Most often, chickenpox in adolescents is severe. The situation is aggravated by the fact that during this period children begin puberty, due to which the body undergoes restructuring and immunity decreases. The vulnerability of the body makes it defenseless against any infection.

If a child did not have chickenpox in childhood, the risk of contracting such an infection increases. The virus is transmitted by airborne droplets or by contact with a virus carrier. The slightest nervous tension or hypothermia leads to the infection entering the body. The duration of the incubation period in adolescents is 10-21 days, and this depends on the state of immunity.

Symptoms of the disease

Signs of chickenpox in teenagers:

The first symptoms appear even before the appearance of skin rashes. The temperature begins to gradually rise, but does not reach high values. Symptoms of intoxication develop. The teenager begins to sweat a lot, dry mucous membranes and weakness appear.
As the disease progresses, symptoms intensify. There is severe intoxication of the body, chills, and a temperature above subfebrile levels. There is pain in the joints and muscles.
Almost all adolescents develop symptoms that resemble acute respiratory illness. This state lasts for several days. Then a runny nose develops, and a mucous secretion of a liquid consistency is released.
The main symptom of chickenpox in adolescents is a rash. Inside such papules contains a mixture of pathogens, dead cells of the immune system and intercellular fluid. After 1-2 days, the papules burst, and oozing ulcers remain in their place. In this case, severe itching occurs, which intensifies when wet. After a week, the ulcers crust over and dry out. Such formations cannot be combed, otherwise scars may form.

Skin rashes can appear gradually, sometimes in waves. They affect any areas, including mucous membranes.

In addition to these symptoms, nonspecific signs may also be observed:

headache of varying intensity;
muscle cramps of the lower extremities;
pain while eating.

What forms are found

Chickenpox in adolescents can be mild, moderate or severe. The mild form may be characterized by a slight increase in temperature. Skin rashes are rare and small, with moderate itching.

The average form is characterized by an increase in temperature to +38°C. The rash spreads throughout the body and scalp, slightly affecting the mucous membranes. Skin itching intensifies. Signs of intoxication appear: dizziness, weakness, nausea.

The severe form is difficult to tolerate, because the temperature rises to +40°C, the rash is numerous, and large areas of small papules can form. Severe itching and intoxication occur.

How to treat chickenpox in teenagers

Treatment of chickenpox in adolescents should be comprehensive. To do this, you need to follow a daily routine and diet, take medications prescribed by your doctor, and treat the rash with topical products.

Drug treatment

To treat chickenpox, your doctor may prescribe the following medications:

Anaferon. This is a homeopathic remedy that effectively fights viruses.
Immunoglobulin. Used for smallpox, when the immune system is weakened and the lymph nodes are enlarged.
Isoprinosine. A powerful antiviral drug.

Often prescribed:

Acyclovir. Helps reduce the risk of complications.
Zyrtec and Suprastin, used to relieve itching and reduce intoxication.

For chickenpox in adolescents, topical medications help well. The most effective means:

Baneocin. An antibacterial drug that effectively copes with suppuration. It is used if the patient has scratched the rash, resulting in a bacterial infection.
Betadine. Antiseptic antiviral ointment.
Infagel. Ointment with antiviral effect.
Calamine. Well soothes irritated skin.
Miramistin. A powerful antiseptic with antiviral effect.
Levomekol. A topical antibiotic that effectively eliminates inflammation of the skin. Used for purulent rashes.

Rashes can also be treated with brilliant green, potassium permanganate, and fucorcin, which help speed up the drying process of acne and reduce itching. To strengthen the immune system, you should take vitamin complexes and immunoprotectors (Viferon). You can reduce high fever with Paracetamol.

Diet

Some foods can increase skin itching, so it is important to eat right when you have chickenpox. Following a diet can improve your health, ease the course of the disease and speed up recovery.

Nutrition for chickenpox should be balanced. The diet must include stewed or boiled vegetables. It is recommended to drink weak tea, still water or freshly squeezed juices. Sometimes papules appear on the oral mucosa, causing discomfort when eating. Therefore, food should be soft.

The chickenpox diet involves eating cereals cooked in water. Products should contain large amounts of protein. It is recommended to eat lean meat, poultry and fish, vegetable soups, eggs, fruits, non-acidic berries, and low-fat dairy products.

The following foods are prohibited for chickenpox:

sour fruits (kiwi, cherry), citrus fruits;
fried fish and meat;
smoked meats, marinades with vinegar, hot seasonings;
rich meat broths;
sweets, ice cream, pastries, cakes;
fresh milk;
garlic, radish, onion, radish;
coffee, alcoholic drinks.

If a teenager is prone to allergies, then citrus fruits, strawberries, nuts, eggs, orange or red fruits and vegetables are excluded from the diet.

How to speed up recovery

Traditional medicine will help quickly cure chickenpox in a teenager. They relieve intoxication well and reduce itching. Blueberries speed up recovery. You can use both berries and juice.

Baths with chamomile infusion are effective. Chamomile has a calming and antiseptic effect. To prepare the decoction, add 50 g of flowers to 1 liter of water and bring to a boil. When the broth is infused, it is added to the bath. It should be taken once a day.

You can treat chickenpox at home with celery. This plant contains large amounts of vitamin C. It also has an antiviral effect. To get rid of chickenpox, you need to take 1 tbsp of celery juice. l. three times a day before meals.

With the help of chicory you can strengthen your immune system. To prepare the infusion 5 tbsp. l. The plants are poured with a glass of boiling water and left for 20 minutes. Take 2 tsp. up to 5 times a day.

Chickenpox - Dr. Komarovsky's school

Is chickenpox dangerous for a teenager?

If treatment is incorrect or untimely, the following may occur:

The virus, having penetrated the lungs, leads to the development of chickenpox pneumonia. This complication is often observed in adolescents who have weakened immune systems.
Meningitis may develop 6-9 days after the rash appears. In adolescents, the cerebellum is often affected, which leads to problems with muscle coordination.
When the virus gets into the eyes, an inflammatory process occurs. The rash can affect the whites of the eyes and leave scars on the cornea. This can lead to decreased vision or blindness.
Cellulitis, abscesses, and age spots on the skin often develop.
Muscle pain and joint inflammation may occur.
In rare cases, the optic nerve or spinal cord becomes inflamed.

At a late stage of the disease, keratitis, enteritis, sepsis, and arthritis may develop. Sepsis causes the greatest harm to adolescents. This is a dangerous complication associated with infectious blood poisoning. If left untreated, this leads to death due to the development of intoxication of the body.

How long does chickenpox last in teenagers?

It is impossible to say exactly how many suffer from chickenpox. The duration of the disease depends on many factors: health status, the presence of chronic diseases, and virus activity.

There are 3 periods:

Incubation. It begins at the moment of infection and ends when the first symptoms appear. The average duration of such a period is 14 days.
Premonitory. It lasts 1-2 days, while the teenager feels unwell, but the rash has not yet appeared.
The appearance of rashes. This period lasts 2-9 days.
Recovery. It begins from the moment the last bubbles appear on the skin. After 5 days, the teenager is no longer considered infectious. The rash lasts 1-2 weeks, after which the crusts fall off and the skin heals.

The duration of chickenpox after the prodromal period in mild forms is 7-8 days. The severe form lasts for several weeks.

Prevention

If a teenager has been in contact with a sick person, he needs to be vaccinated urgently. The vaccine is given within 4 days after contact. This emergency measure does not provide 100% protection against infection, but significantly reduces the risk of complications and guarantees a mild course of the disease.

If a teenager still gets sick and has not been vaccinated, the patient should be quarantined. The child is protected as much as possible from communicating with family members who have not previously had chickenpox.