How does chickenpox occur in mild form? Chickenpox in children: incubation period, first signs and main symptoms (photo). What are the stages and how to treat chickenpox in children

Varicella (chickenpox) is an acute infectious disease of viral etiology caused by the third type of human herpetic virus - varicella zoster.

The disease occurs with febrile and moderate intoxication syndromes, as well as the presence of jerky rashes of a macular-vesicular nature on the skin and mucous membranes. The specific rash for chickenpox is the most important diagnostic sign of the disease. There is no chickenpox without a rash.

According to the ICD 10 classification, chickenpox is assigned code B01. If the disease proceeds without complications, the main code is B01. is supplemented with the number 9, if the disease is complicated by meningitis - 0, encephalitis -1, pneumonia -2. Other complications are classified by code B01.8.

Chickenpox is an anthroponotic disease, meaning the virus is transmitted from person to person. Transmission of the virus is carried out primarily by airborne droplets. It should be noted that chickenpox is included in the group of typical childhood droplet infections. Chickenpox in children most often occurs between the ages of three and six years. There are also peaks in incidence from one to two years and from seven to fourteen years.

By the age of fourteen, most patients are immune to chickenpox. In children, in most cases, chickenpox is mild and without complications, however, a severe course of the disease is also possible (most often, a complicated course is observed in weakened children or patients with immunodeficiency conditions). In adults, the disease is much more severe than in children.

The most severe course with a high risk of mortality (more than 30%) is observed in newborns. Congenital chickenpox occurs in approximately 5 patients out of 1000. As a rule, it develops if the mother gets chickenpox at 13-20 weeks of pregnancy. When the mother is infected in the late stages of pregnancy (especially in the last five days), it leads to the development of neonatal chickenpox in the baby. The later the mother was infected, the more severe the disease in the child and the higher the risk of death.

After chickenpox, a strong immunity is formed. However, in patients who had chickenpox in a mild or erased form, cases of recurrence of the disease are possible.

Vaccination against chickenpox is not included in the list of mandatory ones, however, it can be carried out according to epidemiological indications for children (the chickenpox vaccine can be administered to children from the age of one year) or for adults who did not have chickenpox in childhood.

It should be noted that the virus persists in the human body for life, so in adults this virus can cause the development of herpes zoster.

How is chickenpox transmitted in children?

The disease is transmitted by airborne droplets. Considering the low stability of the pathogen in the external environment (the virus is quickly destroyed under the influence of ultraviolet radiation and high temperatures, however, it tolerates low temperatures well), the contact and household mechanism of infection (through towels, dishes, etc.) is practically not realized.

It is possible to transmit the virus from mother to child transplacentally or during childbirth (if the mother is infected shortly before birth), with the development of congenital chickenpox or chickenpox of the newborn.

It should be noted that the virus is highly contagious and has the ability to spread over long distances. While talking, coughing, etc., patients release a huge amount of virus into the environment, which can spread through the air to several floors, penetrating into other rooms and apartments.

Chickenpox is characterized by pronounced focality. That is, if one child gets sick in a kindergarten, school, entrance, etc., soon all the children who were not sick before will get chickenpox. Adults with herpes zoster may also pose an epidemiological risk. The fact is that these diseases are caused by the same virus, but chickenpox is the body's primary reaction to contact with varicella zoster.

In those who have chickenpox, the virus remains in the body for life (varicella zoster is highly tropic to nervous tissue, so its lifelong persistence in the nerve ganglia is observed) and in the presence of favorable factors (severe hypothermia, repeated contact with a patient with chickenpox, a sharp decrease in immunity and etc.), a recurrence of infection in the form of herpes zoster may occur.

Primarily, shingles instead of chickenpox may occur in children with immunodeficiency conditions.

The incubation period for chickenpox in children ranges from eleven to twenty-one days. However, most often, the disease develops fourteen days after contact with the patient.

A patient with chickenpox becomes contagious one to two days before the end of the incubation period and continues to shed the virus throughout the entire period of eruption and for five days after the last vesicles appear (the blisters raised above the skin with chickenpox are not pimples, as many patients believe, a vesicles).

It is the liquid in the vesicles that contains the largest amount of virus, so damage to them when scratching leads to the appearance of even more rashes. Also, when scratching large elements of the rash, scars may remain.

The crusts that remain after the vesicles dry do not contain the virus. It should be noted that spot treatment of vesicles with chickenpox in children with fucorcin or a one-percent solution of brilliant green (in addition to brilliant green, one- or two-percent solutions of potassium permanganate can also be used) is carried out not only for the purpose of faster drying of the vesicles, but also to control the number of new additions. This allows you to determine when the last elements of the rash appeared and begin counting the last five days of the patient’s infectiousness. That is why a colorless remedy for chickenpox is not used.

How does chickenpox start in children?

The first signs of chickenpox in a child are nonspecific and correspond to one or two days of the prodromal period of the disease. With chickenpox, children experience a slight increase in temperature, mild symptoms of intoxication, weakness, and lethargy. In isolated cases, small-spotted exanthema may occur, which will precede the appearance of a rash with chickenpox.

In most patients, the prodromal period occurs in a smoothed form or is completely absent.

How does chickenpox manifest and symptoms of chickenpox in children in the early stages

Chickenpox in a child can be recognized during the period of rashes. This stage lasts up to five days. However, severe forms of the disease can be accompanied by fresh outbreaks for up to ten days.

The beginning of the period of rashes is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, increased intoxication symptoms, the child becomes capricious, irritable, and complains of itching.

Photo of the initial stage of chickenpox in children:

Chickenpox rash

The rash associated with chickenpox is specific, macular-vesicular. The first elements are noted on the skin of the torso, face, scalp, and oral mucosa. With chickenpox, unlike smallpox, there are significantly fewer rashes on the face than on the skin of the body. Also, after the vesicles dry out and the crusts fall off, as a rule, no specific pockmarks (scars) remain. Scars after chickenpox can remain only in severe cases of the disease with massive rash, as well as when the child constantly scratches the skin and “tears” the vesicles.

A rash with chickenpox on the palms and soles is not typical (unlike the Coxsackie virus, in which the presence of rashes on the palms and soles is indicative), with the exception of severe forms of the disease.

The most indicative sign of chickenpox is the pronounced polymorphism of the rash. The patient's skin exhibits spots, papules, vesicles and crusts. The transformation of the vesicle into a crust takes one to two days. At the same time, the vesicle ceases to be tense, its walls become “sluggish” and begin to collapse in the center. The crusts that form at the site of the vesicles dry out and fall off within four to seven days.

You cannot rip off the scabs; this increases the risk that scars will remain in their place. It is also possible for a bacterial infection to enter the wound.

In mild cases, the mucous membranes may not be affected. In moderate to severe cases, there is a rash on the oral mucosa, conjunctiva, and genitals. After opening the rashes on the mucous membranes, quickly healing aphthae remain.

The rash is characterized by severe itching; in some cases, children may complain of burning and pain (mainly in the presence of rashes on the mucous membranes).

Each wave of rashes is accompanied by fever.

In classic chickenpox, the vesicular elements of the rash are small, tense, non-merging (single fusions of small vesicles are possible) and filled with transparent contents. The formation of massive bullae (extensive, flaccid blisters) or suppuration of the rash is observed with an atypical course (bullous, hemorrhagic, pustular, etc. forms).

How many days does chickenpox last in children?

The incubation period is from 11 to 21 days.

The infectious period is the last 2 days of the incubation period + five days from the end of sprinkling.

There is no quick cure for chickenpox. The disease has a clear stage pattern. The total duration is individual:

• prodromal period – from one to two days;
• rashes up to five days (in severe cases - up to 10 days);
• the period of reverse development (complete falling off of crusts) is from one to two weeks.

Sick for the entire infectious period. Disinfection is not required; ordinary wet cleaning and regular ventilation of the room are sufficient.

Is it possible to wash a child with chickenpox?

It is not recommended to wash the child if there are fresh vesicles. After finishing the addition, you can bathe the baby in warm water. Afterwards, you need to blot your skin with a towel. Rubbing the skin is prohibited, as mechanical tearing of the crusts occurs.

After bathing, the crusts should be treated with Calamine lotion (for chickenpox, it effectively relieves itching, cools the skin, and also has a disinfecting effect), zinc ointment, and cindol.

After the crusts have completely fallen off, the skin can be treated with D-panthenol, bepanthen, etc. These ointments are not used for chickenpox in children, but to speed up the regeneration of the skin. Therefore, they are not used in the presence of vesicles.

Is it possible to walk if you have chickenpox?

Walking is allowed after the end of the infectious period. Until the end of this period of time, the child must be isolated. Firstly, the child is contagious, and secondly, contact with an additional infection, hypothermia, etc., increases the risk of complications. In addition, vesicular rashes are very itchy, and children constantly scratch them. And on the street, the risk of infection when scratching the skin with dirty hands is much higher.

Is it possible to get chickenpox a second time?

When the varicella-zoster virus is reactivated or re-exposed to it, adults usually develop herpes zoster.

However, if chickenpox was suffered in a mild or erased form, cases of recurrence of the disease are possible.

Chickenpox vaccination for children

Chickenpox vaccination for children is not mandatory (according to the national preventive vaccination calendar). In the vast majority of cases, chickenpox in children is mild, so it makes no sense to vaccinate the child. The exception is patients with:

• immunodeficiency states;
• acute leukemia;
• severe chronic pathologies;
• malignant neoplasms.

Complications after chickenpox in children

As a rule, chickenpox occurs easily and without complications, however, in some cases, an atypical course (hemorrhagic, pustular, visceral, etc. forms) and the development of complications such as:

• suppuration of vesicles;
• inflammation of rashes on the conjunctiva, with the development of keratitis or conjunctivitis (in severe cases, blindness is possible);
• the addition of lymphadenitis, pneumonia, encephalitis, sepsis, meningitis, convulsions, nephritis, hepatitis, paralysis or paresis.

How to treat chickenpox in children?

Hospitalization in a hospital (in the Meltzer box of the infectious diseases department) is indicated only for severe cases with a high risk of complications, as well as for chickenpox in patients from high-risk groups (immunodeficiency conditions, leukemia, etc.). Other patients can be treated at home.

What is chickenpox (or simply chickenpox) and what are the causes of this disease? How dangerous is she? How does chickenpox begin in children and what are its characteristic signs?

Attention - virus!

Chickenpox is an infectious disease that causes fever and blistering rashes all over the body. The Varicella zoster virus is responsible for chickenpox. When it enters the body of an adult, it causes another disease - shingles.

The first mention of chickenpox appeared in antiquity. Evidence of its infectious nature was obtained in 1875, but scientists were able to isolate and designate the chickenpox virus only in the middle of the twentieth century, or more precisely, in 1958.

It is characteristic that this virus can only infect humans. It can be detected in the contents of the vesicles starting from the 3rd or 4th day of the disease. The virus is not persistent. When heated, when exposed to ultraviolet radiation or exposure to sunlight, it quickly dies.

Don't try to hide

The virus is highly contagious. It can even enter a neighbor's apartment with the doors closed, which is why chickenpox is widespread in kindergartens. Children aged two to seven most often experience its “charms”. At the same time, chickenpox in children, the symptoms of which almost everyone has experienced, is not considered a dangerous disease. Many parents treat it as an inevitable stage of child development.

If signs of chickenpox appear in children in a kindergarten group, then we can confidently say that everyone without exception will get sick. It is almost impossible to prevent an epidemic and take any measures. Therefore, chickenpox in children, the incubation period of which is quite long (two to three weeks), is one of the most highly contagious diseases. The virus spreads with impunity, managing to reach everyone without exception.

When can you become infected?

The carrier of the virus becomes contagious the day before the first visible signs of chickenpox appear in children (skin rashes), and can serve as a carrier of infection for several days after a fresh rash is detected, so quarantine for this disease ends no earlier than 5 days after cessation the appearance of new spots.

As a rule, a child of kindergarten age tolerates chickenpox relatively easily. If a child over seven years old gets sick, which in itself happens less frequently, the disease will be much more severe, and complications are possible. Babies, as a rule, do not get chickenpox until they are six months old. They are protected by the immunity received from the mother in the prenatal period.

Chickenpox is transmitted through the air, reaching the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and eyes - hence the name. In our country, treatment is carried out under quarantine conditions, but in European countries, a child with chickenpox is not limited in contact with peers, since it is believed that it is better and safer to have it in childhood.

So the child got sick...

How does chickenpox start in children? Its onset is most often unexpected and takes parents by surprise.

You will immediately understand that chickenpox has begun in children - its symptoms cannot be confused with any others. When the disease occurs, the body temperature immediately rises to thirty-eight to thirty-nine degrees, and flat pink round rashes appear on the entire body, except for the palms and soles, resembling insect bites. This is the initial stage of chickenpox. Young, inexperienced parents are often frightened, not understanding what kind of terrible illness has visited their baby. This happens because many people do not know what chickenpox looks like in children.

At this stage, the rash does not yet cause discomfort to the child. But literally after a couple of hours, small bubbles with transparent contents form in the center of each spot. When they appear, the child experiences itching and tries to scratch them. It is very important to prevent such scratching, as damaged skin is an open gate for any infection.

What's next?

10-12 hours after chickenpox begins in children, the first blisters that appear dry up and begin to crust over, but at the same time many new ones appear. The process lasts a week or ten days. New spots “bloom” on the child’s body every day, while the temperature is constantly high.

Sometimes the signs of chickenpox in children are not so obvious. Rashes can also appear on the scalp, so it is important to carefully examine your child’s hair. If there is a mild form of chickenpox in children, there may be very few pimples, sometimes only one or two. They may appear on the mucous membrane of the mouth or larynx. In this case, you should gargle with a solution of the drug "Furacilin" or use the spray "Ingalipt".

Afterwards comes the stage of extinction of the active process. The rash disappears within a week or two, leaving behind pigment marks that fade over time. But if an infection occurs during the active phase, small scars may remain on the skin.

Throughout the course of the disease, the little patient feels severe weakness, irritability, sleeps very poorly, and suffers from decreased appetite.

Let's talk about problems

Can there be complications with chickenpox? The most common cause is inflammation in the places where scratching occurred. If pathogenic microbes get into the wounds, the rash can fester and heal painfully and for a long time, leaving unsightly scars. In some cases, such marks remain for life.

If an infection of bacterial origin occurs, more serious complications may develop - abscess, stomatitis, lymphadenitis, erysipelas, phlegmon and even pneumonia. In especially severe cases, chickenpox can be complicated by nephritis or encephalitis. Parents should be informed about how chickenpox begins in children in order to react in time and prevent this from happening.

Diagnosis and treatment

The doctor usually makes the diagnosis based on the clinical manifestations of the disease. It is easy to diagnose chickenpox, since the characteristic rash is difficult to confuse with anything else.

In the normal course of chickenpox in children, the symptoms of which do not indicate the presence of complications, are treated at home under quarantine conditions. The exception is cases of very serious condition. As you know, infections of viral origin (which include chickenpox) cannot be treated with antibiotics, which is why parents sometimes become confused when a doctor prescribes antibacterial drugs. You should know that such medications are prescribed only when a secondary infection occurs.

Most often this happens due to banal scratching of the bubbles. That is why monitoring the course of the disease in young children requires the constant attention of parents. During a period of acute illness, parents should make every effort to distract the child from constant itching. To do this, the baby needs to be constantly busy with something. You can use drawing, reading children's books, telling fairy tales.

Regime and care

There are no specific treatments for chickenpox, that is, pills for the rash have not yet been invented. It is required to maintain bed rest, keep linen clean, drink a lot and adhere to a milk-fruit diet.

The baby's underwear should be soft and only made of natural cotton. He needs to change his bed every day and under no circumstances should he starch it. Soft old sheets that you don’t mind getting dirty with brilliant green will do.

You should not wrap your child up; make sure that he does not sweat - this increases the itching. Give your baby a rosehip decoction, herbal tea or fruit drink, as well as juice diluted with water more often.

The main thing in treatment

The main measure to prevent complications is to treat the rashes twice or thrice a day with a solution of potassium permanganate or brilliant green. It should be understood that neither one nor the other cures chickenpox, but serves only as a disinfectant and reduces itching. In addition, the type and condition of the bubbles treated with brilliant green give the doctor an idea of ​​the stage of the disease and the progress of recovery.

When the temperature rises above thirty-eight to thirty-eight and a half degrees, the baby needs an antipyretic. If the itching becomes unbearable, you can ask your pediatrician to prescribe antihistamines.

One of the most controversial questions: “Is it allowed to bathe children with chickenpox?” In this case, the opinions of our and foreign pediatricians do not coincide. European doctors are confident that a shower soothes the skin and relieves itching, but domestic doctors, as a rule, are against any water procedures during this period. Only local baths with a solution of potassium permanganate are not prohibited.

Is it possible to prevent the disease?

Are there any preventive measures for this disease? The only measure at the moment is the timely isolation of the sick child and those who came into contact with him.

Quarantine is usually established for a period of up to 9 days from the moment of the first rash. If the disease has become widespread, quarantine in the kindergarten group is set for 21 days from the moment the first case of the disease is detected. If the date of contact with a sick child is known, from 1 to 10 days after this, children can still attend kindergarten and school, and from 11 to 21 days they are sent to quarantine.

Is it possible to get sick again?

Are there vaccinations against chickenpox? Scientists are ambivalent about the possibility of preventing this disease through preventive measures, which is apparently why such vaccinations are not carried out in Russia.

Some parents wonder whether it is possible to get chickenpox again. As a rule, people suffer from it only once in a lifetime, after which antibodies are produced in the body of the person who has recovered from the disease. In the rarest cases, if antibodies are not developed for some reason, a recurrence of the disease is possible. Such cases are recorded only as an exception. At the same time, once the chickenpox virus enters the body, it remains with us forever, but the human immune system, as a rule, is able to keep it under control.

What consequences and memories does successful chickenpox leave behind in children? A photo from a family album with a baby stained with greenery will bring smiles for a long time. And there will be no trace of the disease itself.

In children. It usually occurs between the ages of 5 and 10 years. After an illness, immunity remains for life. This disease is highly contagious and is transmitted through direct contact with a sick child. Therefore, usually in kindergartens almost the entire group gets sick. Chickenpox does not appear immediately in a child. After infection, 1-3 weeks pass, but the baby will be contagious even before the rash appears.

Chickenpox is caused by the herpes virus. Usually children are not seriously ill,

complications and high fever occur only in adults, so it is better to suffer from this disease in childhood. Pregnancy is especially dangerous.

The first signs of chickenpox in a child are similar to a common viral infection. He becomes capricious, weakness and malaise appear, sometimes a pain in the throat or stomach. The temperature rises. These symptoms appear at a time when the rash is not yet visible.

What signs of chickenpox are most characteristic of this disease? Of course it's a rash. When small red spots appear, which after a while turn into blisters, you can easily determine that your child has chickenpox. The rashes are most concentrated on the abdomen, chest, neck and face.

Then the rash spreads to the back, limbs, maybe even to the mucous membranes, which causes the most unpleasant sensations. After a few days, the red spots turn into blisters with transparent contents. Then crusts appear, which after a while fall off on their own, leaving no traces.

The rash appears every few days, so you can notice all stages of the rash on your body. These symptoms are usually used to determine that a child has chickenpox. Photos of children show the first signs clearly. Each child has an individual number of rashes. There may be few of them, or they may spread throughout the body.

Every mother should know the first signs of chickenpox
child in order to start treatment on time. After all, the rash causes severe itching, and scratching the baby can cause an infection. In addition, if you peel off the crusts that form on the blisters, then unsightly scars will remain on the skin for life. If left untreated, complications may occur. Most often this is suppuration after scratching the blisters.

There are no special ones; antibiotics also do not work on the virus. It is advisable for the patient to lie down and drink a lot. At high temperatures, antipyretics are prescribed. To quickly heal the rashes, they need to be lubricated daily with brilliant green. Carefully examine the baby's entire body, especially the folds and perineum, because untreated blisters can fester.

It is also very important to follow sanitary and hygienic rules and a special diet that excludes allergens. It is necessary to give the baby vitamins and means to strengthen the immune system. To reduce itching, herbal baths are recommended, and in severe cases, antihistamines.

You need to be able to recognize the first signs of chickenpox in a child so as not to confuse it with other diseases, such as measles. In addition, a sick child must be isolated from other children so that he does not spread the infection.

Chickenpox is considered a childhood disease, since the majority of the population experiences this infection in the first 2–8 years of life. The signs of chickenpox in children are usually the same during the typical course of the disease, but there are exceptions.

Many people are familiar with chickenpox firsthand: among the unpleasant symptoms of this disease are rashes all over the body and noticeable itching

The causative agent of an infectious disease such as chickenpox, or chickenpox, is one of the varieties of the herpes virus. The route of infection is considered to be airborne; the risk of getting sick increases with close contact. Due to the fact that the virus is very tenacious, the situation in children's institutions often has the character of an epidemic. It is enough for one child to “catch” the virus, and it instantly spreads with the air flow to the surrounding children.

The virus carrier can be “dangerous” during the entire incubation period and several days after the first signs of the disease appear. The chickenpox virus can multiply in the body for 10 to 15 days and only after accumulation cause characteristic symptoms. The next 5-8 days can be considered the active phase, when the symptoms of the disease progress. Thus, another person can become infected in the period from 1 to 20 days.

At an early stage, chickenpox makes itself felt by increased body temperature, weakness and apathy.

During the incubation period, the virus does not manifest itself in any way. The child is active, calm, and follows a normal daily routine. After 10 or more days, the first symptoms begin to appear. If chickenpox is caused by a common pathogen, and the child’s immunity is not weakened by other diseases or chronic conditions, the following typical signs of chickenpox in a child can be identified:

• weakness, loss of appetite, apathy;
• rise in body temperature to 39-40 degrees;
• the appearance of small pink-red spots on the skin;
• manifestation of other symptoms similar to a common ARVI (sore throat, cough, nasal congestion, pain in muscles and limbs);
• irritability, anxiety, poor sleep.

Characteristic spots affect the entire body, except the inner surface of the palms and feet. New spots may appear on children's bodies in the first 5-8 days. Gradually, small blisters filled with liquid appear in their place. Sometimes the disease affects the oral mucosa, which worsens the baby’s well-being.

At the final stage of the disease, the blisters become crusty and fall off on their own. A child always feels itchy, so the most difficult thing is to protect him from scratching. Otherwise, you can infect the skin and cause scars that remain visible for life.

During the initial and active stages of the disease, it is important to provide the child with bed rest. Although most often children themselves refuse their usual pastime. High temperature and active activity of the virus contribute to general intoxication of the body. It is important to drink plenty of vitamin liquids to flush out toxins.

Some children tolerate chickenpox quite easily: without deterioration in health and without a profuse rash.

After a maximum of 8-10 days, the disease subsides. The appearance of new spots stops, the first ones already dry out and disappear, and body temperature normalizes. The child develops an appetite and desire for an active lifestyle. The virus carrier period is over.

With an atypical course of chickenpox in children, its symptoms may be either absent or manifest in a complex form. In the first case, only a small number of characteristic rashes may appear without a rise in body temperature and other signs of malaise. Doctors cannot yet say with certainty what causes this picture. Perhaps this is excellent immune function or hereditary resistance to the virus.

In pediatrics, cases of severe disease are not uncommon. In such a situation, the child is so exposed to rashes that entire lesions appear on the skin, leaving the skin free from damage. Such obvious signs are accompanied by a high temperature, which lasts up to 5-7 days. A dry cough and swelling of the nasopharynx may occur. It is important to reduce the temperature and treat the nasopharynx to prevent bacterial infection and further complications.

At the first alarming symptoms, you need to carefully monitor the child’s condition: if he has chickenpox, then its subsequent manifestations will develop very quickly

Not only chickenpox is characterized by the appearance of rashes on the skin. Many diseases in children manifest themselves as rashes. These are food allergies, rubella, measles, scarlet fever, scabies and others. Chicken pox differs from all these infectious diseases in the speed of appearance of rashes and their modification.

It is enough for a few pink spots to appear, and after 1.5-2 hours they cover the entire body, including the scalp and even the genitals. After another couple of hours, these rashes turn into red papules, which by the end of the first day already resemble vesicles filled with clear liquid.

None of the above diseases are characterized by such rapid transformations. With allergies in children, the rash resembles small pimples or hives, which quickly disappears when contact with the allergen is avoided and after taking antihistamines. With scabies, the rash primarily affects the hands, but this is not typical for chickenpox. Measles and rubella are also not characterized by changes in rashes. Usually these are small rashes that densely cover some areas of the skin.

Only a pediatrician can make an accurate diagnosis, so if any rash appears, especially if it is accompanied by a high fever and other symptoms, you should consult a doctor. The earlier chickenpox is diagnosed, the higher the likelihood of avoiding complications.

(chickenpox) is an infectious disease. It is caused by the herpes virus. Mostly children and adolescents under 12 years of age are susceptible to chickenpox, but in some cases adults (up to 45 years of age) also suffer from it. Is it possible for chickenpox to develop in a mild form?

The causative agent of the disease

The causative agent of chickenpox is the herpes virus. He cannot stay in the environment for a long time. The virus dies within 10 minutes under the influence of the sun, high temperatures and ultraviolet rays.

It is easily transmitted from person to person because it has the ability to quickly move through space. In some cases, children develop mild chickenpox, the symptoms of which will be discussed below.

In children or people who have not had it before, the chance of infection is 100%. After an illness, a person develops a strong immunity, and the virus remains in the body in an inactive state for life. With diseases that weaken the immune system and with stress, an adult may develop shingles.

Ways of infection with chickenpox

Chickenpox in a mild form (photo below) is quite common in children.

It is not difficult to fall under the influence of chickenpox viruses. The main source of danger is a sick person. The microorganism has the ability to move in the air over different distances in a short period of time. Sources of spread of the disease are:

• a sick man;
• closed room;
• dry air.

Infection occurs indoors through airborne droplets. The patient secretes viruses in the saliva. It usually spreads germs through coughing and sneezing.

In this way, chickenpox infection occurs in kindergartens, schools and other crowded places. An epidemic does not occur in institutions because the majority of adults suffered from this disease at an early age. After all, even in childhood they encountered chickenpox, and their bodies developed a strong immunity. Most often, infection occurs in autumn, winter and early spring.

In some cases, mild symptoms of chickenpox are observed in adults.

Newborns up to 6 months old have antibodies in their blood that were passed on to them by their mother, who previously suffered from this disease. After recovery, 97% of the population have strong immunity to chickenpox.

Incubation period of the disease

Chickenpox has a long incubation period, ranging from 7 to 21 days. After this period, symptoms characteristic of this disease appear. How does chickenpox progress in mild form?

The initial period is similar for all forms of the disease. Upon entering the body, the virus initially strengthens on the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract and its adaptation and reproduction in the body begins. After accumulation, it penetrates the patient’s blood.

When a certain concentration of viruses occurs in it, the response of the immune system begins to manifest itself in the form of a reaction: high fever, weakness and headache. This condition can be observed for 1-2 days and is called After it, rashes characteristic of chickenpox begin to appear on the skin.

Chickenpox symptoms

What are the symptoms of mild chickenpox? After a latent period of the disease, its sharp and rapid development begins. First appears:

• general weakness;
• temperature rise to 38-39 degrees;
• lack of appetite;
• headache.

Along with these symptoms, a rash appears. In some cases, there is an increase in lymph nodes.

Chickenpox rashes initially appear in the form of red spots, measuring within 2.5 mm. After a while, they fill with a yellowish liquid, itch and cause unpleasant moments for children.

After two days, the bubbles with liquid begin to burst, then they dry out and a crust forms on them. Pigmentation forms at the site of the rash, which disappears over time. If you scratch the wound, a small scar may appear in its place.

The rash can occur not only on the body, but also on the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and external genitalia. Rashes are found on the scalp, back, lower and upper extremities, and abdomen.

New pimples appear on the body every 2 days; after some time, several types of pimples can be noticed on the patient’s body: nodules, blisters and crusts. The number of rashes over the entire period can vary from 200 to 300 pieces.

Forms of chickenpox

The nature of the disease is:

• Lung. How does a mild form of chickenpox occur? In this case, the patient’s condition is assessed as satisfactory, the temperature is within normal limits or rises to 38 degrees. The rashes last about 4 days, and their number is insignificant.
• Average. Headache, weakness, high temperature (above 38 degrees), rashes in large quantities for about 5 days.
• Heavy. above 40 degrees, profuse rash for 9 days.

Chickenpox usually manifests itself in mild forms in children; a photo of the rash can be seen in the article.

This is due to the absence of diseases in children that weaken the immune system. When a child does not have chronic pathologies and eats a balanced diet, chickenpox will go away easily. The baby will feel some irritation due to the appearance of a skin rash. You can reduce the impact of this symptom if you follow all the doctor’s recommendations.

Features of chickenpox in mild form

The disease occurs in a mild form in children under 7 years of age. Breastfed babies rarely get chickenpox because they have antibodies to the disease (if the mother herself has had it).

With a mild form, the child feels as usual: cheerful and active. However, he should definitely be protected from contact with other children, since chickenpox is infectious.

What does mild chickenpox look like? Signs of a mild form are: weakness, dizziness, a single rash that can occur both on the body and on the mucous membranes. If the child does not comb them, they will dry out on the 2-3rd day. If an infection gets into the wounds, the recovery process can take from 14 to 21 days. Then the scabs will fall off, leaving small scars on the skin.

Symptoms of the disease in adults

In adults, a mild form of chickenpox (photo below) is either absent or occurs extremely rarely. This is due to the fact that they have chronic diseases or bad habits. Typically, chickenpox affects a weak point in the body - an organ that is susceptible to damage.

In this case, the following may occur:

• laryngitis, bronchitis;
• heart failure;
• myositis, arthritis;
• nephritis, hepatitis.

Such complications occur not only in children and adolescents, but also in newborns with weakened immune systems. Infants up to 6 months of age who are bottle-fed and do not have antibodies to it are susceptible to the virus. In this case, the doctor prescribes special treatment.

Severe disease is usually associated with a bacterial infection.

Treatment of the disease

How does mild chickenpox occur and its treatment? When all the symptoms of the disease are minor, no special therapy is needed. The doctor will not prescribe antiviral drugs, but will only prescribe medications to reduce itching and prevent an allergic reaction.

In order for the patient’s body to fight viruses, the following is necessary:

• a light diet including dairy and vegetable dishes;
• drinking plenty of juice in the form of compotes or fruit drinks;
• walk in the fresh air if there is no fever;
• After bathing, lubricate the rash with zinc oxide.

Treatment of rashes with Diamond Green is not carried out because its effectiveness has not been proven.

After the last pimple is discovered, the patient will be considered contagious for another five days.

When walking, the disease cannot be transmitted to healthy people. When the virus enters an open space, it is destroyed within 5-10 minutes. He is afraid of sunlight, high temperatures and heat.

The herpes virus is not transmitted to third parties through toys or household items.

Correct parental behavior when children have chickenpox

If chickenpox occurs, children must comply. Due to the infectious nature of the disease, the child is isolated from contact with other children.

Be sure to treat the rash areas with medications prescribed by the doctor. To do this, use a concentrated solution of potassium permanganate or Acyclovir cream.

When sick, patients must follow the rules of hygiene: change bedding and underwear more often. You can take a shower.

Even with symptoms of chickenpox in a mild form and passing without an increase in temperature, you must follow the drinking regime. You should drink in small sips. After all, toxins leave the body along with urine, which helps the patient recover faster.

The child should be provided with dietary nutrition with the exclusion of foods that can cause an increase in the number of rashes. Meals should primarily consist of plant and dairy dishes.

Complication of the disease

With proper treatment and personal hygiene, complications of the disease occur in rare cases. Its most serious course occurs when the rash suppurates, when pathogenic microorganisms enter it. In this case, the wounds are treated with antibacterial ointments.

Complications occur in children:

• with cancer;
• first year of life;
• with pathologies of the immune system.

In such cases, children develop chickenpox of an atypical form with intoxication of the body, with the development of sepsis and damage to the lungs, liver, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract organs. The child may be diagnosed with viral pneumonia and inflammation of the brain.

In adults, the disease becomes more complicated due to lack of special attention to it. The danger in such patients is the occurrence of inflammatory processes affecting internal organs. Sometimes a bacterial infection also joins this process.

The most common complications in adults:

• tracheitis, pneumonia;
• difficulty eating due to rashes in the mouth;
• encephalitis, meningitis;
• heart and vascular diseases (myocarditis and thrombophlebitis);
• inflammation of the genital organs in men and women.

To avoid complications, it is necessary to start antiviral treatment as early as possible.

Prevention of chickenpox

Vaccination is used to prevent the disease in children. It is carried out for children over 1 year old. The vaccine protects the child’s body from the disease for 10 years. Sometimes vaccinated children get sick, but the disease is mild.

The introduction of the vaccine is especially necessary for women who plan to become pregnant in the near future. Emergency prevention can also be carried out if contact with a carrier of the disease occurs. To prevent the development of chickenpox, the vaccine should be given within 48-72 hours afterward.

Chickenpox is a disease that requires a correct and competent approach to treatment, even in its mild form. Only in this case the patient will experience a quick recovery and no complications will arise.