How to treat chickenpox in children? (diagnosis, symptoms and treatment)

How chickenpox begins and develops Chickenpox is an acute infectious disease characterized by a profuse itchy rash on the skin and surface of the mucous membranes. It does not appear instantly: the incubation period can range from 10 days to 3 weeks.

Chickenpox is highly contagious. The virus is transmitted through direct contact with a carrier. Children often get sick in entire groups (groups in kindergarten or classes at school). We will tell you how to recognize the disease in the shortest possible time to prevent its spread.

What causes chickenpox?

The causative agent of this disease is human herpesvirus type 3. It belongs to the subfamily of alphaherpesviruses, which have the following features:

• a wide range of hosts (humans and animals);
• short reproductive cycle;
• rapid reproduction;
• volatility;
• rapid decay of affected cells;
• death under the influence of UV rays.

When the chickenpox virus enters the human body, for the first three to four days it is contained within blisters covering the skin. On the eighth day it ceases to be detected. Outside a living organism, type 3 herpesvirus dies in 15 minutes.

The rash usually appears 48 hours after infection. The carrier remains infectious for another five days. Infection occurs by airborne droplets. Contact-household infection is also possible.

Prevention

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It is almost impossible for a child to avoid infection with chickenpox, since he is constantly in contact with other people. The main method of prevention is strengthening the body’s protective functions and observing hygiene rules.

Important! Vaccination against chickenpox is not included in the list of mandatory vaccines for children; parents can vaccinate with Okavax and Varilrix for a fee - the average cost of the procedure is 2.5–4.5 thousand rubles.

How to recognize chickenpox?

To get sick, two conditions are enough: to be near someone with chickenpox and not have a history of it. Everyone gets infected with it, regardless of age and immunity strength. Nothing can be done during the incubation period. All we have to do is wait for the first signs:

• temperature rise to 38-39 degrees;
• general malaise;
• decreased appetite;
• the appearance of a characteristic rash.

At first, the rash is rare and looks like spots or pimples. Under no circumstances should you squeeze them out: the scar will be very deep. The volume of the rash gradually increases, covering all parts of the body.

In the early stages, chickenpox can be mistaken for an allergic reaction. But contact dermatitis rarely spreads throughout the body and never develops into blisters.

In this case, the person feels severe itching. Scratching chickenpox is also not advisable. This will not bring relief, but there is a risk of getting a lot of scars on the skin or causing a secondary infection.

Folk remedies

Treatment with folk remedies is not officially recognized by medicine, but has the right to exist.

1. Immunity can be supported with a tincture of chamomile flowers, calendula, basil leaves and lemon balm. For the same purpose, you can use a mixture of lemon juice and honey, which should be taken three times a day, 1 tsp.
2. To reduce pain and itching on the skin, use a soda solution (1 glass of warm water, 1 teaspoon of soda), which is used to dip the affected areas.
3. Baths with chamomile or calendula, celandine remove the manifestations of chickenpox.
4. At elevated temperatures and if you have a headache, viburnum drink, sea buckthorn tea, rosehip infusion and cranberry juice help well.
5. At home, you can brew chopped parsley leaves and drink 1-4 glasses several times a day.
6. Those who do not tolerate the acute period of intoxication well can try fresh celery juice.
7. Skin itching and pain disappear perfectly under the influence of tea tree oil, applied directly to the elements of the rash.
8. Blueberries have an excellent antiviral effect in any form.

Traditional methods do not replace qualified medical care and taking medications prescribed by a doctor.

Periods of chickenpox

Quite a long time passes between infection with the herpes virus and complete recovery. There are four periods:

• incubation (up to three weeks);
• prodromal (up to two days before the appearance of rashes);
• rashes (several waves for two to five days);
• crust formation.

During the prodromal period, the patient experiences general malaise. It is expressed in weakness, nausea, headache. Sometimes the temperature rises to 38-39 degrees, and vomiting occurs. In some patients, there is no prodromal period, and rashes immediately appear some time after infection.

Chickenpox in adults causes severe complications. They do not appear immediately. Some appear after the tenth day of the disease, others after a month.

Cetirizine

Doctors often prescribe Cetirizine (Zyrtec) for chickenpox. For children - in drops, for adults - in tablets. The drug relieves symptoms well in itchy allergic dermatoses, has no contraindications and is usually well tolerated.

Cetirizine

JSC VERTEX, Russia

seasonal and year-round allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis (itching, sneezing, rhinorrhea, lacrimation, conjunctival hyperemia);
urticaria (including chronic idiopathic urticaria); hay fever (hay fever); itching; angioedema (Quincke's edema); itchy allergic dermatoses. from 36

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How does chickenpox occur in children?

Chickenpox is considered a childhood disease, since it mainly affects children of preschool and primary school age. In children, the illness period is relatively short (about 10 days), while in adults it can last three weeks or more.

During this time, the rash goes through several stages:

• erythematous spots;
• nodular rash (papule);
• ulcers (pustules);
• crusts.

Recovery occurs when all the scabs fall off. Until this point, the person is still contagious and can pass the chickenpox virus to others. The first wave of rashes usually passes quickly, but it is replaced by several more.

As a rule, there are no complications in children. The main thing is that the baby does not scratch the rash to avoid secondary infection and scar formation. Severe disease occurs in newborns. When the first signs of chickenpox appear in an infant, you should immediately call a doctor.

Fenistil

"Fenistil" is a safe antihistamine (antiallergic) drug of a new generation. To reduce the itching of chickenpox, antihistamines are used, this is especially true for children who cannot control themselves and scratch the wounds. It is not advisable to use Fenistil gel for chickenpox, since due to the treatment of large areas of the body it can be toxic to the body. But Fenistil drops for chickenpox are a good way to relieve itching. The number of drops is calculated based on the patient's weight.

Fenistil

GlaxoSmithKline, GSK, UK

The antiallergic effect of Fenistil is associated with competitive blockade of H1-histamine receptors.
Symptomatic treatment of allergic diseases such as: urticaria; allergic rhinitis; food allergies; drug allergy. Elimination of itching from: insect bites; chicken pox; atopic dermatitis. from 237

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Atypical forms of chickenpox in adults

In adults, chickenpox is accompanied by symptoms of intoxication of the body. Atypical clinical forms are also possible:

• Rudimentary. The rash is either absent or does not develop beyond the blotchy stage.
• Hemorrhagic. A bloody impurity appears in the blisters, and small hemorrhages appear on unaffected areas of the skin. Black crusts form.
• Bullous. Along with the usual chickenpox, other blisters appear. They are filled with a cloudy yellowish liquid and take a long time to dry. If such blisters burst prematurely, the area of ​​skin underneath them becomes wet for a long time and does not heal.
• Gangrenous. The tissues inside the blisters die, and ulcers form underneath them. Cleaning of pus is often required.

The generalized form of chickenpox is considered separately. It is characterized by damage to internal organs. It is difficult to tolerate and there are deaths. At risk are patients taking steroid hormones.

Consequences

The most dangerous consequences of chickenpox include:

• Weakening of the immune system and, as a consequence, loss of its ability to resist more serious viruses;
• Loss of ability to work due to problems with internal organs;
• Lethal outcome is possible if the patient develops chickenpox pneumonia, encephalitis, high fever and hepatitis.

The described consequences can be avoided if you consult a doctor in a timely manner and follow all his recommendations.

It is not recommended to treat chickenpox on your own, as has already been mentioned several times above. Under unfavorable circumstances, chickenpox may become only the first milestone in a series of health problems.

How to help with chickenpox?

There is currently no cure for chickenpox. Usually the disease goes away on its own, and therapy is limited to smearing the rash with aniline dyes with bactericidal properties. A solution of brilliant green (“zelenka”) is usually used. You can take an antipyretic to relieve your general condition.

To relieve itching use:

• solution of iodine tincture (2-3%);
• solution of potassium permanganate (1:5000);
• hydrogen peroxide (3%);
• glycerol.

In some cases, antihistamines can help relieve itching. But you should not take them uncontrollably: it is better to call a doctor at home and determine acceptable medications. Showering is allowed, but without a washcloth to avoid damaging the bubbles. The same applies to the use of towels - after water procedures, you need to carefully pat your body dry with a cloth.

Calamine

Calamine topical lotion is based on zinc and calamine oxide. The medicine for chickenpox relieves itching, irritation and inflammation well, and works as an antiseptic. “Calamine” is also as harmless as possible, but is not suitable for those who have individual sensitivity to zinc.

Calamine

The drug Calamine lotion is used in dermatological practice, in the treatment of diseases accompanied by itchy skin.
Therefore, the lotion is prescribed for the complex treatment of chickenpox, eczema, and psoriasis. Used for dermatitis, acne, herpes. Used in the treatment of skin rashes, herpes zoster, urticaria, rubella, etc. from 231

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Complications of chickenpox

In most cases, this disease is not dangerous; children tolerate it easily. The only threat is infection of the wound when combing with dirty hands. In such cases, staphylococci or streptococci may be ingested and a purulent infection may develop.

The chickenpox virus does not disappear from the body after recovery. Temporarily neutralized, it is localized in the spinal cord. As years pass, it can become more active and cause shingles.

In adults, complications may include:

• stomatitis (if a rash appears in the mouth);
• conjunctivitis (on the eyelids);
• inflammation of the middle ear.

The greatest danger is chickenpox pneumonia with a mortality rate of 40%. The consequences of infection with the chickenpox virus can manifest themselves in the form of neurological disorders, heart disease, and joint damage. A month after recovery, there is a risk of developing retinal inflammation and cranial nerve palsy.

When to see a doctor?

If you suspect that you or your child has chickenpox, consult your doctor. The doctor will be able to make a diagnosis simply by examining you, studying the elements of the rash and accompanying symptoms. Your doctor may also prescribe medications to reduce the severity of chickenpox and reduce the risk of complications, if necessary. Call the pediatrician in advance and warn that you suspect chickenpox - the doctor will see you in a separate room, without waiting in line, to avoid the risk of infecting other patients.

Also, be sure to tell your doctor if you have any of these complications:

• The rash has spread to one or both eyes.
• The skin around some parts of the rash becomes very red, hot, or painful, indicating a secondary bacterial skin infection.
• The rash is accompanied by dizziness, disorientation, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, tremors (shaking hands), loss of muscle coordination, increasing cough, vomiting, difficulty bending the head forward, or a fever above 39.4 C.
• a history of any immunodeficiency, or age younger than 6 months.

What is chickenpox pneumonia?

This is a lung lesion that occurs in 16% of cases of chickenpox and in almost all cases if the disease occurs in a generalized form. The first symptoms may appear simultaneously with the rash:

• dyspnea;
• chest pain;
• cough with sputum (often with blood);
• bluishness of the skin.

Multiple focal nodules spread in the lungs, which on x-ray look like tuberculosis. Antibiotics do not help in this case. Against the background of chickenpox pneumonia, bronchitis often develops; in severe cases, pulmonary edema is possible.

Pneumonia that develops in the later stages of chickenpox is considered separately. It is caused by a secondary coccal infection and is a common pneumonia. The disease is treated according to the standard regimen - penicillin.

Neurological complications of chickenpox

The consequence of infection with a herpes virus in an adult can be secondary encephalitis. Inflammation develops from the fifth to tenth day of the rash, sometimes even after recovery. The pathological process can be localized in different places:

• membranes of the brain (meningitis form);
• cerebellum (atactic form);
• spinal cord (myelitic form).
Combined damage to the brain and spinal cord (encephalomyelitis, meningoencephalitis) is also possible.
In mild cases, damage to the central nervous system by the chickenpox virus leads to loss of coordination, involuntary eye movements, hand tremors, and dizziness. In more severe cases, vision suffers (up to its complete loss). The most dangerous complication is paralysis. Mental damage, even mental retardation, is also possible.

Diagnostics

It is not difficult to recognize typical chickenpox after a thorough physical examination, since the disease has a classic clinical picture. The atypical form can be confused with herpes simplex, bullous dermatosis, eczema, congenital syphilis, pyoderma; laboratory tests will help differentiate chickenpox from other infections.

What tests need to be taken:

• clinical blood test to determine the level of ESR;
• microscopic examination of fluid from vesicles;
• blood chemistry;
• serological tests - RSK, RTGA.

In severe cases of the disease, a general urine test, ultrasound of the abdominal organs, CT scan of the brain, and electrocardiogram are additionally prescribed to identify which organs have been affected by the virus.