Chickenpox in children: symptoms and treatment
Almost every adult remembers a disease in which the whole body is covered in funny green dots. But in reality, chickenpox is not such a harmless disease; it can cause a number of complications. What signs can you use to understand that a child has chickenpox and how to treat it? We’ll look at it in this article.
Contents
Chickenpox in children - symptoms
The main symptoms of chickenpox are similar to the onset of a cold or viral disease:
- The appearance of fever and temperature up to 39.5°C.
- A headache begins, which gets worse in the evening.
- Feverish reaction of the body.
- Lymph nodes enlarge.
- In some cases, signs of intoxication appear: mild nausea, vomiting.
- The general condition of the body is weakened.
- Sometimes there is pain in the abdominal area.
The main visible manifestation of chickenpox is a rash.
In the first days, the rashes look like small pink spots, then they turn into blisters filled with liquid. The rash is accompanied by severe itching, which causes discomfort for children and interferes with sleep and eating. The rashes concentrate on the head, on the oral mucosa, and throughout the body. Inside the oral cavity, the rashes are most painful.
After a few days, the bubbles dry out, forming crusts. The peculiarity of the disease is that it can occur in several cycles with recurring symptoms. From the moment the last bubbles appear and for 5 days after that, the child can infect others. The intensity of the disease depends on the individual characteristics of the organism.
Temperature with chickenpox
With the appearance of the first symptoms of the disease, the baby’s body temperature rises sharply. It can reach 39°C - 39.5°C. In some children it lasts for 7-10 days, in others it returns to normal in 2-3 days. To reduce the temperature, your baby can be given medications containing ibuprofen or paracetamol. Aspirin is contraindicated for chickenpox.
Symptoms of the incubation period of chickenpox
The incubation period of the disease lasts from 10 days to 3 weeks. The average for children is 2 weeks, for adults – 16 days. Moreover, the stronger the immune system, the shorter the incubation period.
During the incubation period, the virus enters the body through the respiratory system, multiplies and accumulates in the epithelial cells of the respiratory mucosa. This period can be divided into 3 stages:
- Initial – the pathogen penetrates the body and adapts to it.
- Development of the disease - the pathogen multiplies and accumulates. The formation of the primary focus of the disease and the spread of infection along the periphery occur.
- Completion – the virus has completely spread, and the production of antibodies begins. The first symptoms of chickenpox appear in the form of a rash.
Then other symptoms appear: fever, itching, headache.
The incubation period of the disease is long, so it is difficult to identify where and from whom the infection occurred.
Causes of chickenpox
The causative agents of the disease have increased volatility. The disease got its name due to its active spread through the air. Once on the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, the virus actively multiplies. If one child in a kindergarten group gets sick, then most of the children in the group will also get sick.
Infants do not get chickenpox until they are six months old, at which time they are still protected by maternal immunity. The highest risk group is children from one to 7 years old. Schoolchildren are more resistant to the virus. Adults who did not acquire immunity as children can also become infected with chickenpox. For them it occurs in a more complex form.
The only cause of infection is contact with infected people. The chickenpox virus is not adapted to the external environment and dies as soon as it leaves the body. In this case, an infected person can transmit the virus only in the active stage of the disease, which begins 2 days before the first rash appears. A person infected with chickenpox may not even know that he is sick and is contagious to others.
How long does chickenpox last?
After the incubation period, the main symptoms of the disease appear. There is an increase in temperature, headaches and general weakness of the body. The child is capricious, refuses to eat, and cries. The baby's sleep becomes restless and sensitive.
The skin rash appears as red spots all over the body, even in the mouth, except on the palms and soles, and after a few hours they turn into blisters with liquid. 
The baby's skin itches and itches; it is important not to let the child scratch the rash to avoid the possibility of infection entering open wounds. After 72 hours, the rash dries out and dark red crusts appear in its place. During this time, new bubbles may appear, their appearance in waves. This period of the disease lasts from 7 to 8 days, after which chickenpox begins to subside.
The crusts disappear within 2 weeks. The blisters leave pinkish marks that will disappear within a month. The total duration of the visible stage of the disease is 10-12 days from the onset of the first symptoms.
How to treat chickenpox in children
Chickenpox is a viral disease and antibiotics are not used to treat it. However, if your child scratches the blisters and the wounds become infected, then suppuration will form, for the treatment of which antibiotics are prescribed. Therefore, it is important not to let kids scratch the rash.
Only a doctor can prescribe the correct comprehensive treatment, so be sure to show your child to a pediatrician. Treatment includes several aspects:
- A high temperature can be brought down with paracetamol or ibuprofen. If the temperature is less than 37.5 degrees, the child tolerates it calmly, then there is no need to knock it down. It is prohibited to use aspirin for chickenpox.
- Acyclovir helps to cope with the virus. It is prescribed to adults and adolescents with chickenpox. For younger children, it is prescribed only for severe illness. Acyclovir is able to penetrate viral cells, integrate into their DNA and prevent subsequent replication of the virus. The dosage of the drug is chosen by the doctor.
- The most unpleasant manifestation of the disease is the itching that accompanies the rash. If the child sweats, it will increase. Therefore, ventilate the room, change clothes more often and do not wrap your baby up. Taking baths if you have chickenpox is prohibited, but you can rinse under a warm shower with your doctor’s permission and at normal temperature. It will ease the discomfort and help the baby relax. Rubbing the skin or using soap is not allowed, as this can damage the blisters. After a shower, blot the skin with a soft cloth. In some cases, anti-allergenic drugs are prescribed to relieve itching: Suprastin, Fenkarol, Diazolin.
- Traditionally, bubbles were treated with brilliant green. The bright color of the product made it possible to determine the presence of new rashes. Cauterization is performed once, without pressing or rubbing. After which it is recommended to wear pajamas, which you don’t mind dyeing green. There are also modern medications that dry out the rash and relieve itching. For example, calamine lotion with a cooling effect is very effective for chickenpox.
During the treatment process, it is important to ensure an active drinking regime and a dietary menu. Don't overload your digestive system, a lot of the body’s energy goes into fighting the virus. Feed your baby cereals, soups, and non-acidic fruits. If the temperature is not elevated, then you can take short walks. Do not overheat the baby, avoid direct sunlight. You should also not have contact with other children if you have rashes.
The consequences of chickenpox
After a child has chickenpox, the body develops immunity to the disease. But a virus that has entered the body can become active after many years. The disease is called herpes zoster or herpes, and it will be accompanied by unpleasant rashes.
If the bubbles are scratched, then permanent marks may appear in their place. Temporary redness of the skin goes away within six months. Chickenpox is especially dangerous for pregnant women in the 3rd trimester. The baby can become infected in utero and be born with chickenpox.
Chickenpox can also contribute to the appearance of various diseases:
- kidney inflammation;
- viral pneumonia;
- bacterial infections: sepsis, phlegmon, abscesses;
- neuritis of peripheral nerves;
- encephalitis.
To eliminate the possibility of complications, it is recommended to remain in bed and follow the doctor’s instructions.
Prevention of chickenpox
The only preventive measure is vaccination. In medical institutions, it is possible to administer Varilrix or Okavax. Vaccines prevent the occurrence of the disease if the patient has had direct contact with infected people. It should be administered between the second and third days after direct contact.
If one of the family members gets sick, the rest of those who have not had chickenpox will also become infected. The virus is very volatile. It is recommended that infants up to six months old and children with low immunity be vaccinated against chickenpox.
Chickenpox is not the easiest viral disease, but children who survive it receive lasting immunity. During the treatment process, it is important to avoid traumatizing the rash so as not to get marks on the skin for life. To prevent chickenpox, you can get vaccinated against it.
