Chickenpox in children: symptoms and treatment
The disease, in which the whole body is in funny green dots, is remembered by almost every adult. But, in reality, chickenpox is not such a harmless disease, it can cause a number of complications. What are the signs that you can understand that a child is sick with chickenpox and how to treat it - we will consider in this article.
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Chickenpox in children - symptoms
The main symptoms of chickenpox are similar to the onset of a cold or viral illness:
- The appearance of fever and temperature up to 39.5 ° C.
- Headache begins, which is worse in the evening.
- Feverish reaction of the body.
- The lymph nodes are enlarged.
- In some cases, signs of intoxication appear: mild nausea, vomiting.
- The general condition of the body is weakened.
- Sometimes pains appear in the abdominal region.
The main visible manifestation of chickenpox is a rash.
In the early days, the rash looks like small pink spots, then they transform into bubbles filled with liquid. The rash is accompanied by severe itching, which causes discomfort for children, interferes with sleep and eating. Rashes focus on the head, on the mucous membrane of the mouth, throughout the body. Inside the mouth, the rash is the 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 within 5 days after that, the child can infect others. The intensity of the disease depends on the individual characteristics of the organism.
Chickenpox temperature
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, the baby can be given drugs 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 tract mucosa. This period can be divided into 3 stages:
- Initial - the pathogen penetrates into the body and adapts to it.
- The development of the disease - the pathogen multiplies, accumulates. The primary focus of the disease is formed, the infection spreads along the periphery.
- Completion - the full spread of the virus has occurred, the production of antibodies begins. The first symptoms of chickenpox appear in the form of a rash.
Further, the remaining symptoms appear: the temperature rises, itching, headache.
The incubation period of the disease is long, so it is difficult to identify where and from whom the infection occurred.
Chickenpox causes
The causative agents of the disease are highly volatile. The disease got its name due to the active spread through the air. Once on the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, the virus actively multiplies. If one child falls ill in a kindergarten group, then most of the children in the group will also fall ill.
Infants do not get chickenpox for up to six months, at which time they are still protected by maternal immunity. The greatest risk group is made up of children from one to seven years old. Schoolchildren are more resistant to the virus. Adults who did not acquire immunity during childhood can also get chickenpox. They have it in a more complex form.
The only reason for 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 rashes appear. A person infected with chickenpox may not even know that he is sick and infectious 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 naughty, refuses to eat, cries. Baby's sleep becomes restless and sensitive.
Skin rashes appear as red patches all over the body, even in the mouth, with the exception of the palms and feet, and after a few hours they turn into bubbles of fluid. 
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 up, and dark red crusts appear in its place. During this time, new bubbles may appear, their appearance is wave-like. This period of the disease lasts from 7 to 8 days, after which the chickenpox begins to pass.
The crusts disappear in 2 weeks. After the bubbles, pinkish marks remain, which 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; antibiotics are not used to treat it. However, if your child has scratched the blisters and an infection has got into the wounds, then suppuration is formed, for which antibiotics are prescribed to treat. Therefore, it is important not to allow babies to scratch the rash.
Only a doctor can prescribe the correct complex treatment, so be sure to show the child to the pediatrician. Treatment includes several aspects:
- The high temperature is brought down with paracetamol or ibuprofen preparations. 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 forbidden to use aspirin for chickenpox.
- Acyclovir helps to cope with the virus. It is prescribed for adults and adolescents with chickenpox. For younger children, it is prescribed only in case of a severe course of the disease. Acyclovir is able to penetrate the cells of the virus, integrate into their DNA and prevent the subsequent multiplication of the virus. The dosage of the drug is chosen by the doctor.
- The most unpleasant manifestation of the disease is itching, which is accompanied by a rash. If the child sweats, it will intensify. Therefore, ventilate the room, change linen more often and do not wrap the baby up. Taking a bath with chickenpox is prohibited, but you can rinse under a warm shower with the permission of a doctor and at normal temperature. It will ease the uncomfortable state and help the baby relax. Rubbing the skin or using soap is not allowed, the bubbles can be damaged. After showering, the skin is dabbed with a soft cloth. In some cases, antiallergenic drugs are prescribed to relieve itching: Suprastin, Fenkarol, Diazolin.
- Traditionally, the 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 1 time, without pressing or rubbing. After that, it is recommended to wear pajamas, which are not a pity to be painted green. There are also modern drugs that dry the rash, relieve itching. For example, Calamine Cooling Lotion is very effective for chickenpox.
In the course of treatment, it is important to provide an active drinking regime, a dietary menu. Don't overload your digestive system, a lot of the body's energy goes into fighting the virus. Feed your baby with cereals, soups, non-acidic fruits. If the temperature is not elevated, then you can take short walks. Do not overheat the baby, avoid direct sunlight. Contact with other children in the presence of rashes is also not worth it.
The consequences of chickenpox
After a child suffers 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 shingles or herpes, it will be accompanied by unpleasant rashes.
If the bubbles are combed, then in their place, the appearance of not passing marks is possible. 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, be born with chickenpox.
Chickenpox can also contribute to various diseases:
- kidney inflammation;
- viral pneumonia;
- bacterial infections: sepsis, phlegmon, abscesses;
- neuritis of the peripheral nerves;
- encephalitis.
To eliminate the likelihood of complications, it is recommended to stay in bed, follow the doctor's prescriptions.
Prevention of chickenpox
The only preventive measure is vaccination. In medical institutions, it is possible to enter Varilrix or Okavax. Vaccines prevent the onset of the disease if the patient has had direct contact with the infected. You need to enter it between the second and third days after direct contact.
If one of the family members is sick, then the rest of those who have not had chickenpox will also become infected. The virus is very volatile. It is recommended to vaccinate against chickenpox for infants up to six months, for children with low immunity.
Chickenpox is not the easiest viral disease, but children who have undergone it receive stable immunity. In the process of treatment, it is important to avoid injury to the rash, so as not to get marks on the skin for life. To prevent chickenpox, you can get it vaccinated.
