Chickenpox: symptoms, treatment, complications
The content of the article:
- Etiology
- Chickenpox epidemiology
- Chickenpox pathogenesis
-
Chickenpox symptoms
- The appearance of a rash
- Transformation of vesicles into pustules
- Specific forms of the disease
-
Treatment
- Drug therapy
- General recommendations
- Complications
- Video
Chickenpox (chickenpox) is an infectious disease caused by a virus called Varicella Zoster. The disease is characterized by the appearance on the skin and mucous membranes of a papulovesicular rash against a background of general intoxication.
Chickenpox is an infectious disease with characteristic symptoms
In most cases, a person becomes infected with the disease in childhood; in adults, infection is quite rare. The chickenpox virus can be localized in the nerve ganglia and remain latent in the body for life. But sometimes it becomes active, causing a disease such as shingles (most often in the elderly).
In children of the first year of life, chickenpox rarely occurs, since they receive antibodies from the mother. With a significant decrease in the body's defenses, re-infection with an infection may occur.
Etiology
For the first time, information about chickenpox appeared in the middle of the 16th century and was described by Italian doctors. Initially, the disease was thought to be of the same nature as smallpox (Variola). In 1772 the German physician O. Vogel introduced the name Varicella. Chickenpox began to be considered a separate nosological form after an epidemic at the end of the 19th century.
The causative agent of chickenpox is a genomic DNA virus belonging to the genus Varicellovirus and a member of the Alphaherpesvirinae subfamily. It was discovered in 1911 by the Brazilian physician E. Aragao in the contents of the vesicles. Varicella Zoster is classified as a type 3 herpes virus.
Varicella-zoster virus multiplies only in the human body. In the environment, it dies very quickly when exposed to heat or sunlight. In particles of mucus that gets into the air from the nasopharynx, the virus can live no more than 15 minutes.
Chickenpox epidemiology
A sick person becomes the source of infection. It is considered contagious from the 10th day of the incubation period to the 6-7th day of the disease. The transmission mechanism of the virus is aerosol. It is secreted by coughing, sneezing, talking and spreading by airborne droplets. The varicella-zoster virus can be carried over long distances (to adjacent rooms or to other floors).
The virus is transmitted by airborne droplets
Since he cannot be outside the human body for a long time, the disease is not transmitted by contact-everyday means. But infection can occur transplacentally (the infection crosses the placenta from mother to fetus).
The natural susceptibility of a person to the causative agent of the disease is almost one hundred percent, therefore, in about 90% of cases, chickenpox is transferred in childhood (up to 15 years). The disease is spreading everywhere. It is most often celebrated in kindergartens and primary schools. The peak of the disease occurs in the autumn-winter period.
A characteristic feature of the epidemiological processes of chickenpox is the absence of recessions and rises in the disease. This is because all susceptible patients get sick at almost the same time. At the same time, after an illness, a person develops a persistent lifelong immunity.
Chickenpox pathogenesis
The infection enters the human body through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. The virus invades the cells of the epithelium and begins to multiply actively. In the future, regional lymph nodes are affected.
The virus circulates throughout the body, but further its localization is determined by attachment to epithelial tissues and mucous membranes. The cells die and die off, and cavities filled with exudate appear in their place (vesicles are formed). After opening them, crusts form. Rashes on the mucous membranes turn into erosion.
Chickenpox symptoms
The incubation period of the disease is from 10 to 21 days, during which time the infection enters the bloodstream. Then the symptoms of the disease begin to appear.
The prodromal period may be accompanied by an increase in body temperature, headache, nausea
The prodromal period can last 1–2 days. Often in children, it is not very pronounced. At the same time, the child becomes lethargic, whiny, his excitability increases and his appetite decreases. In adults, this period is more pronounced, often accompanied by an increase in body temperature, headache, nausea and vomiting.
The appearance of a rash
A pronounced clinic of the disease develops from the moment the first rash appears (sometimes it occurs against the background of complete well-being). In a patient with an acute form of chickenpox, the body temperature rises to 38–40 ° С, symptoms of intoxication increase.
Red spots form on the skin, which after a few hours turn into nodules (papules), and then into single-chamber vesicles filled with a transparent liquid (vesicles). After piercing, they fall off, and crusts appear in this place. In this case, severe itching is noted.
During the same period, a new rash appears on the skin. Therefore, spots, papules, vesicles and crusts can be observed on one area of the skin. A rash with chickenpox affects only the upper layer of the epidermis, so it disappears without a trace. But when scratching, damage to the growth layer occurs, which leads to the formation of atrophic scars in place of the vesicle.
Transformation of vesicles into pustules
Sometimes the vesicles suppurate, forming pustules filled with a cloudy liquid. The patient's condition worsens. Significant damage to the skin leads to the formation of pits in the center of the pustules.
Subsequently, after the crusts fall off, scars (so-called pockmarks) form at this place. It should be noted that in adults, vesicles are transformed into pustules much more often. However, the rash appears later and lasts longer.
The rash is localized on the trunk, scalp, face and limbs, excluding the surface of the soles and palms. For several days, dripping occurs, while the body temperature rises. After a new rash stops appearing, intoxication decreases.
Specific forms of the disease
With a mild form of the disease, the symptoms of chickenpox are blurred. In this case, fever may be absent, and the elements of the rash may be isolated.
People with a weakened immune system (more often adults) may have specific forms of the disease:
| Chickenpox shape | Description |
| Hemorrhagic | Patients develop vesicles filled with bloody contents, nosebleeds develop |
| Bullous | The skin becomes covered with large flabby blisters, which transform into poorly healing ulcers |
| Gangrenous | Vesicles enlarge rapidly, their contents become bloody. After drying, black crusts with an inflammatory rim appear on the skin. |
Treatment
In most cases, treatment is carried out at home. In severe forms of pathology and suspected complications, the patient is placed in a separate box in the infectious diseases department.
Drug therapy
To date, with chickenpox, the antiviral drug Acyclovir (Valavir, Gerpevir) is prescribed. The dosage depends on the age of the patient. The course of treatment lasts 7 days.
In severe cases, the antiviral drug Acyclovir is prescribed
In order to reduce itching, antihistamines (Cetrin, Loratadin, Fenistil) are prescribed in age-related dosages. The duration of use is determined individually.
To lower the temperature, paracetamol-based drugs (Paracetamol, Panadol, Efferalgan) are taken. In case of chickenpox, it is not recommended to use medications whose active ingredient is ibuprofen (Nurofen, Bofen), as they can cause serious side effects from the skin.
To avoid secondary infection, the rash is treated with antiseptic and antipruritic agents.
As an antiseptic and antipruritic agent, Kalamin, Zincteral, PoxKlin, Chickenpox Stop are used externally. They are applied to the skin several times a day. You can also use Brilliant Green or Fukortsin. Drugs in this group help to reduce itching slightly, prevent infection and help track new rashes.
General recommendations
Patients need to keep their bodies clean. Water washes away dirt and sweat and also reduces itching.
Features of swimming with chickenpox:
- the procedure should last no more than 10 minutes. To wash the child, use a solution of potassium permanganate, adults can bathe in the shower;
- the use of soaps, shower gels, shampoos and scrubs is not recommended, as this can cause irritation and increase itching;
- use of a washcloth during bathing during the entire period of treatment and until the crusts completely disappear is undesirable.
After water procedures, do not rub the skin with a towel, it is quite easy to get wet. After each use, the towel is washed and ironed.
Complications
In the vast majority of cases, chickenpox is a benign disease. Children easily tolerate the disease. Complications are detected in about 5% of patients, especially in adults with a weakened immune system and concomitant pathologies.
One of the possible complications of the disease is phlegmon
Complications of chickenpox can be:
- diseases caused by a secondary infection (abscesses or phlegmon) entering the wounds;
- viral (chickenpox) pneumonia;
- viral encephalitis;
- neuritis;
- hepatitis.
When cases of chickenpox are detected in children's groups, quarantine measures are carried out. Patients should be isolated for 9 days after the first rash appears. Children in contact with the patient are monitored for three weeks. As a preventive measure, you can use anti-wind immunoglobulin.
Recently, immunization of healthy individuals has been carried out. To do this, use the vaccine Varilrix and Okavax. Vaccinate healthy children over 1 year old and adults who have not had this infection.
In modern medicine, there are no drugs that could completely rid the body of the Varicella Zoster virus, the immune system must cope with it on its own. Disease therapy can be performed by a pediatrician, therapist, infectious disease specialist or dermatologist.
Video
We offer for viewing a video on the topic of the article.
Anna Kozlova Medical journalist About the author
Education: Rostov State Medical University, specialty "General Medicine".
The information is generalized and provided for informational purposes only. At the first sign of illness, see your doctor. Self-medication is hazardous to health!
