In the morning, a healthy child left for school or kindergarten, and returned with rashes on his body. This problem is familiar to many parents. Despite the development of modern medicine, chickenpox, or chickenpox as it is popularly called, annually causes quarantines in children's educational institutions. Therefore, today the editors of Estet-portal decided to tell you about this disease and the methods of its treatment.
Characteristics and methods of infection with chickenpox
Let's start with a description. So, chickenpox – this is an acute infectious disease, which is accompanied by profuse rashes all over the body and an increase in body temperature.
The varicella-zoster virus belongs to the herpesvirus family. In fact, this is the human herpes virus type 3. This virus almost immediately dies in the external environment and develops directly in the human body. A decrease in varicella-zoster virus activity occurs:
- under the influence of sunlight;
- under ultraviolet irradiation;
- when heated;
- when drying.
The source and reservoir of the disease is a person during the last 10 days of the incubation period and 5-7 days of the rash period. Varicella is transmitted by airborne droplets within the same room. There is also the possibility of transmission of the virus from mother to child during pregnancy.
Chickenpox is considered a childhood disease as most people get it before the age of 15. The main risk groups are children of preschool and primary school age who attend children's educational institutions. In cities, chickenpox occurs twice as often as in villages. The peak of the incidence is considered to be autumn-winter.
People who have already had chicken pox receive a lifelong immunity. In the first months of life, a child can be protected from chickenpox by the mother's antibodies, provided that she has already had the disease.
Chickenpox symptoms: main manifestations
The incubation period for chickenpox is about three weeks. The appearance of rashes in children can occur suddenly without any previous manifestations. In general, chickenpox is much easier on children. Sometimes rashes can be accompanied by an increase in body temperature. The fever may last from one to three days.
In adults, the course of chickenpox is more serious and may be accompanied, in addition to rashes and fever, by the following manifestations:
- headaches;
- nausea;
- vomit;
- body aches;
- chills.
The main symptoms of chickenpox are rashes. They are chaotic in nature and spread throughout the body without any regularity. The rash itself is in the nature of bullous dermatitis. It can appear on all parts of the body, as well as on the mucous membranes of the mouth, genitals, and sometimes the eyes. Chickenpox is characterized by the presence of rashes at different stages of development, including rashes. The rashes may appear within 3-8 days.
The rash of chickenpox is accompanied by intense itching. When combing the rashes, scars may appear, as well as the occurrence of complications against the background of infection.
Chickenpox Treatment: Therapeutic Methods
Chickenpox is mostly treated on an outpatient basis. Basically, therapy includes skin care measures that are aimed at getting rid of rashes, as well as preventing complications. So, the damaged areas are treated with antiseptic solutions:
- 1% solution of brilliant green (brilliant green);
- concentrated – potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate).
Sometimes calendula tincture is used to treat these areas, but it is not as effective as the previous two solutions. The oral mucosa is usually rinsed with chamomile infusion. To do this, simply brew chamomile and let it brew. You need to rinse 2-3 times a day.
In addition, drugs that increase immunity and a special anti-varicella immunoglobulin may also be prescribed.
Read also: "How to identify a disease by tongue"
Chickenpox Prevention and Restrictions
Vaccination against varicella has recently been used in medicine as a form of disease prevention. But in most cases, the prevention of chickenpox is to limit its spread. To do this, quarantine is introduced in children's educational institutions.
Patients will be isolated for 9 days from the onset of the rash. Quarantine for people who have been in contact with children, and at the same time did not get sick themselves, is introduced for 21 days. Immunocompromised children who have not previously had chickenpox and have been in contact with sick people are prescribed anti-varicella immunoglobulin as a prophylaxis.
Estet-portal editors remind that chickenpox – This is an infectious disease that requires mandatory isolation of the patient and examination by a doctor. Therefore, if a child or himself has signs of this disease, you should immediately seek help at the clinic, but only by phone. Remember that self-medication can lead to serious complications.
Add a comment