Chickenpox
Chickenpox (chickenpox) is an acute infectious disease that has an extremely high rate of contagiousness. The most characteristic feature of the course of this disease is the presence of a pronounced bubble rash.
As a rule, children who attend kindergarten or school are susceptible to this disease, that is, those places where there is a significant accumulation of their peers.
Causes of chickenpox
Chickenpox is caused by one of the herpes viruses, so it is extremely contagious. Transmission of the disease is carried out by airborne droplets, while staying in the same room or during a conversation with an infected person. The chickenpox virus can spread over considerable distances. Patients with shingles also pose a threat to the spread of chickenpox, since both of these diseases are caused by the same type of herpes. The virus has low resistance to environmental factors, so disinfection after the presence of the patient is not required.
The incubation period of chickenpox can last from one to three weeks. The virus enters the human body through the mucous membranes, and then spreads through the body with blood and lymph, penetrating the skin, where its active reproduction takes place.
Symptoms of chickenpox
Chickenpox is a fairly common disease in children. After the disease, the child’s body develops immunity for the rest of his life. This disease is carried by children much easier than by adults. With timely treatment, the disease does not leave any serious consequences, although a lot of negative feelings manifest themselves in the course of the disease.
The disease is characterized by a sharp increase in temperature and the sudden appearance of a rash. Excluding the rash that has appeared, for all other symptoms, chickenpox is similar to a common cold. At the beginning of the disease, the patient complains of headache, weakness, malaise, nausea, as these are signs of intoxication of the body.
The rash, at the initial stage of the disease, looks like small pink spots, but over time they increase significantly in size, acquire some bulge and fill with a clear liquid. You can not comb the rash places, even though they are very itchy. This can lead to the development of characteristic smallpox defects on the skin. The rash can manifest itself not only on exposed areas of the skin, but also on the genitals, in the mouth and in the eyes. The rashes are wavy in nature, some bubbles pass, others only appear, this happens for three to four days. After a while, recovery occurs, the bubbles turn into crusts, falling off by themselves and leaving no traces on the skin.
Diagnosis of chickenpox
Chickenpox in children is easily diagnosed even with a visual examination, so additional laboratory and instrumental studies are not required.
Treatment of chickenpox
The patient needs bed rest and the appointment of a certain diet, with a predominance of vegetables, fruits and dairy products. It is very important to change your underwear often, because infection can get into the wounds from the bubbles. During chickenpox, no water procedures can be performed.
Crusts and bubbles should be regularly lubricated with a special preparation for external use prescribed by a pediatrician. Now pharmacies offer a large number of lotions that not only act as antiseptics, but also dry bubbles and crusts well.
To relieve the temperature in the first days of the disease, antipyretic drugs are prescribed, as well as copious warm drinking.
