Chickenpox In Children

2023 Author: Lucy Dunce | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-24 11:49

Chickenpox in children

Chickenpox, or more commonly, chickenpox - a viral disease transmitted by airborne droplets, spreads very quickly, literally, "downwind", settles on the mucous membranes of not only the nasopharynx, but also the eyes and genitals. There is an opinion that it is better to have chickenpox in childhood, since usually the disease is mild. This usually happens, the main contingent of the sick are children from 2 to 12 years old, especially those who attend preschool institutions and various circles and sections.

Symptoms of the disease

The insidiousness of chickenpox is that after infection, the disease does not manifest itself, its incubation period lasts 1-3 weeks, and at the first signs of the disease it is often confused with ARVI. Chickenpox is characterized by:

A sharp increase in body temperature, sometimes up to 39.5-40 degrees;

• Muscle aches, headache;
• Nausea and loss of appetite;
• Weakness, lethargy, and restless behavior;
• Rash over the entire surface of the body of characteristic spots.

At first, the spots have a pink color and a different shape, after a couple of hours (sometimes days) their surface swells, a transparent liquid appears inside.

Forms of the disease:

Light - at which the temperature, if it rises, is not significant, the rash is scarce;

• Moderately severe - characterized by an increase in temperature up to 38 degrees and the presence of a large number of rashes;
• Severe - rarely found in children, with this form of chickenpox, the temperature rises sharply to 40 degrees, the entire body of the sick person is covered with spots, which, merging, form a continuous blister, then become covered with a crust. Usually only the palms and feet are not prone to breakouts.
• Atypical - there are two types, in the first case all the symptoms are pronounced, in the second - the disease is asymptomatic, its presence can be determined by a special blood test.



Treatment of chickenpox in children

With an increase in temperature and the first signs of intoxication, it is necessary to give the baby antipyretic drugs based on paracetamol (only if the temperature has risen to 38.5 degrees and above). Bed rest and plenty of drink are required. As soon as the first rashes appear, you need to treat them several times a day with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or brilliant green, this is done in order to disinfect and dry chickenpox spots.



When bubbles appear, the child begins to experience discomfort associated with the appearance of severe itching. During this period, it is especially important not to wet the skin, change clothes and bed linen more often, and avoid scratching the pustules. Antihistamines and their dosage should be selected by a pediatrician. The bubbles burst themselves three days after their appearance, a red crust forms, which will disappear in two weeks. Five days after the appearance of the last rashes, the risk of infection from the sick person is reduced to zero.



In the case of scratching the spots of chickenpox, there is a high probability of infection, and against the general background of the weakening of the body, this happens quickly, the wound turns into an ulcer and traces of it remain forever. With proper care of the baby, chickenpox will not leave any marks on the body.

Complications after chickenpox

An extremely rare but very dangerous complication after chickenpox is encephalomyelitis, or inflammation of the brain. As a rule, it happens with an extremely severe form of chickenpox, which is very rare in itself. Usually, no complications after chickenpox are detected.



Currently, there are vaccinations against chickenpox, which give good results even if contact with a patient with chickenpox has already occurred. But only an experienced doctor can diagnose and have time to get vaccinated.

Author: Victoria N. (specially for Calorizator.ru)

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