Chickenpox in a child - the first symptoms and treatment. The first symptoms and treatment of chickenpox in children Vaccination against chickenpox for children

When a baby appears in the family, all parents experience happiness. Not unreasonably, since a “new love” has appeared in life. But when a baby gets sick, we can experience different emotions and they are usually not positive. However, if your child has caught the chickenpox virus, then you should rather rejoice than grieve. How to recognize chickenpox, the first signs, how chickenpox begins in children, how to identify chickenpox in a child, the signs of which are not entirely characteristic of this disease, and much more, you will learn from this useful article.

After infection, the disease proceeds in the child's body secretly and does not manifest itself in any way. The time interval of the latent form of chickenpox in children is on average 7-21 days. This directly depends on the immune system: the faster the immune system detects the virus in the body, the faster the reaction will be.

So, your baby is sick. The very first signs of infection in a one-year-old baby or at 2 years old, as well as in children of 4 years old, 5 years old or 10 years old, are about the same. The only difference is that a baby at 3 or 4 years old will certainly tell you about his poor health.

Photo of how chickenpox begins in children. As a rule, the disease begins with fever, chills, headache, swollen lymph nodes (often behind the ears), and general weakness. If you look, the main symptom of infection is fever. The appearance of temperature in chickenpox indicates intoxication of the body with a virus and this is a natural reaction of the immune system to the pathogen. The remaining manifestations - chills, fever, weakness, etc. - are a consequence of an increase in temperature. It can be argued that the symptoms of chickenpox in children are quite blurred, and it is actually not possible to diagnose this disease, only by the symptomatic manifestations of the infection. And only some time after the first symptoms appear (2-5 days), a characteristic rash appears on the patient's body, which is the main symptom of the disease.

Where does chickenpox start in children

From what places the rash begins to spread is difficult to say. Most often, the spread of the rash begins with the head and face, but there are times when the rash initially affects the hands or stomach ... the virus does not matter. How does the rash begin to appear? First, reddish spots appear, with a diameter of not more than 1 centimeter, in a small amount, which after a few hours change and turn into bubbles with a clear liquid, affecting most of the patient's skin. Chickenpox rashes are accompanied by severe itching, which causes serious discomfort to the child. Signs of the initial stage of chickenpox in children with a photo.

There are cases when the temperature appears as a result of rashes on the body, although this is not typical. However, with abundant rashes on the skin of a child, often there is an increase in temperature.

After about 1-2 days, pimples or papules begin to dry out and crust on their own, new ones appear after a day or two. Within 7-14 days, the crusts peel off and fall off, leaving pinkish spots, which disappear after a while, leaving no traces.

It is worth adding that rashes with chickenpox in a child can appear not only on the body, but also on the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and throat. In this case, the child experiences pain in the area affected by the rash and discomfort. As a result, it is possible to refuse food.

The contagiousness of the patient does not appear immediately. It is generally accepted that a child becomes contagious a day or two before the first signs of a rash appear and continues to be contagious until the last papules appear on the body. 5-7 days after the last elements of the rash appear, the baby is no longer considered contagious.

Signs of chickenpox in children, as well as symptoms, can have varying degrees of severity. In some children, the rashes may be minor and practically do not itch, and the temperature does not rise above 37.5 degrees. In other cases, rashes are ubiquitous and abundant, there are many foci of rash, the temperature can reach 39-40 degrees. Rashes strongly itch, the dream, appetite disappears. What is it connected with? The fact is that chickenpox can take 3 forms of flow:

• With a mild form of the disease, the temperature does not exceed 38 degrees, rashes appear in a relatively small amount, itching is present, but does not create much discomfort. The rash lasts no more than 5 days;
• The moderate form of chickenpox is characterized by fever over 38 degrees, chills, weakness, muscle and joint pain, rashes are plentiful, accompanied by severe itching. In childhood, this form of viral infection is rare;
• The severe form of chickenpox is characterized by a high temperature (39-40 degrees), profuse rashes throughout the body and on the mucous membrane. Nausea, vomiting, muscle spasms and spontaneous twitching of the limbs, severe malaise, delirium, incoordination, etc. Unfortunately, a severe form of chickenpox is most often observed in children under one year old. This is due to the weak immune system of babies, since at this age the child's body may no longer have mother's immunity obtained with milk, and its own has not yet been developed;

Chickenpox at the age of 3 years or 10 years is often mild and does not cause difficulties in treatment.

Rudimentary or atypical chickenpox

Medical practice shows that chickenpox can be asymptomatic, that is, there is no actual manifestation of infection. With this course of the disease, there is a very weak manifestation of symptoms and signs of infection, or their complete absence. As a rule, this phenomenon prevails in children under the age of 1 year, due to the receipt of mother's antibodies (if the mother had previously had chickenpox) along with milk. Also, a similar course of infection is observed in newborn children after an injection of immunoglobulin.

In addition to such a favorable form, atypical chickenpox is characterized by more severe manifestations:

• Gangrenous form. With this feature of the course of the disease, the transformation of the rash is characteristic (the rash slightly increases in size, the liquid in the vesicles becomes cloudy). This is due to infectious inflammation in the skin epithelium when pathogenic bacteria enter the wound. Most often, the cause of the gangrenous form of chickenpox is scratching or squeezing the rash;
• Hemorrhagic form of atypical chickenpox. It is characterized by a massive defeat by the virus of the body. The fluid in the vesicles is turbid with an admixture of blood, a very high temperature, it is extremely hard to get off, skin hemorrhages, nosebleeds, urine with blood, etc. The development of the hemorrhagic form is very intensive, which often leads to death. The risk group includes children under one year old or children with congenital immunodeficiency;
• The generalized form of atypical chickenpox is a complete defeat of the organs by the virus, which leads to a stop of important vital functions;

Note that these forms of atypical chickenpox in children are very rare, in case of timely diagnosis and treatment.

With the name of this famous pediatrician in our country, perhaps every parent is familiar. Evgeny Olegovich Komarovsky in relation to the symptomatic picture of chickenpox notes the similarity of its manifestation with acute respiratory diseases. An important criterion in the fight against chickenpox, Dr. Komarovsky considers the timely diagnosis of the disease.

According to Dr. Komarovsky, it would be reasonable to intentionally infect your child with chickenpox before the age of 12, since children tolerate this disease much more easily than adults. However, today, there is an alternative to this "barbaric" method - vaccination against chicken pox. From the point of view of Evgeny Olegovich, this method of providing immunity against the chickenpox virus is more effective and safer than direct contact of a child with a healthy virus.

Diagnostics

To date, it is not difficult to identify this disease, given the specificity of the signs of its manifestation. Therefore, any doctor will do it without problems. However, as we said above, there are atypical cases of chickenpox. In such situations, laboratory methods are used to diagnose the disease, namely blood tests for specific antibodies of the IgG and IgM classes. This diagnostic method is highly accurate, but at the initial stage of chicken pox, the results may be erroneous.

How chickenpox begins in children - the first signs and symptoms in the initial stage (photo)

Chickenpox or chicken pox is an acute infectious disease caused by viruses of the herpes family. A distinctive feature of chickenpox is a rash on the skin in the form of small bubbles. Chickenpox affects almost all children aged 2 to 7 years, especially if they attend a kindergarten, since the pathogen virus is very volatile and can penetrate not only adjacent rooms, but also apartments.

In addition, a large percentage of the incidence of chickenpox in children is due to the fact that the latent period of the disease is 14-21 days, due to which the virus has time to spread and cover all children in the group or garden. The chickenpox virus stops its action before the end of the last rashes, that is, the virus stops being transmitted when the last blisters have begun to heal.

How can you get infected?

The virus is transmitted from person to person by airborne droplets. Chickenpox penetrates through the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, respiratory tract, eyes deep into the body.

The chickenpox virus is very persistent and spreads rapidly. He has the ability to penetrate even into other rooms and neighboring apartments. That is why children in groups are so easily infected with chickenpox. Only one kid in the team who becomes infected with chickenpox immediately becomes dangerous for the children of the entire institution.

chickenpox incubation period

Chicken pox during the incubation period, that is, the first 7 to 21 days, does not manifest itself in any way. Children remain active, cheerful, cheerful, no different from their healthy peers. However, as soon as the incubation period expires, the first symptoms begin to appear abruptly in the child. And then, chickenpox, its symptoms, do not leave parents in doubt that the child has chickenpox, and not some other disease.

First signs

How does chickenpox start in children? First of all, the child appears:

• high temperature (up to 39.5 ° C),
• feverish reaction;
• headache of moderate intensity;
• pain in the abdominal region (not always);
• general malaise;
• signs of intoxication (possible nausea and vomiting);

The first signs of chickenpox in children are usually indistinguishable from the "usual" SARS. The main symptom of chickenpox is a characteristic rash (first, small pink spots, and then blisters with a clear liquid).

Symptoms and signs of chickenpox in children

Basically, chickenpox is characterized by a typical, uniform course in all children, with rare exceptions, so the following main symptoms of this disease in the initial stage can be distinguished (see photo):

1. Sudden onset of the disease with the development of intoxication and a sharp increase in temperature.
2. Almost simultaneous appearance on the skin, sometimes on the mucous membranes, typical vesicular elements.
3. Wave-like course of the disease process with periodic sprinkling of papulovesicles.
4. Increase in body temperature with each new wave of rash.
5. The formation of crusts on the surface of the bubbles, which subsequently do not leave any scars after recovery.

All stages of chickenpox in children follow each other sequentially and are characterized by certain typical symptoms.

1. The initial stage of chickenpox and the child is the incubation period, which covers the time from the penetration of varicella-zoster into the baby's body until the first clinical symptoms appear directly. Its duration is considered to be from a minimum of 5 to a maximum of 21 days, however, on average, it can last about 2 weeks. At this time, varicella-zoster actively multiplies, and also accumulates in the mucous membranes of the oropharynx, nasal cavity, and then is able to overcome all protective barriers and penetrate into the blood. At this moment, the very first sign of chickenpox in children develops: the appearance of a rash on the body, accompanied by high fever.
2. The stage accompanied by the symptoms described above is called the initial one, but sometimes it is preceded by the so-called prodromal period, during which a rise in temperature, headaches, weakness, and lethargy are recorded. The temperature in chickenpox in children sometimes reaches 40 ° C and above.
3. As a result of the penetration of the chickenpox virus into the skin, local swelling is formed and a period of rashes occurs, which can last as little as 2 days, or 7 days or even more. It is characterized by the initial formation of a red spot, which quickly takes the form of a papule, then transforms into a vesicle, which subsequently becomes covered with a crust. Most often, the torso of the patient is first affected by the elements of the rash, then the arms, legs, and only after they can be found on the face and scalp. Also, this process is characterized by a very disturbing itching, which causes serious discomfort. Along with the formation of a rash, an increase in lymph nodes is observed, as well as the manifestation of symptoms of intoxication of the body.
4. The last stage of chickenpox in children is characterized by normalization of body temperature, falling off of crusts, and improvement in the patient's well-being. In place of the former pathological element, covered with a crust, the pigmentation of a brownish color remains at first, however, over time it disappears. The skin after chickenpox in children, in the absence of constant scratching of itchy elements, with careful processing and prevention of infection, remains healthy and clean. The average duration from the moment the first signs appear to the complete cleansing of the skin from crusts is about 3 weeks.

Chickenpox in infants under 6 months of age is extremely rare, as the infant is protected by antibodies obtained from the mother. In the case of registering a disease of a child under one year old, it proceeds quite easily. The temperature with chickenpox in children of this age is usually low, the period of rashes is short, and the intoxication syndrome is practically not expressed. However, this applies to children born to mothers who had chickenpox as children. Otherwise, chickenpox in children up to a year proceeds long enough and hard.

What does chickenpox look like in children: photo

We give you a photo of chickenpox in children, both in infants and in older children. A rash with chickenpox in the initial stage can appear on any part of the body, even on the mucous membranes. The intensity of the rash, as you can see in the photo, can also be different.

Click to view photo

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Severity

Depending on the characteristics of the course in children, chickenpox is divided into three forms:

Light degree	characterized by single rashes, lack of fever and poor health. Herpetic pimples appear only 2 - 3 days.
Medium	all the symptoms with which chickenpox traditionally occurs in children are inherent. This is a bad dream, skin itching, headaches, a rise in temperature to high values. Blisters form over 5-7 days.
Severe form	due to high temperature (up to 40 ° C), the child develops nausea and vomiting, headache, delirium, fever. Papules appear on the body from 7 to 10 days. Multiple rash covers a variety of parts of the body. It can be found in the mouth and on the genitals.

Chickenpox in babies

It must be remembered that any child over the age of six months can get chickenpox. In most cases, the course of the disease in infants is quite complicated: such young children do not tolerate symptoms well, cannot complain and cannot take advice. As a result, they need more careful care and constant attention from the mother.

Chickenpox in newborns is characterized by the same symptoms, but in young children, chickenpox, which occurs in a particularly complex form, can cause serious harm to the body, affecting the development of internal organs. Treatment of chickenpox in infants should be under the strict supervision of a qualified pediatrician.

You need to try to ensure that the child does not peel off the crusts from the drying up rashes, because. this will only increase the itching and increase the risk of re-infection. The child's hands need to be washed more often, as the pathogen may be present on the skin and under the nails. Nails should be cut short. At night, it is recommended to wear cotton gloves for the baby.

How to treat chickenpox in a child?

Since chickenpox is caused by a virus, it is useless to treat the disease with antibiotics. The doctor may prescribe antibacterial drugs in the case when the course of chickenpox is complicated by the addition of a secondary bacterial infection.

There is no specific treatment for this infection, but the necessary measures to alleviate the patient's condition must be taken. If a child has chickenpox, the task of parents will be to minimize unpleasant symptoms and alleviate the condition of the baby. To do this, at home, it is necessary to fulfill the basic conditions necessary for a speedy recovery:

1. Compliance with strict bed rest;
2. Frequent change of underwear and bed linen;
3. Enhanced drinking regimen to reduce intoxication;
4. Light dairy-vegetarian diet.

At the first unfavorable symptoms, a doctor should be called to the house, who will give the necessary advice on care and prescribe medications to alleviate the child's condition. The most important point of treatment during the active phase is the elimination of severe itching. When a rash appears, the skin itches and itches, and parents need to make sure that the baby does not comb itchy areas. This will help to avoid the addition of a secondary bacterial infection.

1. Bubbles on the body should be treated several times a day with antiseptic solutions (green or colorless Castellani liquid). This will help prevent further spread of the infection throughout the body and reduce the number of rashes. This treatment contributes to the drying of the bubbles and the formation of a crust, accelerating recovery.
2. To eliminate itching, the doctor may prescribe antihistamines (Suprastin, Diazolin, Diphenhydramine). These drugs effectively eliminate itching and have a mild sedative and sedative effect, which will help to cope with sleep disorders. The required dose and regimen will be selected by the attending physician.
3. If the child has a high temperature, the doctor will prescribe antipyretics (Paracetamol, Nurofen, Efferalgan). It is undesirable to give aspirin to children under 10 years of age.

Plentiful drinking (tea with lemon, compotes, juices, green and herbal tea) will help a speedy recovery, the liquid will remove toxins from the body. During illness, the child loses his appetite, but it is necessary to maintain his strength. A dairy-vegetable diet will help in this, which will provide the body with the necessary vitamins and nutrients.

Severe forms of chickenpox affecting internal organs are treated in a hospital. The complex therapy necessarily includes antiherpetic drugs (Zovirx, Acyclovir), immunoglobulin and interferon are used to treat the condition.

How to smear chickenpox besides brilliant green?

It is possible to smear sores with chickenpox not only with the usual brilliant green. Doctors advise using antiseptics for this - for example, zinc ointment. The main thing is to do it very carefully. Such an ointment promotes wound healing, it relieves itching, disinfects the skin and slightly dries the sores.

You can also use:

• fukortsin,
• fenistil,
• infagel,
• furatsilin
• manganese solution.

Folk remedies

There are various ways to get rid of itching with chickenpox and in folk medicine:

1. At high temperatures, it is advisable to drink cranberry juice, viburnum drink, rosehip infusion, sea buckthorn tea. Well saturates the body with nutrients strawberry juice, which has a pronounced antimicrobial effect.
2. Bath with chamomile. 5 st. tablespoons of inflorescences (dry or fresh) pour a liter of hot water, bring to a boil and simmer over low heat for a quarter of an hour, strain. Add decoction to a filled bath. Procedure time 10 minutes, perform twice a day.
3. Tea tree oil. The only essential oil approved for direct application to the skin, without a conductive oil. If you treat all the elements of the rash with tea tree oil with a cotton swab, this will greatly alleviate itching and scabies. This procedure promotes disinfection and speedy healing of wounds.
4. Equally mix chamomile flowers, coltsfoot herb, chicory herb, calendula flowers, burdock root and immortelle flowers. Brew the prepared collection with a dose of 40 g with half a liter of boiling water. Let it brew in a thermos for 8 hours. Take 4 times a day for a third of a glass.
5. Grind the calendula herb. Warm up 60 g of calendula, previously brewed in a liter of water. Pour the strained broth into a bath and bathe the patient for a quarter of an hour in the morning and evening. Do not rub the skin.

How many days does chickenpox quarantine last?

Doctors gave a conclusion on the timing of the contagiousness of the disease: from 4 to 13 days. Therefore, epidemiologists, if it is necessary to announce quarantine measures, close the educational institution for 14 days. During this period, it is impossible to let the child go to kindergarten or school.

For others during this period, the first 5-10 days are dangerous. You can focus on the manifestation of a rash - while it is present on the body, the virus is in an active form. During this period, it is very important to limit the contacts of the patient with healthy people.

Is it possible to swim with chickenpox?

Contrary to common misconceptions, swimming with a chicken rash is possible and necessary. The main thing is to make a warm bath, the water should not be hot or cold. The kid should also walk in the fresh air, but at the same time avoid contact with other children. Under such conditions, treatment will be more effective, and the patient will be able to avoid complications and other severe consequences of chickenpox.

How many days the temperature in children with chickenpox?

Very often, the temperature in this disease rises even in the prodromal period - when preliminary symptoms occur. An increase in temperature may not be very critical - up to about 38 degrees, sometimes with this there is a feeling of nausea and even vomiting begins.

The temperature may rise and fall slightly throughout the course of the disease - with each new rash on the baby's skin. During such periods, it is necessary that the baby drink enough fluids, rest and get enough sleep. Bringing down the temperature with antipyretic drugs is not recommended if it has not reached high values.

It is strictly forbidden to give aspirin to a child. However, timely prevention will help to avoid complications, and even infection with chickenpox itself. The main thing is to do everything in a timely manner and completely isolate the baby from contact with patients.

See photo

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The most common question that concerned parents ask their favorite doctor concerns the effects of brilliant green in children with chickenpox. The answer of Yevgeny Komarovsky is unambiguous - there is no therapeutic effect from such an action, brilliant green serves only as an indicator of the period of contagiousness. Daily lubricating the bubbles with a colored solution, one day mommy notices that there are no new rashes. From this moment begins the countdown of the last five days when the baby can be a danger to others.

The doctor draws the attention of parents to the fact that a viral infection, which is chickenpox in children, is not subject to the effects of antibiotics and does not require special preparations during the normal course of the disease. Only in adolescence, when the disease is too severe, doctors prescribe antiherpetic drugs.

The main advice given by Dr. Komarovsky for mothers of sick children:

• avoid overheating, which increases itching;
• cut your nails short, wear mittens if necessary, in every possible way distract the baby from combing the bubbles;
• do not give aspirin, so as not to cause complications from the liver;
• scratching the blisters leads to bacterial infection and the likelihood of traces for life;
• chickenpox depresses the immune system quite strongly, therefore, after the illness, you should refrain from visiting kindergarten and devote more time to walking.

Regarding vaccinations, Komarovsky believes, sane parents should not have any discussions. However, he recalls that chickenpox vaccination is a voluntary matter, so mothers and fathers will have to take responsibility for its implementation.

Possible Complications

Fortunately, most children recover safely from chickenpox. However, in some categories of patients, the disease may have adverse outcomes, such as:

1. Hepatitis;
2. Pathology of the structures of the eyeball (keratitis);
3. Encephalitis. This pathology is manifested by a severe lesion of the central nervous system, manifested by seizures. This is due to the high tropism of the virus to the nervous tissue. In most cases, this complication is found in patients on the 7-12th day of the disease. Relatively rarely there is a persistent disturbance of higher nervous activity in the form of idiocy;
4. Pustular skin lesions: phlegmon, abscesses or boils. They are the result of penetration into the liquid inside the vesicle of pathological microorganisms, which, upon contact with neutrophils, can form pus;
5. Pneumonia. Most often diagnosed in adults. A feature of varicella pneumonia is the extreme scarcity of clinical symptoms. The diagnosis can only be made radiographically, while the picture shows small inflammatory foci almost throughout the lung tissue;
6. Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle. It is manifested by deafness of heart tones, pain in the region of the heart, as well as changes in the cardiogram;
7. Nephritis is an inflammatory disease of the kidneys, which most often occurs on the 10-12th day of illness. In most cases, this pathology resolves on its own and does not require any specific therapy.

Nevertheless, not a complication, but the reason for the appearance of another disease, chickenpox can still serve. As you already know, chickenpox is a type of herpes virus, so the virus remaining in the body is inactive and proceeds in a latent state. However, as a result of repeated exposure to the varicella-zoster virus and with a number of concomitant factors, it can lead to the occurrence of such a disease as shingles.

Chickenpox prevention

The only effective way to prevent chickenpox is vaccination. It is advisable to carry it out for women who have not had chickenpox and are planning a pregnancy, for infants who have older brothers and sisters, for children and adults with a defect in the immune system, for the elderly.

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Is it worth getting vaccinated?

Doctors began to vaccinate children against chickenpox relatively recently. The composition of the vaccine is represented by live, but weakened pathogens. The first vaccination is usually done at 12-14 months. Re-vaccination against chickenpox is administered after 3 to 5 years. Adolescents and adults who do not have natural immunity are vaccinated twice with an interval between injections of 1 month or more.

Small children tolerate chickenpox vaccine well, and pediatricians do not record adverse reactions. However, if the child is in the group of frequently ill children, it is necessary to consult with the district pediatrician about the advisability of vaccination. A weakened body can react to vaccination with unpredictable phenomena.

Young parents whose children have not reached school age know firsthand how often the baby gets sick, and not only ARI. Another misfortune that is better to get sick in childhood is chickenpox. This is an infection that is transmitted by airborne droplets, namely through the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth. In order to recognize the disease in time and isolate the child, young parents need to know how the baby starts chickenpox - what are the symptoms and treatment.

Usually children pick up chickenpox in kindergarten - at one time the whole group can get sick at once. It has been proven that small children aged 1 to 12 years are more likely to tolerate a disease that lasts from 5 to 10 days. Chickenpox in infants, adults, pregnant women and adolescents can cause complications. Babies who are ill usually do not get sick again during their lifetime, but the virus can subsequently reactivate and, under certain conditions, cause shingles. We suggest watching a video on how to recognize chickenpox in children and prevent complications.

http://youtu.be/VMRfgEfNE-Q

Symptoms of the disease

Chickenpox in children is global in nature - the virus enters the bloodstream through the mucous membranes and spreads throughout the body. A characteristic manifestation of the infection is a rash all over the body, including the genitals, lips, scalp, armpits and other limbs (see photo). Chickenpox causes severe itching, which causes the child to itch, thereby increasing the number of blisters. Scratching can easily spread infection.

After infection, at least 7 days pass before the first symptoms appear.

If you look closely, the rash on the body of the child is a bubble with liquid, around which red inflamed skin is visible (see photo). Bubbles burst easily with physical impact and spread the infection even more. The next day, bursting bubbles dry up, but cause pain and itching. For comparison: this is how herpes on the lips hurts in adults.

The main symptoms of the disease in children:

• rise in temperature to 38-39.5 degrees;
• rash on the body, except for the palms and feet, in the form of small bubbles with reddening of the tissues around;
• fatigue, drowsiness;
• whims;
• poor appetite.

Chickenpox is an extremely contagious disease, so sick children are immediately isolated. Quarantine lasts at least 10 days for a mild form of the disease. At this time, maximum attention should be paid to the child, protected from drafts, and full hygiene should be observed.

Treatment of chickenpox in children

When chickenpox begins in a child, he is isolated from other children. At high temperatures, they give an antipyretic, provide bed rest. If the child is from 1 year old, make sure that the baby does not itch. You can give an antihistamine to reduce itching (Diazolin, Suprastin).

Treatment of chickenpox in children does not involve taking any medications. Antibiotics are prescribed by a doctor in case of complications that are caused by other viruses and bacteria entering through wounds on the body. This causes extensive suppuration of the skin and mucous membranes. Treatment with antibiotics is prescribed only by a doctor.

Blisters all over the body are burned with brilliant green or potassium permanganate to dry and disinfect them (see photo). During the illness of the child do not bathe. In case of severe pollution, children are briefly bathed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. For bathing, a separate bath is prepared, which is then disinfected. It is undesirable to wet the rashes, then they do not heal well.

Houses are daily wet cleaned with disinfectant detergents. Bed linen is changed daily, baby's underwear is changed more frequently. The room is ventilated several times a day.

If the child is worried about itching, you need to distract him with games, try to explain that you can’t itch. As a rule, chickenpox goes away on its own in 5-7 days and never bothers the child again. Blisters, if not combed, do not leave scars and age spots.

Treatment of chickenpox in children from 1 to 12 years old - the main actions:

• complete isolation from other children;
• home mode;
• frequent change of bed and underwear;
• cauterization with brilliant green (potassium permanganate) inflated and burst bubbles;
• strict diet;
• bathing, if necessary, in a pink solution of potassium permanganate;
• plentiful drink;
• taking antipyretics if necessary.

Lubricating the bubbles with brilliant green dries the wounds and prevents the infection from penetrating through the skin. In addition, brilliant green visually shows how many new rashes appeared per day, how quickly the healing process proceeds. Cauterization with brilliant green helps to relieve itching a little. Instead of brilliant green, you can use a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Alcohol and alcohol-containing drugs are contraindicated.

Features of the disease in babies under 1 year old

Chickenpox is not terrible for babies up to 3 months, whose body still contains mother's antibodies, which reliably protect it from the aggression of the outside world. After 3 months, immunity gradually decreases, and the baby can easily catch the disease. For children from 6 months to 1 year old, whose immunity is not formed, chickenpox is dangerous.

The symptoms of the disease are the same as in babies from 1 year old (see photo). For children from 3 to 6 months, the disease begins with rashes all over the body. In a mild form, these can be single pimples that quickly pass without an increase in body temperature.

In babies 3-6 months old, an undulating course is observed - the period of rashes is replaced by a short-term lull.

With new rashes, the body temperature rises.

The baby is very worried about the itching body, he becomes whiny, eats poorly, sleeps. At this time, you should breastfeed him as often as possible - this will help you quickly cope with the disease. After consulting a doctor, you can give an antihistamine syrup, which is used in children under 1 year old (Fenistil).

Treatment is the same as for babies from 1 year old. The wounds are treated with brilliant green or Fenistil gel. The gel is used on separate areas of the skin, it is impossible to smear the whole body at once. They bathe as rarely as possible, in a basin with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. For little fidgets, it is better to wear a shirt with sewn up sleeves.

Treatment of chickenpox is carried out at home in compliance with strict rules of personal hygiene for both the child and adults. Walking with the baby, bathing him in the acute course of the disease is impossible. With proper observance of the requirements of the attending physician, the disease recedes 8-9 days after the first signs are detected and never returns.

Chickenpox or chickenpox in children is a pathology that is provoked by the activation of the herpes simplex virus in the body. Most often, the virus affects children from 2 to 7 years. The most susceptible to the disease are those children who attend kindergartens or other developmental groups, are often in society and are in contact with other people.

Infants in the first six months of their lives occasionally become infected with chickenpox, because maternal immunity is still preserved in their body. Upon reaching the age of 7, chickenpox develops much less frequently, but proceeds in a more severe form.

The main way the virus enters the body is airborne.

Signs of chickenpox in a child

In order to accurately diagnose and not miss the first symptoms of the disease, you need to know what chickenpox looks like:

As a rule, all stages can be observed on the skin at the same time, because some bubbles are already bursting, while others are just being formed.

The main symptoms of the disease are rashes and itching all over the body. Sometimes they are accompanied by other manifestations:

• headaches;
• fever;
• temperature increase.

Only a doctor diagnoses the disease and develops treatment tactics. In children, chickenpox almost always occurs in a mild form, does not give complications.

temperature rise

Body temperature readings will correspond to the type of chickenpox. Simple forms do not provoke a sharp temperature drop, the maximum increase does not exceed 37.5 degrees.

Children most often develop moderate chickenpox, when the body temperature increases in direct proportion to the number of bubbles formed on the body, it reaches 38 degrees.

In severe form, the temperature rises to 39 - 40 degrees.

How many days the temperature lasts depends on the severity of the disease. Values ​​up to 38 usually do not subside within 2 to 4 days. If the temperature has risen to 39, then the fever can last a week. In this case, you need to urgently seek medical help and call an ambulance.

rashes

The herpes virus that causes chickenpox causes the formation of a red rash. At first, it resembles mosquito bites. Then the bumps become blisters with fluid along with a rise in body temperature. This process takes 4 - 5 days and the blisters burst, the wounds remaining after them become covered with crusts. If you comb the rash, then an infection will get into the wound and a scar will remain in its place. Injury to the blisters causes new multiple secondary eruptions.

Chickenpox duration

In children, chickenpox is classified into several types with characteristic features for each:

• The incubation of the disease lasts 1-3 weeks, when the virus multiplies and accumulates in the body without any external signs.
• Prodromal stage - sometimes in very young children it does not develop or proceeds with mild symptoms. This stage develops within a day or a little longer and resembles a simple cold with a rise in temperature, headaches, fatigue, lack of appetite, and sore throat. Sometimes there is a short-term formation of red spots on some places of the skin.
• Stage of rashes - usually it begins with an increase in temperature to 38 - 39 degrees. The higher the temperature on the first day, the more abundant the subsequent rashes will be and the more severe the course of the pathology. In a mild form, the temperature rises quite a bit, sometimes it does not rise at all.

Remedies for treating and relieving itching

The doctor establishes the specifics of therapy in accordance with the symptoms of diseases on an individual basis.

At high temperatures, the child is prescribed antipyretic drugs with paracetamol or ibuprofen. When a bacterial infection of the scratches occurs, the treatment is supplemented with antibiotics. As a rule, the treatment of chickenpox is an integrated approach, so the doctor prescribes several groups of drugs:

1. Antiherpetic and immunomodulatory drugs: Acyclovir, Viferon. In typical cases, the body of a child under 7 years of age is able to independently defeat the disease without the help of antiviral drugs.
2. Antihistamines - they make it possible to relieve unbearable itching and restore the child's normal sleep. The most popular means of this group are Tavegil, Diazolin, Suprastin - these are 1st generation drugs. 2nd generation drugs include: Claritin, Loratadin and Zyrtec.
3. Sedative medications - they are prescribed for severe moodiness of the child and mild excitability. When taking antihistamines, you need to make sure they can already have a sedative effect.

For local treatment of rashes, you can use brilliant green. Hydrogen peroxide, a solution of potassium permanganate with water, a solution of Fukortsin dries the blisters well.

Chickenpox is almost always accompanied by unbearable itching, so it is required to explain to the patient about the importance of refraining from scratching.

When the temperature rises, the child sweats profusely, and the itching from exposure to sweat intensifies even more. To facilitate it, you need to change linen as often as possible - bed and underwear, maintain a comfortable air temperature in the room. During illness, it is better to wear cotton clothes on children, allowing air to pass to the skin, reducing sweating.

Steaming in a hot bath with chicken pox is strictly prohibited, but you can and even need to take a shower with water at a pleasant temperature. This will reduce itching. It is forbidden to rub with a washcloth and dry with a hard towel so as not to injure the rash.

Possible complications of chickenpox

There are complications that progress after chickenpox, but this happens very rarely. They arise due to non-compliance with the rules of caring for a child during an illness, with constant discouragement of crusts and combing of the blisters.

But the development of complications does not always depend on the care and behavior of the parents, often due to the addition of a concomitant disease, chronic pathologies, weakened immunity, the following types of chickenpox in children may appear:

1. bullous chickenpox- it is characterized by the formation of specific rashes on the skin - blisters with thin skin and purulent fluid inside. At the same time, intoxication is pronounced, sometimes the form of the disease is complicated by sepsis, therefore, the doctor must treat and monitor the patient in stationary conditions. Basically, such chickenpox develops due to a weakened immune system in a child.
2. Hemorrhagic chickenpox- occurs with concomitant blood lesions, in HIV-infected children or with oncology. This form is very rare, it has a pronounced intoxication of the body, high temperature, a large number of rashes form all over the body. The course of the disease is complicated by the risk of internal bleeding, and the appearance of a mixture of blood in the vesicles on the body.
3. Gangrenous-necrotic chickenpox- combines the symptoms of the two forms described above. A lot of blisters with serous and bloody filling form on the child's body. This form often acquires a septic character.
4. Visceral chickenpox- it is characterized by additional damage to internal organs and systems - the liver, heart, pancreas, lungs and kidneys.

All the described forms of chicken pox in children are atypical and are rare in the practice of doctors. Basically, the complications of chickenpox are bacterial or viral in nature, which is superimposed on the pathology.

Sometimes complications develop after recovery - it can be pneumonia, encephalitis, the penetration of the virus into the lungs or into brain cells. Often there are inflammatory processes of the optic nerve, facial nerve. It happens that after the end of the disease for a long time the child complains of pain in the joints.

Bacterial complications are manifested in case of damage to the bubbles or tearing of the crusts. Children can often do this due to severe itching, parents should keep a close eye on the child during this time.

During the secondary formation, the bubbles leave behind scars.

What to do for parents: how to behave

With the development of a mild or moderate form of chicken pox and there is no need for inpatient treatment, you should try to create comfortable conditions for the child:

• First of all, provide bed rest for 9 days, change the bedding and clothes of the child as often as possible.
• You should give the patient a lot of fluids, exclude salty, sour and spicy foods from his diet.
• Rashes on the body can be treated with brilliant green, when a rash forms on the mucous membranes, rinsing with antimicrobial agents is required.
• To reduce body temperature give Ibuprofen or Paracetamol. Aspirin is not recommended for children.
• It is necessary to prevent scratching the wounds - cut the child's nails or wear cotton gloves.
• Abundant sweating causes severe itching - it means that you do not need to dress the child too warmly, it is acceptable to take a shower under warm comfortable water without wiping it with a hard towel.

Many parents ask about the possibility of walking. In good weather and at normal temperatures, you need to walk - but do it for a short time, eliminating contact with people in order to avoid their infection or the development of complications in the baby himself due to the addition of an additional infection against a background of weakened immunity.

Modern approach to the treatment of the disease

It should be noted that modern methods of treating chickenpox are highly effective and cause less harm to the patient's body. These include:

• Skin treatment is an integral part of the healing process. Mild antiseptics and antihistamines are required to reduce itching in rashes and prevent scarring. These include: Zinc ointment, Miramistin and other similar medicines.
• The most effective antiviral drug in the treatment of chickenpox is Acyclovir. It destroys the structure of herpes.
• Ibuprofen and Paracetamol will help to quickly normalize the temperature, but they are required to be given only when the indicators rise above 38.5.
• Compliance with hygiene rules.
• If the child refuses to eat, do not force. You should increase the amount of fluid you drink.
• The most suitable drinks for this are warm compote or warm weakly brewed tea.
• Vitamins are necessarily used in the treatment, fruits and vegetables are included in the menu. This will help strengthen the weakened immune system.

There is no way to speed up the course of the disease. At the first sign, you should immediately consult a doctor and continue to follow his appointments. This will prevent the development of negative consequences.

It is important to know that it is better to get chickenpox before the child has grown up, since antibodies remain in the body after recovery. Despite the nature of the pathology, its discomfort, it manifests itself in a person only 1 time in a lifetime.

Dr. Komarovsky talks about the important stages in the treatment of chickenpox in a child, about the principles of preventing complications and ways to alleviate the condition.

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High fever, a rash in the form of blisters with a clear liquid are signs by which it is easy to recognize chickenpox. The rashes last for 2-3 days, then the bubbles burst and crusts form. The rash should not be combed, otherwise you can get an infection.

Chickenpox is caused by a type of herpes virus (herpes zoster). Like other viruses, it is not affected by antibiotics, but after a few days the immune system copes with it on its own.

During illness, it is necessary to treat the rash with antiseptic solutions, if necessary, reduce the temperature. Unfortunately, there are no drugs that will speed up the recovery of the baby. However, the disease can be prevented by getting vaccinated.

Causes of chicken pox

Varicella (chickenpox) is caused by a virus that is related to the herpes virus, it is "responsible" for the appearance of the well-known "cold" on the lips. Infection occurs by airborne droplets, usually through the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract and eyes. The causative agent of chickenpox is very persistent, it survives well in the environment and spreads very quickly.

Symptoms and development of chickenpox

Chickenpox in children is one of the most common diseases. Having been ill with it once, the child acquires immunity to it.

Children carry the disease much easier than adults. With proper treatment, the disease goes away without consequences, although it delivers a lot of discomfort.

The incubation period (from infection to onset of symptoms) in chickenpox lasts from 1 to 3 weeks. Then the baby's temperature rises sharply (up to 39.5 ° C) and at the same time a rash appears.

With the exception of the rash, chickenpox is very similar in its course to the common cold. Just like with acute respiratory infections, the child develops weakness, headache, and sometimes nausea - as a result of general intoxication of the body.

The chickenpox rash first looks like separate pink spots. Then they become more and more, they become convex, form bubbles with a clear liquid. They cannot be squeezed out and combed, which is very difficult, because they itch a lot.

Bubbles can form not only on the skin, but also in the eyes, mouth, and genitals. Rashes appear in waves - some pass, new ones appear, and so on for 3-4 days. Then recovery begins: crusts remain in place of the vesicles, which fall off on their own, and with proper treatment do not leave marks.

The child ceases to be contagious 5 days after the last rash appears.

Diagnosis and treatment of chickenpox

Chickenpox in children is very "recognizable", usually the doctor makes a diagnosis based on symptoms, without additional examinations. For its treatment do not use special drugs.

A sick child needs a home regimen, a diet that includes vegetables, fruits, and dairy products. It is important to change your baby's underwear frequently so that the infection does not get into the wounds from the bubbles. During this period, it is necessary to exclude any contact of his skin with water.

Bubbles and crusts are smeared several times a day with a colorless liquid of Casteliani (Casteliani incolor) or ordinary brilliant green. In recent years, Calamine lotion has been used for this purpose in most countries. This drug is a good antiseptic and drying agent. In addition, it significantly reduces itching, which facilitates the course of the disease.

To reduce fever, you can give your child antipyretics based on paracetamol or ibuprofen (they are produced under various trade names).

In order to relieve itching, the doctor may prescribe Diazolin (an allergy drug), but you should not give it to your child on your own, because it will be important to calculate the dosage correctly.

Usually, antiviral drugs are not used for chickenpox, because the body itself will quickly destroy the virus, but if the doctor considers it necessary, he can prescribe Acyclovir in the form of an eye gel (for a rash on the mucous membrane of the eyes) or tablets, as well as candles "".

In exceptional cases, when an infection enters the body through scratching on the skin, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics to the child, but they do not work on the causative agent of chickenpox.

A rare severe complication of chickenpox is encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). Therefore, this disease should not be considered so harmless, especially since in some of those who have been ill, the virus remains in the nervous system and after many years it can manifest itself in the form of a painful rash - herpes zoster.

Chickenpox vaccinations

In recent years, more and more children have been vaccinated against chickenpox. They give a good effect and can stop the development of the disease, even if the vaccine is administered after contact with the patient.

It is only important to have time to get into the time period from 48 to 72 hours after such a meeting. Vaccinations can be given to children older than 1 year, immunity against the disease lasts up to 20 years. In Russia, there are two vaccines against chickenpox: Okavax and Varilrix.

If you are planning a pregnancy and have not had chickenpox, then even before the onset of pregnancy, you must be vaccinated, since intrauterine infection of a child with the chickenpox virus is much more difficult and can lead to damage to his brain.