How to know that chickenpox has begun. Chickenpox - photos, symptoms and treatment in children at home

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 immune system: The sooner 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.

Pimples or papules after about 1-2 days 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. At the same time, 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:

• At mild form 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. AT childhood given form viral infection- rarity;
• 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, very heat, extremely hard to stray, 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 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, use laboratory methods diagnosing a disease, namely blood tests for specific antibodies of the IgG and IgM classes. This method diagnosis is highly accurate, but in the initial stage of chickenpox, the results may be erroneous.

Millions of children get chickenpox each year, although it can also be contracted as an adult.

This common infection is caused by the pathogen Varicella Zoster, a member of the herpesvirus family. The disease is recognized by its characteristic rash.

How does chicken pox begin, what types and forms is it represented?

The causative agent of this contagious infection is characterized by volatility and a high spread rate. The virus is easily spread by air currents, which is why this disease is called chickenpox.

Chickenpox is transmitted to others who are within the range of the virus (up to 50 m). If there is a carrier of infection in the children's team, then not sick kids are guaranteed to be infected with chickenpox.

About how chickenpox is infected, we talked about in the publication.

It is important to notice the first manifestations of the disease in time and thanks to timely treatment prevent possible complications.

How does chickenpox start?

On the first day of appearance, literally in a few hours, spots are converted into papules (pimples), and then into vesicles containing a clear liquid.

These neoplasms itch unbearably, the child begins to comb them, which can lead to the addition of a secondary bacterial infection.

The initial period of the disease is most difficult to endure, patients experience severe discomfort from constant itching, they feel unwell due to high temperature.

In these few days, a sick child especially needs the attention and care of mom and dad.

The routes of infection for chickenpox in adults are the same as in children. The disease begins with the penetration of the herpes virus type 3 into the body, which is transmitted from the carrier of the infection by airborne droplets.

But adult patients tolerate chickenpox much harder than children. What other features distinguish the course of the disease:

• intoxication of the body is more pronounced;
• temperature indicators are higher than in children, the number 40 on the thermometer is not the limit;
• after the onset of the disease, rashes do not appear immediately, but after 2 to 3 days;
• suppuration of papules and vesicles (vesicles) occurs more often, and scars form in those places where deep inflammation was present;
• often the disease proceeds in an atypical form;
• in almost a third of sick adults after chickenpox, various complications are observed.

The development of chickenpox goes through certain stages, each of which has its own characteristics:

1. Incubation (latent, latent) period- the interval from the moment of infection, that is, the entry of the virus into the body and until the manifestation of the disease in the form characteristic symptoms. We have an article about the incubation period of chickenpox.
2. prodromal period- a short period of time (no more than 2 days), when non-specific symptoms begin to appear. The immune system reacts to the invading virus. As a result of this, malaise, fever, headache are possible, in children - tearfulness, loss of appetite, fatigue. The prodromal period is the end of the incubation period, but in some patients it may be absent.
3. rash period ( acute stage) - proceeds with an increase in temperature. The rash forms over several days, passing through all stages of development: spots, papules (pimples), vesicles (vesicles), crusts. Rashes appear in waves, on the skin at the same time there may be newly appeared formations, blisters with liquid contents and drying crusts.
4. Recovery period (reconvalescence)- the rash no longer appears, general state improves, the patient ceases to be contagious to others.

About how long chickenpox lasts and its contagious period, read the following.

Chickenpox is also classified according to the features of its course, which can be smooth and uneven:

Chickenpox - a disease that occurs in different ways, depending on age, the state of the immune system and individual characteristics organism.

But timely diagnosis and quality treatment are important for any form of the disease.

If you know how chickenpox begins in a child or an adult, you can notice the onset of the disease in time and take the necessary measures.

Features of the course of chickenpox in children

Chicken pox (chickenpox) refers to contagious diseases of an infectious nature, which are characterized by an acute course. This disease is considered to be a childhood disease, since the vast majority of cases of infection are registered in children of preschool and primary school age. However, if a person did not have chickenpox as a child, they may get sick later in life. And if in children, as a rule, the disease proceeds in a mild form, then adults very often endure the disease extremely hard, often with complications.

The disease is highly contagious and is transmitted by airborne droplets through the mucous membranes. In this case, it is not necessary to contact a sick person.

The incubation period is 10 to 21 days. But the child is a danger to other children from the moment of infection. That is why an epidemic of chickenpox begins easily and quickly in kindergartens and schools.

After the first signs of the disease appear, the child is its carrier for a week, therefore, quarantine is indicated for this period. After the quarantine, the child does not pose a threat to the health of others, so he can again attend kindergarten or school.

However, parents should understand that there is nothing wrong with their child getting chickenpox. In childhood, it is much easier to tolerate than in adolescence and older.

Stages of disease development

Chickenpox goes through several stages of development:

1. Incubation. During this period, the patient does not yet know that he is already a carrier of the virus. The virus multiplies rapidly on the mucous membranes of the eyes and mouth. The duration of the period is 10-21 days.
2. Premonitory. The virus enters the bloodstream, resulting in intoxication of the body. At this stage, it is difficult to accurately diagnose chickenpox, and not another infection. The duration of the stage is from 1 to 2 days.
3. Rash stage. The first external signs chickenpox - rash. It affects the skin and mucous membranes. This is due to the spread and reproduction of the virus on the cells of the outer integument. Average duration- 3-10 days.
4. Recovery. This period starts from the moment the last skin rash appears. Bubble rash turns into crusts. Duration - 5 days.

The duration of the disease in each patient is different, but in most cases it does not exceed 7-10 days, provided that the course is mild and without complications. If there are complications, then the duration of the disease, of course, is longer. This pattern is often observed in adult patients.

How does windmill start

The disease can begin in different ways.

As a rule, the first signs of the disease include the following:

1. Signs of intoxication. The initial stage of chickenpox is characterized by fever, fever, loss of appetite.
2. Pain syndrome. The patient may complain of headache, muscle or joint pain. Such signs are more typical when an adult is infected.
3. Dec. This is what is called a prodromal rash. This is not yet the rash that is characteristic of chickenpox. Resh looks like small dots, similar to those that accompany scarlet fever, or maculopapular eruptions, as in measles.

This disease can be called the most common among all infectious diseases that only occur in children. A person can get chickenpox only once and in the future he develops strong immunity for the rest of his life. It is clear that in children this disease is much easier than in adults. But anyway, if chickenpox appeared in children, every parent should know the symptoms of this infectious disease. There is no need to worry about the disease; almost all children go through this ailment.

Many are interested in how chickenpox begins in children and where a child can catch this infection. It is worth noting that almost all children aged two to seven years get sick with it, especially if they go to kindergarten, because the infectious agent is very volatile and can penetrate into neighboring rooms and apartments.

Causes of the disease

Chickenpox is an acute infectious disease, it is transmitted by airborne droplets through the mucous membranes of the eyes and upper respiratory tract. Therefore, this disease got its name because of the method of transmission - “chickenpox”, since the virus is carried through the air (as if by wind). As soon as one child catches the virus in a children's institution, the first symptoms of chickenpox appear in the children of all the others. Children up to six months do not get sick with this disease, since the mother, even during the intrauterine development of the baby, transferred her immunity to him. Children older than seven to ten years of age get chickenpox, but much less frequently than younger children.

Therefore, it is very important to know what chickenpox looks like in children. Adults can also catch the infection, their disease is very severe.

Only sick people are the source of infection, because this virus is not adapted to the external environment and dies almost immediately as soon as it leaves the human body. The source of infection will be only the person whose disease occurs in active form, it begins two days before the first signs of chickenpox appear in a child. This explains the general infection, if your child had contact with a sick person, then we can say with one hundred percent certainty that he will also become infected. But on the street, especially in the summer, the virus cannot exist.

Signs of the disease

Of course, every parent wants to know how chickenpox manifests itself in children in order to immediately recognize this insidious disease and start treatment on time. In our country, children with chickenpox are in quarantine, but in many European countries such sick children are not isolated from their peers, as doctors believe that it is better to have this disease in childhood than to suffer in adulthood.

This is what a chickenpox skin rash looks like

Incubation period

The incubation period for chickenpox in children is one to three weeks. At this time, the disease does not manifest itself in any way, and the parents do not even suspect that their child is ill, but the child becomes contagious to others from the time the virus enters it until the last skin rash occurs.

It is worth noting that the average duration of the incubation period of chickenpox in children is two weeks, and the shortest period is a week.

Further development of the disease

After the end of the incubation period, the first signs of chickenpox in a child may be:

• a sharp rise in temperature to 39 degrees and a little higher. And if in the future there were no skin rashes, then chickenpox can be confused with SARS. But it is worth noting that such a sharp increase in temperature does not always happen, in many cases the temperature does not exceed 37-37.5 degrees. Maybe even chickenpox without fever in children;
• the child begins to have a headache, a general feeling of weakness appears;
• the baby becomes irritable and is not interested in anything, he also sleeps and eats poorly;
• almost immediately after the temperature rises, a rash appears on the child's body. So it is considered the most important symptom of chickenpox in children. The first rashes appear on the face of the baby, because the virus enters through the respiratory tract, while small capillaries are affected. The rash is pinkish in color but does not appear on the palms and soles of the feet. These pink-reddish spots spread throughout the baby's body very quickly - in almost a couple of hours.

Literally a few hours after the first rash appears, the spots turn into small bubbles filled with liquid. Together with the appearance of bubbles, their unbearable itching begins, the child begins to comb the rash. Parents should be very careful not to let the baby scratch the rash, because the infection can easily be brought into the wounds.

In three days, the bubbles dry up and become covered with a dry crust of dark red color. But at this time, more and more rashes appear on the body, and the disease itself is characterized by a wave-like course. New bubbles appear over four to eight days, while the temperature can rise all the time. After this, the disease subsides, and the signs of chickenpox in children become less distinct. The crusts formed at the sites of the bubbles should fall off in two weeks. After them, small traces of a pale pinkish tint remain, with time they will pass. If the child constantly combed the bubbles or tore off the crusts, there may be small scars on the skin.

Chickenpox usually lasts for ten days after the first symptoms of chickenpox in children.

The symptoms of chickenpox in infants are the same as in older children.

Signs of chickenpox in infants

As already mentioned, up to six months the baby retains in the body the antibodies transmitted by the mother during pregnancy, so the overall immunity during this period of growth of the baby is strong. But in the future, while the baby develops his immunity, he can easily become infected with chickenpox. Babies who are breastfed by their mothers are much more likely to resist infection. Chickenpox in children up to a year is characterized by almost the same signs as in older children, namely:

1. a rash appears on the body and face of the baby in the form of mosquito bites. It quickly spreads to the whole body;
2. on the second day, the rash turns into bubbles with liquid inside;
3. along with the rash, the baby has a fever;
4. lymph nodes are enlarged.

After five days, the disease is no longer contagious, the rashes stop, the pimples slowly disappear. It is worth noting that in children the disease can pass in different ways: easily, without any complications and with single skin rashes or the disease torments the baby with intense heat and itching. The baby will not be able to tell you anything yet, so he does not sleep well, constantly cries, refuses to eat.

In very severe cases, a rash appears not only on the skin, but also on the mucous membranes, and this brings unbearable suffering to both the infant and his mother. Therefore, it is very important to know how chickenpox manifests itself in children. infancy to help your child.

It is worth noting that after this disease there may be complications such as shingles, rhinitis, conjunctivitis and other infectious diseases.

windmill shapes

Doctors distinguish three forms of chickenpox, depending on how it proceeds:

1. mild form. Rashes are not widespread, some children are lucky and they get off with only single pimples. In this case, chickenpox occurs in children without a temperature that does not rise at all, and the duration of the appearance of acne is two or three days;
2. the form moderate . Here the temperature rises to 38-39 degrees, the child has a headache, sleep is disturbed, and the rash is very itchy. The rash will be profuse and the pimples will appear within five to seven days;
3. severe form. New rashes raise the temperature even higher, it can be up to forty degrees. Severe headaches, nausea with vomiting, fever and delirium are present. New blisters appear within seven to ten days. The rash is severe, it appears in the mouth and on the genitals of the child.

Treatment of chickenpox in children

It is understandable that all parents want to know how to treat chickenpox in children. But this viral disease is not treated with antibiotics, they are prescribed only if a bacterial infection is added to a viral infection and suppuration of the vesicles occurs. This is due to the fact that the child constantly scratches the rash and combs it. That is why, if chickenpox is diagnosed in children, treatment requires careful monitoring of the baby by parents.

Medications

The initial symptomatology is an increase in temperature, and if it is large, be sure to bring it down. Ibuprofen or Paracetamol will help alleviate the condition of the baby. Never give children aspirin!

The most common drug that fights the varicella-zoster virus is Acyclovir. It is most often prescribed to adults and adolescents who have chickenpox. Acyclovir for chickenpox in children of preschool and primary school age is prescribed only if the disease is very severe, then the drug will help the child's body cope with the disease.

It is also prescribed for congenital chickenpox, including newborn children, because this infection in children up to a year old is very difficult if there is no immunity. With chickenpox in children, acyclovir is very effective; when ingested, the drug penetrates the cells affected by the virus, integrates into the DNA of the virus and prevents its reproduction. It is prescribed for oral administration, one or two tablets up to three times a day, the doctor selects the dosage. If the treatment is carried out in a hospital, and this is possible with a very severe form, then the medicine is administered in intravenous droppers.

How to deal with itching

One of the signs of chickenpox in children is severe itching at the site of the rash. This is the most difficult for the baby, because it is very difficult for him to refrain from combing the rash. The released sweat makes itching even stronger, so you need to maintain the optimum temperature in the room where the patient is located and change his underwear more often. It is best to wear clothes made of natural cotton fabrics for the child so that the body “breathes” and the child will sweat less.

Do you want something interesting?

It is impossible to bathe a baby in the bath during such an ailment, but you can take a quick shower. No one forbids personal hygiene, a warm shower will even help relieve itching a little. But there are some rules here:

• shower temperature is prohibited;
• water should be warm, not hot;
• it is forbidden to rub the baby with a washcloth and use soap;
• you can not wipe the child with a hard towel - you can accidentally tear off the crusts. It is best to blot it with a soft sheet or towel;
• if the doctor did not allow water procedures, then it is necessary, because he treats chickenpox in children and he knows better what can and cannot be done.

Very often, drugs such as Suprastin, Diazolin, Fenkarol and others are prescribed to relieve itching. But they cannot be treated on their own, the drugs are taken as prescribed by the doctor.

How and what to treat rashes

You already know that the most common symptom of chickenpox in children is a rash. Previously, it was treated with brilliant green, it helped to dry the rashes, and it was clear where new pimples appeared. Of course, there is nothing wrong with green, except for its terrible color, which makes the baby look like a frog. But if the child is small and has nothing against brilliant green, treat the rash with this drug. You need to smear pimples once cotton swab. After that, put on your child such pajamas or a T-shirt that you don’t mind getting dirty with green paint.

We process pimples with greenery

If you do not want to use this remedy, you can safely use other antiseptic preparations. There are various lotions against chickenpox. If you are interested in knowing how to treat chickenpox with such drugs in children, and which one is best to buy, then you can purchase Calamine lotion at the pharmacy, which will dry out pimples, relieve itching and have a cooling effect.

Treatment of chickenpox in infants

You already know that in children under one year old, chickenpox occurs unexpectedly and develops very quickly. First of all, you need to call a doctor who will prescribe a drug for allergies, he will reduce itching and alleviate the condition of the crumbs. If the baby has a high temperature, it is reduced by conventional drugs in the form of antipyretic suppositories and syrups. It can be Nurofen or Panadol. Rashes are smeared with brilliant green, fucorcin or other drugs that the local pediatrician will advise.

As for bathing: you can’t bathe a baby at a temperature, but if it’s normal, you can bathe a baby, just don’t rub pimples and don’t use soap.

General rules for the treatment of chickenpox

Treatment of chickenpox is carried out at home, with the exception of a very severe form of the disease, and then the baby is placed in a hospital. You already know how chickenpox looks like in children and it does not require special therapy. But to strengthen weakened children's immunity, you must follow these simple rules:

• take short walks with your child. You can walk after the stabilization of the baby's condition, and you see that things are on the mend. Dress him so that he does not sweat, in winter it is enough to walk for about twenty minutes, in summer it is advisable to walk more, but do not drive the child in direct sunlight. Do not let him come into contact with other children so that he does not infect them;
• fluid intake. During chickenpox, let your child drink plenty of water. Non-acidic natural juices diluted with water are best suited. herbal decoctions and teas;
• proper nutrition. Symptoms of chickenpox in children are such that they may refuse food, especially when the temperature is high. Do not force him to eat during illness, offer the baby light snack and give him what he loves the most. But this does not mean that the baby needs to be literally “filled up” with sweets and cakes. Eliminate for a while salty, seasoned and spicy foods, as well as sour and smoked foods.

It is advisable to give the child milk porridge and broth. Useful and lean fish. Fruits include avocados and bananas.

Are chickenpox vaccines necessary?

The chickenpox vaccine for children appeared several years ago and is offered to be given to children from a year old who have not previously had this disease. The vaccine consists of live attenuated pathogens. The first time a child is vaccinated at 12-14 months, and after three or five years, it is possible to repeat the vaccination against chickenpox for children. AT adolescence and adults in the absence of natural immunity need to be vaccinated twice, the interval between vaccinations is at least one month.

Some mothers are very worried about this and believe that such a vaccination will only harm their baby. But this is not true, most children tolerate vaccinations very well and no adverse reactions they don't notice. But if the child is often sick, you need to consult a pediatrician about vaccination, as weak children are more likely to be negatively affected. side effects after vaccination.

So you learned how chickenpox begins in children, how it proceeds and how to treat it. As you can see, no complicated treatment is required here, the most important thing is not to let the baby comb the rashes and give the sick child as much attention and care as possible.

This material is for informational purposes only, before using the information provided, it is necessary to consult with a specialist.

Chickenpox is a disease that most of us have had time to recover from in childhood. However, having passed into the status of parents, yesterday's boys and girls are frightened when they see signs of an infectious disease in their own child. What are the symptoms of chickenpox, and why does the disease occur? We will tell you how to determine that the baby has chickenpox and what help he needs after identifying this disease.

What does chickenpox look like: the first signs

Chickenpox, or, simply, chickenpox, is a childhood infectious disease. The causative agent is a variety of the Varicella Zoster herpes virus, which is transmitted from an infectious child to other members of the children's team.

The child, having become infected with chickenpox, at first will feel satisfactory. Only at the end of the latent period will appear initial signs chickenpox in a child.

The appearance of the rash with chickenpox

How to understand that the baby has chickenpox? Its distinguishing feature is a pink rash, which is a convex nodule no more than 4-5 mm in diameter.

Each nodule (papule) on the patient's body goes through several stages of transformation:

1. After the appearance, it begins to fill with fluid and increase in size, turning into a vesicle.
2. Then its contents become cloudy, and it bursts.
3. From this moment, the healing of the wound begins - it is covered with a crust, which later disappears.

At the same time, the baby may have a fever, aches in the joints, general weakness. There may be mild signs of respiratory illness.

Disease dynamics

The child fell ill with chickenpox - what is the dynamics of the onset of symptoms of this disease? The temperature occurs only at the beginning of the disease, then it gradually normalizes.

Pimples appear and disappear in waves. Papules very quickly begin to capture an increasing surface of the body, but it happens that they are localized only on the back, abdomen and on the folds of the limbs. While the acute stage of the disease lasts, a rash of varying degrees of maturation can be seen on the child's body at the same time.

The photo shows how papules, vesicles and drying crusts look.

In parallel with the rash, which often captures the face and even the head under the hair, enanthema may occur on the oral mucosa. These are the same pimples as on the body, but after they burst, a small sore with a yellow border remains in their place. After appropriate treatment, the wounds in the mouth heal.

You can see what the pimples look like by looking at the photo.

Chickenpox is more common in young children. At one year old baby and children under 12 years of age, the disease usually proceeds without complications, is easily tolerated, forming lifelong immunity. Teenager got chickenpox? The course of the disease will be more severe than in younger children. Worst of all, if chickenpox overtakes an adult, because in this case the disease is most difficult to tolerate.

Incubation period

Chickenpox proceeds according to a typical scenario. After infection comes incubation period, which lasts an average of 2 days:

1. at this time, the virus does not appear, but it has already invaded the mucous membranes respiratory tract, then got into the blood;
2. together with the blood and lymph, Varicella Zoster spreads throughout the body, fixes itself in the cells of the skin and mucous membranes, starting its work there.

Where do spots and nodules appear more often, where does the spread of infection begin? First of all, they occur on closed parts of the body - back, pope, abdomen. Less often - on the arms and legs.

Forms of chickenpox

Despite the fact that chickenpox is a well-known disease, it can occur in different ways. There are two types of chickenpox - typical and atypical. The symptoms of typical chickenpox are described above.

Atypical chickenpox is rare and affects immunocompromised people. There are such forms of atypical chickenpox:

• Rudimentary - a hidden disease. Its symptoms are so insignificant that a person does not notice the disease.
• Pustular - this type of disease is usually noted in adults. Rashes (pustules) are in no hurry to dry out and turn into crusts. Over time, the contents of the blisters become cloudy and become purulent.
• Bullous - a rash on the skin becomes gigantic and difficult to treat. Symptoms of severe intoxication are also possible, after which the patient slowly and heavily recovers.
• Hemorrhagic and gangrenous - occurs in people with impaired blood clotting, which fills the pustules. Over time, ulcers and foci of necrosis form. Begins gangrenous form, which can lead to death.
• Visceral - bubbles with liquid contents appear not only on the body, but also on internal organs. It occurs in infants whose body is weakened. This form is deadly.

Chickenpox can be mild, moderate, or severe. A mild form of the disease manifests itself as follows:

• the rash does not cover the entire body, but only certain areas;
• the temperature remains normal or slightly elevated (37.1 -37.3 ° C);
• the general condition is satisfactory.

The moderate and severe forms are characterized by significant rashes all over the body, fever up to 40 ° C, as well as general malaise. The severe form can last longer than a week and cause complications.

How to diagnose the disease and understand that it is chicken pox?

Very rarely, chickenpox can be confused with another disease. Determine the presence of the Varicella Zoster virus on early stage can be based on the results of studies (virusoscopic, molecular biological). However, more often chickenpox is diagnosed by the appearance of pustules and vesicles - you can see how they look in the photo above:

• As a rule, a rash can be distinguished on the patient's body in different stages- the initial is characterized by pink raised pimples, then they turn into pustules and vesicles filled with fluid, and crusts.
• You can also recognize the disease by a bright symptom - an enanthema appears in the mouth. In fact, this is the same rash as on the body, but forming on the mucosa.
• Around the bubble, a manifestation of a red rim is noticeable, and after the blister bursts, an ulcer forms in its place, which heals safely over time.

Why is windmill dangerous?

Windmill does not apply dangerous diseases, since most patients tolerate it relatively easily. However, one in twenty patients may develop complications. Consider the most common:

• Bacterial skin lesions, when vesicles burst, and purulent formations (abscesses) appear in their place.
• Inflammation of the lungs, provoked by the chickenpox virus, which has penetrated into the alveoli of the respiratory organs.
• Inflammation of the brain - encephalitis. Occurs when a virus destroys nerve cells brain. As a rule, signs of complications appear closer to the end of the disease - 5 to 21 days after the first symptoms. Dizziness, nausea, lethargy, loss of consciousness are possible.
• A complication of the heart is myocarditis. Symptoms of dysfunction of the heart muscle - high fever, heart palpitations, the appearance of chest pain.
• Lymphadenitis. The disease can cause inflammation of the lymph nodes, usually under the armpits, in the groin, on the neck.
• Nephritis is a disease of parts of the kidneys called glomeruli that can develop by the end of the second week of chickenpox.
• Complication of pregnancy. On the early dates infection can cause a miscarriage, or lead to a lag in the development of the fetus. On the later dates carrying a child, the disease of the mother can create conditions for the formation of chickenpox syndrome in the crumbs.

First aid and effective treatments

Consider how chickenpox should be treated. Since the disease is caused by a virus, effective ways there is no effect on it. The main task is to prevent complications and enable the body to overcome the infection on its own. It is equally important not to let the baby comb the wounds, so that scars or pockmarks do not form in their place over time.

Medical preparations

Treatment of rashes is considered a key treatment for chickenpox. Pimples can not be treated with an antiseptic, but then during combing, the baby can introduce an infection (bacterial) into the wound:

1. Nodules and pustules are lubricated with brilliant green, a solution of potassium permanganate, Fukortsin. The procedure is carried out 3-4 times a day.
2. To relieve itching and to avoid scratching, a small patient is given antihistamines. Pediatricians usually prescribe Fenistil or Zodak in drops. Older children can be given Suprastin 1/2 tablet at bedtime.
3. Antiviral drugs, such as Acyclovir, are also used to treat chickenpox. It can be taken in tablets, and lubricated with ointment for rashes. However, Acyclovir is more often used in severe cases of the disease and only in the initial stage. Before use, you need to read the description of the drug with explanations of the dosage.
4. The baby has signs of intoxication of the body - fever, headache and body aches? It makes sense to give him painkillers. As a rule, babies are prescribed Nurofen, Panadol, Efferalgan.

Hygiene

How to properly care for a child during an exacerbation of the disease and is it possible to bathe him? This question is still a matter of controversy among medical professionals. Foreign pediatricians recommend bathing the baby, regardless of the stage of the disease, trying not to damage the pustules.

Domestic experts are usually against water procedures. You can bathe a son or daughter only after the acne has begun to dry out. They argue such a ban by the fact that during bathing, the bubbles can be damaged and become infected. However, on hot days, a periodic shower is necessary - a sweaty child will imperceptibly comb itchy and irritated skin.

It is important to choose underwear and clothes made from natural fabrics, as well as to monitor their cleanliness. This is necessary in order not to provoke itching on the affected areas of the body. You also need to control the cleanliness of the baby's hands, cut their nails on time. It can scratch vesicles, promoting the spread of the virus to healthy skin and infection of burst sores with pathogenic bacteria.

Drinking regime

During any illness, the child needs a sufficient amount of fluid. If at first the baby has a high temperature and intoxication - even more so. What should be the daily dosage of liquid? The calculation of the daily volume is made according to the age of the child. For example, a 3-year-old baby needs 105 ml of water per 1 kg of weight per day. For an older child (7 years old) - 95 ml per kilogram of weight.

In this case, you should give the child not only water, but also other drinks - tea, compote, fruit drink. A baby can receive part of the liquid volume as part of liquid dishes - soups.

Folk remedies

Exist folk remedies to fight chicken pox. It is believed that blueberries inhibit the virus, so it is recommended to use them fresh and as juice, compote, fruit drink. Among the many folk recipes the following can be distinguished:

Chamomile decoction is good helper in the fight against chickenpox

• baths. Prepare decoctions medicinal herbs- chamomile, lemon balm, sage and add to bathing water. Soda baths are also shown, which have an antiseptic and antipruritic effect.
• Rubbing. Boil 1 glass of barley in one liter of water, strain. Use decoction to wipe stains. This method helps relieve itching.
• Herbal infusions for oral administration. Take 2 tbsp. l. dry mixture of chamomile, coltsfoot, calendula, chicory, immortelle and burdock, pour into a thermos and pour 0.5 liters of boiling water. Infuse for eight hours, drink half a glass three times a day.

Therapy for young children

Children under one year of age rarely get chickenpox, but if a child is infected from 6 months old, a severe course is possible. As a rule, there is a high temperature (about 40 ° C), tearfulness and a rash, which quickly turns into a purulent form. At this age, it is important to call a doctor who can recommend hospitalization.

Treatment of a child up to a year is not much different from general recommendations. You should supplement the baby with some water, especially if there is a temperature. This can be done with a syringe without a needle.

Also, the pediatrician without fail prescribes antiallergic drugs (Fenistil) to reduce itching. In some cases, antiviral drugs are prescribed in the form of suppositories - Viferon, Interferon. However, their effectiveness is considered unproven.

In any case, the treatment of chickenpox is symptomatic. Methods of therapy in children under one year old and possible complications are presented in the form of a table.

Quarantine

The disease is transmitted by airborne droplets, and more often children bring it from kindergarten. In a confined space, the virus spreads rapidly, and as soon as someone from the team gets sick, new victims of the virus are immediately discovered. According to the rules, quarantine is declared in the group, the duration of which is three weeks from the date of registration of the disease. During this time, do any of the kids get chickenpox? Then the quarantine is extended.

Children who were not in the group at the time the virus was detected are not recommended to be taken to the garden during quarantine. However, some parents, on the contrary, bring the baby to the group (on receipt), because they want him to get chickenpox while he is small. Such a policy is designed to protect a person from the disease in the future.