Treatment of chickenpox in children. How many days does chickenpox last in children? Possible complications in severe cases

I am 26, my husband is 29. I have been married for 2 years, but before that we met for 6 years.
When they got married, he seemed to want a child, but I was against it. I wanted to finally live alone.
And now, 1.5 years later, he changed his mind. At first there were excuses, why would you spoil the figure, then come on, why do we need these fools children. But I persisted and returned to this conversation from time to time.
By the way, my sister has a lot of complications after cesarean, maybe that scared him so much. I foolishly shared the details.
The last time he said that he did not want to doom me to suffering and let's better adopt. And he has tears in his eyes. What should I do?

449

Yulchik

Good day to all!!! I will already have the 1005000th boring topic, but still ... Graduation of the 4th grade for children, a teacher + 3 parents will definitely go. The rest are optional. And then the topic came up in the chat that both the old and the small would go to the heap, i.e. from 1 year to 75+ graduation from the 4th grade of a child is a family holiday and 10-11 year old children will cry all evening that there was no 80-year-old grandmother and one-year-old brother ... I may not understand something ... But this is their holiday and their vacation .. Why drag all the relatives there??? Let everyone come to the official part at school and be touched there, and then the children somehow themselves ... No? Most of all, I was struck by the imposition of 3 summer child. "We're paying." It’s cool for 11-year-olds to have fun at the graduation party ... As a result, everyone swears, it was decided by the yazmayers that the year-olds will only make a difference and the children will have even more fun with the kids, how about the rest? Reconcile?
Maybe I don’t understand something and it’s really such a HOLIDAY that the whole family needs to be gathered ???

The question is actually what - am I right? If yes, how to proceed? If not - why, and how to proceed?
Thank you all for your replies and attention to the topic!

250

Tatyana Smirnova

Girls, I'm back again... hello everyone. Sorry if anyone is bored...
Beginning for those who haven't read
In general, my life is bad. It's morally. It's as if the joy of life is being "drunk" out of me. So I can't live long and I don't want to.
Generally, 2 options to be discussed:
1. Dad insists that grandma needs to buy a odnushka or a studio in our house (we live with dad in different entrances of the same house). A social worker will officially go to her once a day, well, we will constantly visit and help (apparently I and a sick dad who can’t do anything in the coming year). Another plus of troubles is that basically 1-room apartments and studios remained in the house without finishing (prepared for finishing). At the same time, approximately tell me, how much will the budgetary repair and arrangement for an elderly person cost?
2. Grandmother from option 1 immediately has pressure under 200, she categorically does not want to. And he is going home by the summer (he lives 100 km from us in a gasified private house alone). Allegedly, a social worker will officially visit her in the morning, and at lunch and in the evening for an additional fee. And she will live alone without us on her pension. We just come to visit and that's it.
To be honest, me any option would arrange. It’s hard for me to live with her (although we have only been discharged from the hospital for 2 weeks).
But I understand that none of the options is possible in a "pure" form. Now she gets up, sits down and walks on a walker. She eats herself (we put plates with food), she washes herself. He cannot sit on a regular toilet, we use a portable device (it is necessary to pour it out). Pampers are no longer required. He listens to the radio a little, does a little gymnastics. The rest of the time lies or sleeps. According to her, she is "gaining strength" to return home. She is not interested in anything (this is unusual for her). Sometimes it reminds me of a "eating plant".
Do any of you have such relatives living alone? Or is it fantasy and my "cross" live with it? Yes, it's bad, but I want to live with joy. You know, even in an empty apartment, I went better than now ... the feeling that I am a life support device, nothing more. If I don't say hello, she won't notice. And I’m looking at her, her leg was treated, but she doesn’t have the strength for a normal life ...
Or do I have a neurosis and everything is not so scary and it takes time? I went to a therapist, only they prescribed afobazole, apparently I don’t look neurotic, although I need to treat my nerves.
For some reason, both grandmother and dad are waiting for spring, what will spring give in our situation ?! In general, think out loud ... talk to me a little (don't feel sorry for me)

235

It will still be my way

In Primorye, parents dipped an aggressive boy (fifth grader) in public with his head into the toilet. The incident occurred after the schoolboy beat the girl, after which she was taken to the hospital. Complaints about the boy came from parents regularly, but the school did not respond.

In this situation, everything is clear. The school is defenseless, the children in the class of which such aggressive children study, parents who can easily sit down if interfered with. It is clear what to do. Transfer to another class. Silently, without much noise. It's sad that there are no other options but escape.

220

Evdokia

In Russia, the word "city" called any fortified place surrounded by a fortress wall. The construction of defensive structures was vital, as it guaranteed protection from numerous external enemies. And oh, how foreigners loved to “run into” Russian cities.

A short tour of the fortresses of Russia.

Themes ♛ marquises♔ not♕ angels♚ about the beautiful castles and palaces of Great Britain, the Czech Republic and Germany.

190

The children's body is not afraid of chicken pox. Yes, the child's temperature rises, and small bubbles burst and constantly itch, but nothing threatens his life. You need not to worry and wait until the immune system copes with the infection and develops antibodies that will not allow re-infection with chickenpox. How to help a small patient? Remove itching so that the child does not scratch the sores, and support the body with vitamins.

Where to begin

In children under 6–8 years of age, the disease resolves quickly and rarely causes complications. Chickenpox is dangerous for teenagers and parents. Adult family members who do not have specific immunity to infection, isolated from a small patient.

The child is placed in bed and made sure that he lies and rests. The first 2-3 days are the hardest, because the body is just starting to fight the infection. You can not overload the body with active games or a computer. Not all children complain of weakness and headaches, some look cheerful, but even energetic kids are shown bed rest.
When the first symptoms of chickenpox appear, like a rash and fever, a pediatrician is called to the house. The doctor examines the child, makes a diagnosis and recommends drugs that should soothe the itching. You can’t go to the hospital with a sick baby, because he is a source of infection that is transmitted by airborne droplets.

Chicken pox goes away in 5-9 days. Only small spots remain on the skin, which quickly disappear. 2 weeks after the first rash, the child is allowed to go to Kindergarten or school if there are no complications.

Special notes

There is no cure for chickenpox. Patients are prescribed immunomodulators and vitamins to strengthen the body, and it is also recommended to cauterize bursting and fresh blisters to soothe itching. How? The classic version is green. The product contains alcohol, which disinfects ulcers, preventing bacteria from penetrating into open wounds. But brilliant green has another purpose. Thanks to the solution, the mother monitors the course of the disease. She counts how many new bubbles appeared per day, and she can also find out when the body will defeat chickenpox. If the mother did not burn a single pimple in a day, it means that the baby will become healthy very soon.

Instead of brilliant green, a solution of "Fukortsin" is used. Pink antiseptic dries out rashes and reduces itching. After it, as well as after brilliant green, bright spots remain.

How to ease suffering

Does the child constantly touch and tear at dried sores? Need to soothe the itch. Though water procedures and are contraindicated, but if the rash is very itchy, the child is advised to bathe in an oatmeal bath:

Grind two cups of cereal or cereal in a coffee grinder.
Pour the resulting powder with 2 liters of boiling water. Insist 20 minutes.
Pour the swollen oatmeal into a cloth bag, tie it tightly.
Dip the workpiece in a bowl or bath with warm water.
Wait until the liquid turns white. Take out the bag.
Bathe the child for 5-10 minutes without soap and washcloths.

After the procedure, wrap the patient with a towel until completely dry, then treat the sores with an antiseptic.

Ginger powder is added to the bath for bathing. It has antibacterial properties and relieves irritation. You can prepare a decoction for bathing from fresh root ginger, which is simmered over low heat for 3-6 minutes and filtered, and then poured into a bowl.

Blisters and dried up ulcers are smeared with transparent antiseptics:

methylene blue;
Calamine;
Cycloferon;
Castelliani.

Preparations for external use contain components that relieve irritation and accelerate the healing of sores. Treat rashes with zinc ointment. It has antibacterial properties, softens the baby's skin and removes inflammation. Also recommended are the Fenistil gel and the Irikar homeopathic ointment, which is allowed even for infants older than 1 year.

Antihistamines are sometimes combined with immunomodulators, but such drugs are prescribed if the child may experience complications. In other cases, the body must cope with the infection on its own. Immunomodulators are selected by a pediatrician.

Young patients are advised to give ascorbic acid. Vitamin C strengthens the immune system and supports the body, weakened by chickenpox. Antibiotics are contraindicated. Antiviral agents such as Zovirax, Novirin and Graprinasin are prescribed for complications and severe forms of the disease.

Children who cannot sleep due to severe itching are given a weak infusion of motherwort or valerian, tea is prepared from chamomile or hops.

What to do with temperature

In a child who has contracted smallpox, the temperature rises to 38-39 degrees. The fever lasts 2-3 days and then subsides. This is fine. The temperature indicates that the immune system destroys the virus. It is recommended to bring down the heat if the thermometer shows more than 38.8–39.5.

Children under 14 years of age are contraindicated in aspirin and preparations containing this component. The remedy negatively affects the functioning of the liver and heart, increasing the risk of Reye's syndrome. The heat is brought down by "Ibuprofen" or "Nurofen".

Hygiene procedures

Doctors say that it is impossible to wet ulcers, but it is difficult for a child who sweats not to bathe for a whole week or 10 days. Dirt that accumulates on the surface of the skin increases itching and can get into the wound, causing suppuration.

In the early days, the little patient is rinsed in the shower. It is forbidden to take a bath, because the blisters can burst at any moment, and their contents will end up in the water. From there, the infection will get to the mucous membranes of the mouth and genitals, the child's well-being will worsen.

When all the bubbles turn into crusted wounds, you can prepare a bath with oatmeal or calendula decoction, add a little propolis tincture or 2 drops of oil tea tree which has antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Bathe the patient for 5 to 10 minutes. Do not use a washcloth, because its rough surface can damage the protective crust that covers the ulcers. Soap or shower gel should be unscented or have a subtle scent.

After bathing, the child is wrapped in a large towel, but not wiped, but gently pressed against the skin. After complete drying, put on loose cotton pajamas. Another natural material is also suitable, but it is advised to refrain from synthetics. Too-tight sweaters and pants, as well as tight underwear, are contraindicated, because such clothes rub the skin and cause irritation.

It is advised to choose pajamas with long sleeves and trousers so that they cover the arms and legs, and the child cannot reach the rashes and comb them.

Wash your face as usual, if there are not too many rashes on the face. In the early days, you can prepare a weak solution of potassium permanganate for bathing a child, which disinfects and dries. Water a small patient from a mug or ladle, do not rinse with plain water.

Tip: If one of the adults or older children did not have chickenpox, the baby is bathed in a separate basin. The infection remains on the walls of the bath even after cleaning and is transmitted to other family members.

Fresh air and clean sheets

In the room where the sick child lies, the windows are regularly opened. Fresh air destroys the infection that has accumulated in the room, and helps the immune system fight chickenpox. Pediatricians advise taking a sick baby for a walk, if it's not too cold, or at least breathing oxygen at an open window.

Sheets that come into contact with the skin of a young patient are changed after 2-3 days. Pajamas are washed daily. Towels, linen and clothes are boiled and ironed so that the hot iron destroys the infection.

It is advisable not to give the child Stuffed Toys and remove things from the room that accumulate a lot of dust. The patient must be protected from drafts and cold, because it is difficult for a weakened body to fight chickenpox and a cold at the same time.

Special menu

Heavy food is contraindicated for a small patient. It is difficult for an overloaded body to digest fried and fatty foods. The diet of a child with chickenpox includes:

soups on weak meat or fish broths;
dairy products;
fresh and baked fruits;
stewed and steamed vegetables;
cereals;
sea fish and dietary meat.

If a child has ulcers in his mouth, citrus fruits and hot spices are excluded from the diet, which irritate the mucous membranes and slow down the healing of wounds. Food is recommended to grind to a homogeneous consistency.

The patient must drink a lot. A dehydrated body does not fight infection as actively, so recovery is delayed. Warm liquid increases sweating, which normalizes the temperature, and the body is cleansed of toxins.

What to give the child? Fruit and berry fruit drinks, juices, compotes, kissels. They are full of vitamins needed to strengthen the immune system. Ordinary water, herbal teas are useful.

Tip: To speed up recovery, give the child a mixture of lemon juice and linden honey three times a day.

How to treat stomatitis

In some children, sores appear on the mucous membranes of the mouth, and not just on the back and arms. They hurt and interfere with swallowing. The antiseptic solution "Miramistin" or "Chlorhexidine", which is used to rinse the oral cavity, can remove discomfort. Then the wounds are treated with Acyclovir.

Eruptions on the genitals are washed antiseptic solutions and then applied to sores and blisters zinc ointment or soothing gel.

Scar prevention

Why do chickenpox scars remain? Itching causes the child to scratch the sore, which gets infections. Inflammation begins, appear purulent abscesses. So that after chickenpox there are no scars, a small patient is recommended to cut his nails, and put on cotton gloves before going to bed.

The spots left after the fallen crusts are lubricated with a solution of unrefined sunflower oil and liquid vitamin E, which promotes skin renewal and rapid healing. Special gels and others pharmaceutical products from scars are contraindicated, they can only worsen the situation.

After illness

Toothbrushes, washcloths and other hygiene items used by the child during chickenpox are thrown away after recovery. Bed linen and towels are boiled, soaked in disinfectant solutions along with clothes. This is necessary to completely destroy the infection and protect family members from infection.

Chickenpox is one of the most common diseases that affects more than a hundred thousand parents every year. The infection can cause complications like meningitis or Reye's syndrome. In order for the child to tolerate chickenpox normally and recover quickly, you need to take care of the little patient and follow all the recommendations of the pediatrician.

Video: treatment of chickenpox in children

Chickenpox in children is an infection that is very easy to identify by specific features: characteristic, accompanied by itching and high fever.

The main symptoms of chickenpox in children:

Rash;
Hanging temperature;
Chills;
poor appetite;
Enlarged lymph nodes.

First signs

How does chickenpox start in children? The first signs of chickenpox are reddening of the skin in a diameter of not more than a centimeter, a rash and a high body temperature in a child. At the site of redness, after a fairly short period of time, blisters with a transparent substance will appear, which subsequently transform and take on the appearance of dried crusts.

What does it look like

Probably everyone knows what chickenpox looks like in children. initial stage- a slight rash on the body and itching. Itching can be of any strength, and the rash occurs randomly. The rash after a couple of days turns into droplets, inside of which there is a transparent substance. After, the substance darkens, the bubble dries up, turns into a crust.

If antiseptic treatment regular and done according to the rules, then the rash will not leave scars.

But if chickenpox in children does not go through the treatment stage, scars remain after recovery and it is possible to re-infect and destroy the germ layer. How long chickenpox lasts in children is impossible to unambiguously answer.

Periods

Chickenpox in children has several periods:

incubation period;
prodromal period;
The period of rash and the appearance of a crust.

Incubation

It is considered that incubation period chickenpox in children lasts 14 days. During the incubation period, the virus pathogen will penetrate through the upper respiratory tract. Also, the incubation period is characterized by an increase in the number and accumulation in the epithelial cells of the mucous membranes. respiratory tract.

An infected child during the incubation period does not feel any suspicious signs and feels completely healthy.

Chickenpox during the incubation period is practically not contagious. The incubation period can be divided into three sub-periods:

initial stage- the time when the infection occurs. The initial stage is responsible for the adaptation of the virus in the child's body.
Development stage- a period of increase and accumulation of the pathogen. At this time, the primary focus of the disease is being built.
final stage the incubation period of chickenpox - the spread of infection throughout the body, the production of antibodies to the pathogen. The first symptoms of the disease appear.

Premonitory

The prodromal period appears 1 day before the onset of the rash. Sometimes there is no prodormal period. Prodromal signs in children may not be expressed or observed only in some people and last 1 day.

A sign of the prodormal period - scarlatina-like rash b lasting several hours and its further disappearance, an increase in body temperature to 37-38⁰С and intoxication. Often this period is considered a response to viremia.

Treatment

If a child has chickenpox, often the doctor does not prescribe any special treatment, only antipyretic drugs and treatment of acne with brilliant green. This set of drugs can be treated only if the chickenpox passes without exacerbations, there are few rashes, the child eats with appetite and feels great.

The chickenpox virus after an experienced illness is fixed in the body for life and in the future will be able to make itself felt with acute herpes.

The better the etiotropic treatment will be and the more the virus will die, the less chance of having health problems in the future. The infection must be treated immediately. If a child is sick with chickenpox, treatment is carried out with drugs in a hospital and at home.

drugs

When the child's body temperature rises, treatment should begin with antipyretic drugs. The bubbles that appear must be treated with antiseptics, and in order to remove severe scabies, antihistamines are used.

Chickenpox can be treated with medicines made from plant materials:

Gossypol;
Flacoside;
Alpizarin.

Note to parents:

The currently famous Calamine Lotion has an excellent effect on all signs of the disease at the same time. It has antipruritic, drying and soothing effect. Calamine Lotion creates a stimulating effect on skin regeneration and promotes the appearance of a protective barrier against manifestations that irritate the skin.

During a rash and conjunctivitis, acyclovir ointment is used. Chickenpox should be treated during repeated manifestations of the disease. In severe types of chickenpox, intravenous immunoglobulins are used.

If a baby falls ill in the first months of life or under the age of one year, treatment is carried out only under the supervision of a doctor, followed by hospitalization, since the time infectious processes such a child passes with generalization, frequent and acute consequences and high mortality.

At home

It is necessary to treat chickenpox in children at home by such methods as:

Watch for the formation of new acne;
Carry out actions to eliminate scabies;
Remove heat if body temperature is above 38°C.

At the first signs of the disease, the child should observe bed rest, a light dairy or plant-based diet, and drink plenty of water.

Treatment of the disease will pass without complications, if you strictly observe personal hygiene, take a bath. An important point will be the frequent change of bed linen and clothes. It is necessary that the baby's clothes be made of cotton and cover the arms and legs. This precaution can help your baby scratch the rash less.

If during the illness the child scratches acne strongly, introducing a new infection, then scars after recovery cannot be avoided.

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Is it possible to bathe

Often, most mothers are concerned about the question: is it possible to bathe a child during chicken pox? Of course, bathing is possible, and even necessary, in order to prevent the growth of a re-infection. But you need to bathe the baby without soap and without a washcloth, and it is advisable to add a few drops of diluted manganese to the bath. At high temperature body bathing a child is contraindicated.

If the body temperature is above 38⁰C, antipyretic drugs (ibuprofen and paracetamol) will help your child feel better.

Before bathing a child, it is necessary to fulfill certain conditions:

If you want to bathe your baby in a shower or bath, then you need to do this no more than 4-5 times a day.
When you are going to bathe a child in a bath, add a little unsaturated solution of potassium permanganate to the water. Bathing a child in potassium permanganate is necessary to quickly dry acne.
No need to diligently dry the baby with a towel. It is best to blot the skin with a fluffy towel, it should be fresh and clean every time after a bath or shower.
After bathing, it is required to lubricate with greenery or other preparations all the traces of the disease that have appeared.
Bathing a child is undesirable if he has a weak immune system and the body does not fight the virus well.

Complications

Seen infrequently. V complications are mainly associated with careless treatment of rashes and their suppuration, which in the future will lead to the appearance of scars.

In children with weak immunity there are severe types of chickenpox with damage to the brain and internal organs.

Chickenpox can lead to complications such as:

Aesthetic skin problems;
After the rash, blisters on the skin may appear, small ruts, as after acne, they can rarely be cured in the future;
Pneumonia;
Often pneumonia manifests itself in children whose immunity is very weak;
Damage to the brain (the so-called "varicella encephalitis");
Reye's syndrome ("acute hepatic encephalopathy").

Chickenpox encephalitis- not often, though possible manifestation against the background of chicken pox, in which some areas of the brain are temporarily “attacked”, which causes a disorder of behavior and facial expressions, tremors and impaired coordination. However, with proper therapy, it can be successfully treated.

Acute hepatic- quite rare, but very acute illness. Appears due to the use of drugs based on acetylsalicylic acid in the treatment of chickenpox. Mortality from Reye's syndrome on the background of chickenpox in children aged 3 to 12 years is 20-25%.

Prevention

First of all, prevention of the spread of the disease begins with the isolation of the infected child. Quarantine should exclude all possible contacts throughout the entire period of rashes.

Prevention healthy person consists in isolation for 12 days from the moment of contact with the infected. The quarantine lasts 21 days, and if there is no characteristic rash, then the prevention was successful, you can lead a normal life.

A kid with good immunity will definitely endure chickenpox easier and faster than a child with a weak immune system, but prevention of the disease is needed in any case.

To prevent the baby from getting chickenpox, vaccination is done. After all, only a vaccination can give a 100% guarantee of protection against the chickenpox virus.

Many mothers often ask questions such as:

How long should a child stay at home until the disease passes? The incubation period lasts from 10 to 23 days, optimal time stay at home 21 days.
How many days will it take before a child becomes contagious? The child will become infectious starting from 3 to 5 days before the first elements of the chickenpox rash appear.
How many times can you get chickenpox? Children get chickenpox once, but there are complications, after which the disease can recur.
How many days do you need to smear the rash with green paint? From the moment all the spots were covered with crusts and new ones stopped appearing.
How long does the temperature stay with chickenpox? The temperature lasts from 5 to 7 days.

Graft

It is believed that vaccination protects against contracting chickenpox. The vaccine is given to children aged 12 months and older, as well as adolescents and adults who have not previously had the virus.

Chickenpox or chicken pox is a very common disease in children. Almost every parent faces this viral infection. And when this happens, there are a lot of questions about what actions should be taken. How to properly treat chickenpox? How to treat chickenpox in children at home? How to treat chickenpox in children in the mouth? These and other questions can become an obstacle to timely treatment.

To prevent this from happening, we suggest that you read this article, where you will learn in detail how to treat chickenpox in a child at 2 years old, 3 years old, as well as at 5 years old, 6 years old or 10 years old.

How many days is chickenpox treated in children

Therapy can last up to 21 days from the onset of the first symptoms of the disease. On average, in children, treatment is 12-16 days. How long the disease is treated depends on the severity of its course. At an early age, chickenpox passes in a mild form. Extremely rarely, the disease can take a severe and very severe form. With a mild form, treatment can be 5-6 days, therapy is usually carried out at home. With a moderate form of chickenpox - 10-12 days. In severe chickenpox, treatment is done in a hospital ward with antiherpetic drugs and immunoglobulin injections. With purulent complications, a course of antibiotics is prescribed.

Often, the treatment of chickenpox is to reduce the exacerbation of the symptoms of the disease. It should be noted that the treatment of chickenpox in childhood does not depend on the age of the child. That is, there is a difference, but it is not of high quality. It consists in the choice of drugs for the treatment of the disease. For very young children, there are a lot of restrictions in medicines, so before you start treatment on your own, it is strongly recommended to call a doctor at home for an examination. As noted above, chickenpox is highly contagious, therefore healthy children should not be put at risk. After examination and consultation with a doctor, you will receive recommendations for the treatment of the infection, as well as find out what is the best way to treat chickenpox in your case. Below is a list possible drugs and treatments:

Compulsory bed rest (children are prescribed up to 5 days) to relieve additional stress on the body;
At elevated temperature it is necessary to increase the amount of fluid consumed, as the body is dehydrated;
Take more walks outside when the temperature drops a little. Walking on fresh air help strengthen the immune system, which means that the fight against the virus will be easier;
Diet food, including fresh vegetables and fruits and excluding heavy foods (fried, sour, baked, spicy, etc.)

If a child refuses to eat, do not force feed him.

Mandatory daily change of underwear and bed linen. It is desirable that the underwear be made of light and breathable materials;
Ventilation of the room where the patient is located (if the room is stuffy and hot, sweating increases, which leads to increased itching);
Paracetamol-based antipyretics are used to lower the temperature. As a rule, its use is calculated for an increase in temperature above 38 degrees. In addition to paracetamol, you can use drugs containing Ibuprofen (they are stronger in action);

Aspirin with chickenpox is strictly prohibited, as it causes heavy load on the liver and can provoke serious complications, which can lead to death. Also, Aspirin has age restrictions and is not recommended for use under 12 years of age.

Some sources claim that Ibuprofen should not be given with chickenpox after all, since its anti-inflammatory effect in chickenpox has the opposite effect and can complicate the course of the disease.

To reduce small temperature it is better to use child-friendly methods - 50 grams of strawberries after each meal. Strawberries can be replaced with cranberries. If fresh strawberries are not available, use jam. You can also dilute the jam in warm water, and you will get a delicious and effective fruit drink;
Antihistamines may be prescribed to reduce the allergic reaction and reduce itching. Cytirizine (Zyrtec) - from 6 months, Desloratadine (Erius) - from 1 year, Loratadine (Claritin) - from 2 years. They belong to 2nd generation drugs and have minimal side effect on the body. Before use, it is recommended to consult a doctor;

Antihistamines in overdose can be harmful, so when using, you should clearly follow the instructions. Also, their use should be left in cases where the rash on the child's body is really extensive and causes serious inconvenience. If the rash is minor, it is recommended to use methods such as cool baths with a small amount of table salt. salt, in this case, helps to reduce itching, and given the safety of the method, such procedures can be repeated every 3-4 hours.

Used to reduce stress in children homeopathic remedies, which are made on the basis of plant substances, animal or mineral origin. They have practically no side effects and are not addictive. Valerianahel (drops), Nervochel (tablets);

According to indications, the doctor may prescribe Phenibut or Phenazepam as sedative. It is strongly recommended that these drugs be used only in last resort. They are powerful tranquilizers and have a lot of sedative effects. They can also lead to a number of serious consequences in the form of addiction or destruction. nervous system. Reviews about them are not the best.

As a sedative, you can use the "old grandmother's method" - a glass of warm milk before bedtime and a spoonful of honey. Oddly enough, it works well.

Used to reduce itching and inflammation various ointments and creams: Fenistil Gel - can be used from a very early age (proven to be an excellent remedy for itching, reduces allergic reaction, has a slight anesthetic effect), Acyclovir (antiviral ointment), immunomodulators Infagel and Viferon (accelerate the healing process of the rash, relieve swelling and reduce itching), Gistan ( cosmetic product against allergic reactions);
Treatment of rash foci with antiseptic aqueous solutions. The well-known brilliant green or potassium permanganate is well suited. However, if you have a daughter and she doesn't like green color, you can use Fukortsin (it is red and is washed off more easily) or a solution of rivanol (it is yellow and is also washed off well with water);

Be sure to process using cotton swab, smearing all over the body is contraindicated. This can lead to the spread of infection to unaffected areas of the skin.

If a child has a rash in his mouth, then it is recommended to rinse several times a day with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, boric acid or Furatsilina. Also treat with Chlorophyllipt or sea buckthorn oil. For removal pain used Calgel
If your child is still a baby and does not understand that it is impossible to scratch the rash, put mittens on his hands and try to cut his nails in time. It is worth giving him maximum attention and coming up with some distracting games;
A course of multivitamins is prescribed to raise the general tone of the body and strengthen the immune system;

Dr. Komarovsky wrote a lot of material on how to treat chickenpox. His view of this disease differs from the generally accepted opinion. In his recommendations for the treatment of chickenpox in children, hygienic procedures are a prerequisite (many doctors do not share this position) and completely optional - treatment of the rash with antiseptics. Evgeny Olegovich believes that the treatment of areas of skin affected by a rash with brilliant green or other antiseptic preparations has no therapeutic effect. He explains this by saying that aqueous solutions antiseptics are not absorbed into the skin and do not fight the virus, and therefore do not speed up the healing process of the rash.

On the issue of hygiene, we fully support him, as we believe that "cleanliness is the key to health"

Swimming rules for chickenpox:

Use shower;
Wash only with soapy hands and light movements, exclude the use of washcloths and sponges;
Use only soap (preferably for children);
Avoid getting water in the eyes;
After a shower, put on a towel and dry, do not rub, as there is a risk of violating the integrity of the bubbles;

Unfortunately there is no secret magic remedy for the treatment of chickenpox. fast recovery your child is in direct proportion to the timely and proper treatment, as well as the shape of a windmill. However, there is a tool that allows you to strengthen the body's immune response to the virus and helps in the fight against it - Anaferon for children. The drug has an immunomodulatory and antiviral action and can be prescribed in the treatment of acute respiratory infections and various herpes infections. Through experimentation and clinical research revealed the effectiveness of the drug against the influenza virus and viruses herpes simplex 1, 2 and 3 types. Another advantage of the drug is the possibility of its use in children of the most early ages. Restriction - age up to 1 month. Therefore, if your doctor does not prescribe Anaferon for treatment against chickenpox, go to the pharmacy and buy it yourself.

What is chickenpox Chickenpox (chickenpox) - viral disease, transmitted by airborne aerosol from an infected person to a healthy one and characterized by specific skin rashes in the form of vesicles that appear against the background of severe fever and other signs of general poisoning of the body.

Chicken pox has been known since antiquity. Until the second half of the eighteenth century, the disease was considered as easy option currents of smallpox or smallpox, which in those days was a real disaster, devastating entire settlements.

It was not until the beginning of the last century that a link was discovered between chickenpox and herpes zoster (shingles). At the same time, a hypothesis arose about the general nature of the disease. However, the causative virus was isolated only in 1951.

At the same time, it turned out that a person who has had chickenpox has a so-called intense lifelong immunity, when immunity to an infection is explained by the presence of a pathogen in the body.

In an unfavorable combination of circumstances, the “sleeping” virus in the nerve nodes is activated, causing clinical manifestations of herpes zoster - blisters along the affected nerve.

Shingles. Eruptions along the intercostal nerve.

Today, chicken pox is one of the most common diseases (ranks third after influenza and SARS). Mostly children are ill (patients under the age of 14 make up about 80-90% of all cases), it is this category of the population that has almost 100% susceptibility to the causative agent of chicken pox. Therefore, chickenpox refers to the so-called "children's" infections.

The disease, as a rule, proceeds in a mild to moderate form, so that deaths are extremely rare. For this reason, many experts long time treated chickenpox as a "non-serious" disease.

However, recent studies have shown that with chicken pox not only the skin and nervous tissue are affected, but also digestive system, lungs, organs of the genitourinary sphere. In addition, the chickenpox virus can have an extremely negative impact on the development of the fetus and the course of pregnancy.

Chickenpox causative agent

The causative agent of chickenpox belongs to the herpesvirus family, which includes many viruses that cause various diseases in amphibians, birds, mammals and humans.

All herpesviruses have a genome consisting of double-stranded DNA. They are quite sensitive to external physical and chemical influences, including high temperature and ultraviolet radiation.

Most viruses of this group can stay in an infected organism for a long time, sometimes even for life, without causing any clinical symptoms. Therefore, they are classified as so-called slow infections (herpes, shingles, etc.). Under adverse circumstances, a dormant infection can become more active and manifest itself as pronounced signs of the disease.

Herpesviruses are easily transmitted from person to person, so that the majority of the world's population has time to become infected even in childhood. The causative agents of this group are characterized by polyorganic and polysystemic lesions, which is associated with a teratogenic effect (the occurrence of deformities in the fetus) and the death of debilitated patients, especially newborns.

It should be noted that all herpes viruses have a depressing effect on the immune system and are activated against the background of other diseases that occur with a pronounced decrease in the body's defenses (AIDS, leukemia, malignant tumors).

The chickenpox and herpes zoster virus (Varicella zoster virus) is able to multiply exclusively in the nucleus of cells of an infected person, while in the external environment it quickly dies under the influence of sunlight, heat and other adverse factors. In droplets of saliva and mucus, the chickenpox virus can persist for no more than 10-15 minutes.

How does the chickenpox virus spread?

The source of infection with Varicella zoster virus is a sick person with chickenpox or shingles. Laboratory studies have shown that the highest concentration of the pathogen is in the contents of the vesicles characteristic of chickenpox.

Traditionally, chickenpox is classified as respiratory diseases, however, the virus appears in the nasopharyngeal mucus only in cases where the surface of the mucous membrane is also covered with rashes. But even in such cases, swabs from the nasopharynx contain a significantly smaller number of pathogens than the contents of the vesicles located on the skin.

The crusts formed at the site of bursting varicella vesicles do not contain pathogens, therefore, the period of the patient's greatest contagiousness is determined from the moment the rash appears to the period of crust formation.

Infection occurs by airborne droplets - through the inhalation of air containing mucus elements. It should be noted that chickenpox got its name because of the special volatility of the infection - the virus can spread to a distance of up to 20 m, penetrating through the corridors of residential premises and even from one floor to another.

In addition, chickenpox can be passed from a pregnant woman to her baby through the placenta. It should be noted that adult women rarely get chickenpox. So most often, infection of the fetus occurs when a persistent (dormant) infection is activated in the form of shingles.

If infection of the fetus occurs in the first trimester (in the first 12 weeks from the first day of the last menstruation), then there is a high risk of having a child with severe malformations. Infection at a later date, as a rule, leads to the manifestation of infection after birth, but not in the form of chickenpox, but in the form of herpes zoster.

Who is most susceptible to chickenpox?

Newborns are absolutely not susceptible to chickenpox, because they received the antibodies necessary for protection against the virus from the mother during intrauterine development.

However, maternal antibodies are gradually washed out of the body and can fully restrain the development of the disease only during the first year of a child's life.

Then the susceptibility to chickenpox increases, reaching almost 100% of the maximum at the age of 4-5 years. Since the vast majority of the population has time to become infected with chickenpox in childhood, this form of infection with Varicella zoster virus is quite rare in adults.

Shingles, which develops in those who have had chickenpox, on the contrary, usually occurs in old age (65% of cases of the disease are recorded in patients over 65 years of age).

Thus, chickenpox mainly affects children, and shingles - the elderly. However, both diseases can develop at almost any age.

Chickenpox is quite dangerous in terms of epidemics, so outbreaks of chickenpox are often recorded in children's groups (kindergartens, schools, sanatoriums, etc.). At the same time, such a mini-epidemic may also occur as a result of contact with an adult patient with herpes zoster.

At the same time, there are also sporadic (outside the epidemic outbreak) cases of chickenpox, when the patient can be isolated in a timely manner, preventing the spread of infection.

The incidence of chickenpox is characterized by a peculiar cyclical appearance of epidemics. At the same time, small cycles of epidemics are distinguished, repeating after several years, and large ones - with an interval of 20 years or more.

In autumn, there is a significant increase in the incidence of chickenpox, associated with the mass return of children to kindergartens and schools. The rise in incidence in spring period caused by sharp fluctuations in temperature and a seasonal decrease in immunity.

Signs, symptoms and clinical course of chickenpox

Classification of clinical manifestations of chickenpox

When talking about the classification of the chickenpox clinic, then, first of all, localized and generalized forms of the disease are distinguished.

In the localized form of the lesion are limited outer surface body, when specific pathological elements appear on the skin and mucous membranes. Generalized forms are found in debilitated patients and are characterized by damage not only to the external integument, but also to the internal organs.

In addition, there are three degrees of severity of the course of the disease - mild, moderate and severe. severity clinical course is determined by the nature of the pathological elements, the area of the affected surface, the severity of intoxication and the prevalence of the process.

When establishing a diagnosis, the doctor indicates the severity of the course, the prevalence of the process and the presence of complications. For example: “Chicken pox, generalized form, severe course. Complication: bilateral focal pneumonia.

During chickenpox, like any other infectious disease, there are four periods:

incubation (the period of latent course of infection);
prodromal (period general malaise, when specific symptoms infection has not yet manifested itself clearly enough);
the period of developed clinical symptoms;
recovery period.

The third period of the course of chickenpox is usually called the period of rashes, since they are the most hallmark diseases.

Incubation and prodromal period in chickenpox

The incubation period for chickenpox is 10 to 21 days, during which time no visible signs disease is not seen.

Once in the upper respiratory tract, viral bodies penetrate the epithelial cells of the mucous membranes and begin to multiply there intensively. The entire incubation period is the accumulation of viral bodies. Having reached a significant concentration, the infection breaks through local protective barriers and massively enters the bloodstream, causing viremia.

Clinically, viremia is manifested by symptoms of the prodromal period, such as malaise, headache, loss of appetite, aching muscles. However, chickenpox is characterized by a rapid and acute onset, the prodrome is usually only a few hours, so that patients often simply do not notice it.
Infection with blood through the bloodstream and with the flow of interstitial fluid through the lymphatic vessels spreads throughout the body and is fixed mainly in the cells of the epithelium of the skin and mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. It is also possible to damage the nervous tissue - the cells of the intervertebral ganglions, the cerebral cortex and subcortical structures.

In those rare cases when the disease proceeds in a generalized form, cells of the liver, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract are affected.

Intensive reproduction of the virus causes symptoms characteristic of the period of rashes: rash, fever and signs of general poisoning of the body.

The period of rashes with chickenpox

Rash with chickenpox associated with the multiplication of the virus in the cells of the skin and mucous membranes. Initially, due to local expansion of small vessels, redness occurs, then serous edema develops and a papule forms - a protruding inflamed tubercle.

Subsequently, detachment upper layers skin, resulting in the formation of a bubble filled with clear liquid- vesicle. Sometimes the vesicles suppurate, turning into pustules.

Vesicles filled with serous fluid or pus can open, in such cases a weeping surface opens under them. However, more often they dry out, forming crusts.

Initially, the rash appears on the skin of the trunk and limbs, and then on the face and scalp. Less commonly, a rash appears on the palms, soles, mucous membranes of the mouth, nasopharynx, external genital organs, and on the conjunctiva of the eyes. As a rule, such rashes indicate a severe form of the disease. In such cases, the rash appears on the mucous membranes earlier than on the surface of the skin.

Chickenpox is characterized by the appearance of new elements of the rash - the so-called "sprinkling". As a result, on the 3-4th day from the moment the rash appears, different elements can be found on one area of the skin - spots, papules, vesicles and crusts

chicken pox elements

Vesicles with chickenpox, as a rule, are single-chamber and, with a favorable course of the disease, quickly dry out, transforming into crusts. At the same time, the number of elements of the rash can be different - from single vesicles, which can be easily counted, to abundant rashes that cover the skin and mucous membranes in a continuous layer.

Eruptions on the surface of the skin are accompanied by severe itching. Lesions of the mucous membranes of the mouth, which occur in about 20-25% of cases, are accompanied by profuse salivation. In the oral cavity, the bubbles quickly open and expose the eroded surface, which leads to a pronounced pain syndrome and difficulty in eating.

Fever and signs of general poisoning of the body most pronounced during the period of mass entry of the virus into the blood. Therefore, the temperature rises sharply during the onset of the rash. Each repeated rash is accompanied by a rise in temperature and a deterioration in the patient's condition.
General poisoning of the body is manifested by weakness, loss of appetite, headache, muscle aches, sleep disturbance. Nausea and vomiting often occur. There is a tendency to lower blood pressure.

With common forms of the disease elements characteristic of chickenpox are formed on the mucous membranes digestive tract and also in the bronchi. At the same time, erosion quickly occurs in place of the bubbles, which threatens the development internal bleeding. In severe cases, the virus multiplies in the liver cells, causing foci of necrosis.

The causative agent of chickenpox often affects the nervous tissue, while the changes can be of a different nature from minor reversible deviations to gross organic defects.

Among the common forms of the disease, varicella pneumonia is most common. In such cases, the intoxication syndrome increases, the fever reaches 39-40 degrees and above. Pallor and cyanosis of the skin, dry painful cough, shortness of breath appear.

It is also quite common to develop lesions of the nervous system, such as meningitis (inflammation meninges) and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). In such cases, various kinds of disturbances of consciousness are often observed up to the development of a coma. Chickenpox encephalitis is especially severe - mortality reaches 20%.

Damage to the heart (myocarditis, endocarditis), liver (hepatitis), kidney (nephritis) and other internal organs are relatively rare.

Recovery period for chicken pox

During the stay of the virus in the body, all parts of the immune system are activated, which leads to the release of the causative agent of the disease and the cells affected by the infection. However, the natural barrier does not allow lymphocytes and antibodies, virus killers, to penetrate into the nerve ganglia, so the causative agent of chickenpox can remain there throughout the patient's life.

Since only the superficial layers of the skin are affected in chickenpox, the rash usually disappears without a trace. For some time, in place of the fallen crusts, the so-called pigmentation remains - a change in skin color. Over time, this symptom disappears completely.

The clinical symptoms of periods of chickenpox depend on the severity of the course of the disease.

How can chickenpox occur?

For light flow chickenpox is characterized by normal or subfebrile temperature body (up to 38 degrees Celsius), single elements of a rash on the surface of the skin, a relatively satisfactory general condition of the patient.

When sick moderate fever rises to 38-39 degrees and lasts for about a week. Rashes are located mainly on the skin. The prognosis for such a course of chickenpox is favorable - complications, as a rule, do not develop, and the disease passes without a trace.

At severe course chicken pox develops an extremely high fever (40 degrees Celsius and above), increasing weakness occurs, profuse rashes appear that cover the surface of the skin and mucous membranes. Severe course is also spoken of in cases where the disease occurs in a generalized form. In addition, hemorrhagic, bullous and gangrenous-necrotic forms of the disease are characterized by a severe course.

The hemorrhagic form of chickenpox occurs against the background of increased vascular permeability and is characterized by the appearance of blood-filled vesicles, multiple hemorrhages on the skin and mucous membranes. Often there are complications in the form of nasal, uterine and gastrointestinal bleeding.

The bullous form of the disease is less commonly observed, when large flaccid blisters filled with pus appear on the skin. The overwhelming majority of patients with the bullous form are young children with a sharply weakened immune system.

The purulent-necrotic form of chickenpox is extremely rare, which is a combination of bullous and hemorrhagic forms. In such cases, deep necrosis forms at the site of the opened blisters, and blood infection develops.

The severe course of chickenpox, as a rule, indicates a lack of body defenses (AIDS, leukemia, dystrophy, malignant tumors, tuberculosis, sepsis (blood poisoning)).

Features of the course of chickenpox in adults

Like the vast majority of "childhood" infections, chickenpox in adults is more severe:

higher and longer fever;
the rash appears later (the prodromal period is better expressed), but it is more abundant and the crusts form much later;
much more often the mucous membranes are affected (in 40-60% of cases).

Effect on the fetus

The varicella-zoster virus easily crosses the placenta and adversely affects the development of the fetus. So, if a mother had chickenpox or had shingles in the first three to four months of pregnancy, the probability of having a child with the so-called chickenpox syndrome (dystrophy, underdevelopment of the limbs, malformations of the eyes, cicatricial changes in the skin, and subsequently a pronounced lag in psychomotor development) is quite high. .

For more later dates Pregnancy intrauterine infection of the fetus is not so dangerous. However, in cases where infection occurred on the eve of or during childbirth, congenital chickenpox develops. This disease is always quite severe (mortality reaches 20%).

Chickenpox care: how to protect yourself and others from infection

Unfortunately, chicken pox is one of the most contagious, that is, especially contagious diseases, so it is almost impossible to protect yourself from infection while in the same apartment with the patient.

The only consolation is that most adults, as a rule, have time to endure this disease in childhood, and in babies, chickenpox is relatively mild.

Doctors advise children who have been in contact with a person with chickenpox not to visit children's institutions for 21 days so as not to endanger others.

A sick child can be sent to children's institution on the day when all the elements of the rash are covered with crusts - from that moment the patient is no longer contagious.

The virus is not persistent external environment therefore, no special disinfection measures should be carried out.

Chickenpox treatment

Medical therapy

Medical tactics with chickenpox depends on the severity of the clinical course of the disease, the age of the patient and the general condition of the body.

In mild to moderate cases, treatment is usually carried out at home. In severe forms of chickenpox, as well as in cases of high risk of complications (the presence of concomitant diseases leading to a decrease in immunity), the patient is placed in a closed box of the infectious diseases department.

To date, antiviral therapy for chickenpox has been developed. Adolescents and adults are prescribed the drug acyclovir 800 mg orally 5 times a day for a week. The same drug will also help children under 12 years of age, if it is prescribed no later than on the first day of the disease (20 mg / kg of body weight 4 times a day).

In immunocompromised patients with chickenpox, it is recommended to administer intravenously 10 mg/kg of body weight 3 times a day for 7 days.

It should be noted that many doctors consider antiviral therapy for chickenpox in mild and moderate disease inappropriate.

If the disease occurs with a fever above 38-38.5 degrees, it is best to take paracetamol (Efferalgan, Panadol) as an antipyretic, which does not adversely affect the immune system.

Use acetylsalicylic acid(aspirin) is strictly prohibited because this medicine may cause hemorrhagic syndrome with chickenpox (the appearance of a bloody rash, nosebleeds, etc.).
Many experts advise taking antihistamines such as claritin instead of antipyretics. Children from 2 to 12 years old are prescribed one spoonful of syrup 1 time per day, adolescents and adults 1 tablet (10 mg) 1 time per day.

General care

To prevent secondary infection of chickenpox elements, it is necessary to carefully care for the affected skin surfaces. Frequent change of linen and lubrication of rashes are recommended alcohol solution brilliant green (brilliant green).

Many experts are therapeutic effect Zelenka is very skeptical, since such procedures ultimately do not contribute to the speedy healing of the rash. However, such cauterization temporarily reduces the painful itching and has a disinfecting effect, preventing the penetration of bacteria and the development of pustules.

In addition, lubricating chickenpox elements with brilliant green makes it easy to identify fresh rashes and monitor the course of the disease.

For rashes in the oral cavity, it is advised to use the antiseptic furatsilin and preparations of medicinal plants with anti-inflammatory effects (kolanchoe juice, calendula, oak bark) for rinsing. In cases where rashes are located on the conjunctiva of the eyes, interferon drops are prescribed.

Since the disease proceeds with signs of general poisoning of the body, patients are advised to take enough fluids so that toxins are quickly removed from the body.

Nutrition must be complete and contain increased amount proteins and vitamins. It is best to give preference to easily digestible food (dairy-vegetarian diet). In case of mucosal injury oral cavity spicy and sour foods should be avoided.

Bed rest with chickenpox is prescribed only in severe cases of the disease, it is necessary to avoid overheating, since excessive heat increases itching.

Of course, in cases where the room is too hot and the child suffers from itching, it is better to take a shower and then gently pat the skin dry with a towel.

Prevention of chickenpox through vaccination

In some countries of the world, for example, in Japan, preventive vaccinations against chicken pox are used. They are quite effective and safe.

However, since chickenpox in children is mild, vaccination is prescribed only according to indications (the presence of severe diseases that reduce immunity).

The consequences of chickenpox

As a rule, chickenpox passes without any consequences for the body. Sometimes small scars in the form of pockmarks may remain on the skin, most often this occurs when children scratch an itchy rash or when secondary suppuration of the vesicles has occurred. Rashes on the conjunctiva of the eyes pass without a trace.

More serious consequences occur in cases where skin rashes associated with lesions of the central nervous system. Possible development mental retardation, epilepsy attacks, paralysis, etc.
An unfavorable prognosis is distinguished by malignant forms of chicken pox, such as bullous, hemorrhagic, gangrenous, and generalized infection. In such cases, mortality can reach 25% or more, and the survivors may have rough scars on the skin in places of pathological rashes, severe irreversible changes in internal organs and nervous system.

In general, the outcome of chickenpox depends on comorbidities and the state of the immune system. Severe complications and deaths are more common in young children and the elderly.

Can you get chickenpox again?

After suffering from chickenpox remains lifelong immunity, so it is impossible to get chickenpox again.

How to treat chickenpox during pregnancy?

Pregnant women have a higher risk of developing complications from chickenpox, in particular, it is not uncommon viral pneumonia, which has a mortality rate of 38%.

In addition, the chickenpox virus is able to cross the placenta and cause gross violations fetal development (in the first half of pregnancy) and extremely severe forms congenital chickenpox in newborns (with infection on the eve of childbirth).

To avoid a tragic development of events, pregnant women are given passive immunization(introduction of specific immunoglobulin).

Otherwise, the treatment of chickenpox during pregnancy is the same as in other categories of patients.