Chickenpox is an infectious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which belongs to the herpes family. It is characterized by an increase in temperature, a rash with various elements (from spots to crusts), severe itching and catarrhal phenomena.
A feature of the herpes simplex virus type 3 is its volatility. In a poorly ventilated room, it can spread up to 20 m, and any person who has not had chickenpox can become infected.
Chickenpox is most common in preschool children, but it is extremely rare in children under 6 months of age.
In newborns, chickenpox has an extremely severe course. They are often diagnosed with atypical forms of chickenpox.
By the age of 6, 70% of children have chickenpox antibodies and immunity for the rest of their lives.
After a person has chickenpox, antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 3 appear, and an immune response is formed to the re-introduction of the virus. But with immunodeficiency, shingles or a repeated case of chickenpox may develop, since the virus continues to "live" in the nerve ganglia, it is impossible to completely recover.
Shingles most often affects people with immunodeficiency. A feature of this disease is that the rash does not spread over the entire skin, but along the course of the nerve, for example, along the intercostal space or on the face along one of the branches of the facial or trigeminal nerve. The disease is unpleasant, its prodromal period is especially unpleasant, often the sick person does not associate it with the manifestation of herpes infection.
A bit of history
Until the 18th century, chickenpox was not considered an independent disease, it was considered one of the manifestations of smallpox. And only at the beginning of the 20th century, the first descriptions of the virus appeared - the causative agent of the disease in the contents of the bubbles. It was only in the 40s of the twentieth century that a description of the varicella-zoster virus appeared.
How does chickenpox manifest in children? Course of the disease
Usually, after contact with a sick person, after 11 - 21 days (this is the incubation period of chickenpox), the first signs of chickenpox appear in a child. A long incubation period often provokes a little confusion among the parents.
It would seem that the meeting with the patient was long ago, and the threat of getting sick has already passed, and then the child begins to complain of body aches, chills appear, the temperature rises to 38 - 39 ˚С, nasal discharge appears, the baby becomes lethargic, sleepy. Since a lot of time passes after contact with the patient, mothers cannot always understand that these are the first symptoms of chickenpox in children.
A rash appears after a day or two. It is initially small-spotted or spotted. Children usually complain of itching, babies under the age of four may cry and behave anxiously. During the day, the spots turn into bubbles filled with serous contents. After a few days, the bubbles break open, and crusts form on the skin in their place. After the crust has come off, the wound heals completely without leaving scars.
It should be noted that the rash appears (falls asleep) every 2 to 3 days for 3 to 7 days, because all the elements of the rash are different (polymorphic).
The child is contagious two days before the first signs of the disease appear, during the period of rashes and up to seven days from the moment of the last pouring.
It should be noted that usually the younger the child is, the easier it is to tolerate the disease. It is easier for a baby 3 years old than for an adult to survive this period.
Chickenpox symptoms in children
- temperature above 38 ˚С. It should be noted that sometimes the temperature rises to 40 ˚С. This is not a complication of the disease, but only a feature of the reactivity of the immune system of a sick person. However, in some cases, the temperature throughout the entire illness can be 37 ˚С;
- the appearance of a rash is staged. The stage of the rash is a spot-bubble-the appearance of crusts. The rash appears on the entire body of the child, except for the palms and feet. Chickenpox also has a rash on the scalp;
- undulating appearance of a rash, when, after the appearance of a rash, there is a short-term lull.
Other symptoms of the disease:
- viral conjunctivitis. It appears, as a rule, when the first branch of the trigeminal nerve is damaged by the herpes virus. When viral conjunctivitis appears, children may complain of discomfort in their eyes, they will say that it is unpleasant or painful for them to look at the light, tears flow from their eyes;
- vulvovaginitis in girls;
- stomatitis - the appearance of a rash on the mucous membranes of the mouth. In the event of a rash in the mouth of a child, you should contact your doctor for further examination and a possible change in treatment tactics.
Swimming with chickenpox
Is it possible to bathe a child with chickenpox when he is sick - this question is especially acute.
Opinions on this issue, as always, differ.
- You cannot take a bath, that is, lie for a long time and steam the body (in order to avoid infection of open wounds).
- Do not use a sponge or washcloth. Do not rub the child's body with anything or anything.
- Be careful with soaps and shower gels. They dry out the skin and can increase irritation.
- Better if the child takes a shower.
- After showering, blot the water off with a soft towel. Under no circumstances should you rub your body.
- After drying, the skin must be treated with brilliant green or fucorcin.
Features of caring for children with chickenpox
Usually children bring infection from kindergarten, often infect younger brothers and sisters. Chickenpox in children is mild, and the most unpleasant thing is a rash, therefore these children are treated at home.
We will discuss how to treat chickenpox in children a little later, but for now, let's remember how to care for babies with chickenpox:
- diet. If the child refuses to eat, do not force it, let it be better to eat a little, but more often. Increase the amount of fruits and vegetables in your diet;
- plentiful drink. Fruit drinks, compotes, jelly and homemade freshly squeezed juices are recommended. If the child does not want to drink it, offer tea or water;
- it is advisable to limit active games, it is pointless to try to keep the child in bed;
- try to explain that it is impossible to comb the sores, the child's nails should be cut short;
- it is advisable to change bedding every day, the child should sleep separately in his bed;
- the room in which the child is located must be washed every day; it must be ventilated at least once an hour;
- it is desirable that there are no other children around the sick child, but, alas, this is not always possible.
To walk or not to walk?
This is another question in caring for a child with chickenpox that worries parents: is it possible to walk with a baby with chickenpox?
During the period when the child is contagious, walking is not recommended. But if the parents are sure that the baby will not contact anyone (for example, if you live in a private house), then you can go for a short walk.
We list the important conditions for walking:
- Body temperature should return to normal.
- The last rashes were 7 days ago. Otherwise, if you do go out for a walk, there should be no other people on the street, especially children or pregnant women.
- If a child has recently had chickenpox, he cannot sunbathe and swim in open water.
- The immunity of a sick child is still weakened, therefore contact with sick children or adults with discomfort is not recommended for him.
Prevention and vaccination
It has been done in our country since 2008, but it is still not included in the list of mandatory vaccinations, which means that parents themselves must decide for themselves whether or not to vaccinate their baby.
It is now recommended to get vaccinated from the age of two. Vaccination is done once, provided that the child is not 13 years old, and twice for children from 13 and adults who have not yet been ill.
Vaccination is carried out with "Varilrix" or "Okavax" vaccines (they are live attenuated vaccines).
Vaccination takes place according to the following scheme:
- "Okavax" - 0.5 ml (one dose) at a time for children who have reached the age of 12 months;
- "Varilrix" - 0.5 ml (one dose) twice with an interval of 2 - 2.5 months.
Emergency prophylaxis is carried out with any of the above-mentioned drugs within 96 hours from the moment of contact with a sick person. In our country, such prevention is not common.
After the administration of the drug, after 7 days, signs of chickenpox may appear in a child. This is a slight malaise, an increase in temperature up to 38 ˚С, a slight rash may appear. All symptoms go away on their own within a few days. They do not need to be treated, they are not a complication of vaccination.
Isolation of sick children is another preventive measure. True, this is ineffective, since in children the prodromal period does not always manifest itself clearly, and the child is contagious two days before the onset of the rash.
What can be confused with chickenpox?
In the beginning, before the rash appears, the illness is similar to the course of any viral illness, such as the flu.
At the first rains, you can mistake chickenpox for an allergy or prickly heat, but usually within a day it becomes clear that the conclusion is erroneous.
Usually, after the onset of the rash, everything becomes clear.
Complications of chickenpox
There are always exceptions, but more often they talk about rules. For example, when a pregnant woman who has not previously had chickenpox gets sick, she has a chance of losing her baby, or the baby may be born with chickenpox.
Children under the age of one year tolerate chickenpox extremely hard, and it proceeds in an atypical form.
Another option is adults and teenagers. They also sometimes have complications, such as viral pneumonia, myocarditis or encephalitis.
Atypical forms of chickenpox
- Rudimentary. The rash is spotty, there are practically no catarrhal phenomena, the disease passes easily.
- Hemorrhagic form. Vesicles in this form are filled not with transparent, but with blood contents. The course of the disease is severe, patients have vomiting of blood, nosebleeds, black stools are possible. On the second day, petechial rashes appear (small punctate hemorrhages in the skin).
- Bullous form. Bubbles in this form merge, forming the so-called bullae. They are usually filled with cloudy contents.
- Gangrenous form. Has an extremely severe course.
- Generalized form. With this form of the disease, severe intoxication, damage to internal organs is observed.
All atypical forms (except for the rudimentary) are treated in a hospital, often in intensive care units.
Treatment of chickenpox in children
If you see that your child is sick, call a doctor who will prescribe and supervise the treatment. Each drug has its own subtleties and characteristics. Improper treatment, as well as its complete absence, can lead to complications during the course of the disease.
- When the temperature rises above 38.5 ° C, you can give the child an antipyretic drug based on ibuprofen or paracetamol.
- To reduce itching, you can use topical ointments such as Gerpevir, Acyclovir. Application of Fenistil gel is possible.
- Antihistamines can be used. For example, Diazolin is available in tablets.
- To prevent secondary infection of ulcers, use brilliant green or Fukortsin. The application of such drugs also helps to determine the appearance of new bubbles.
- With a sore throat, you can use herbal decoctions and drugs approved for the treatment of children of a particular age.
- Antiviral therapy is mandatory. She is prescribed by a doctor.
Dear mothers, I wish you not to get lost from the tears of your children, and for this to be very attentive and patient to them. Chickenpox is only a part of your child's life, and over time, only photos will remain, reminiscent of the mottled green period.
Chickenpox is a familiar viral infection that mainly affects children. Often, chickenpox in childhood is easy and does not pose a threat to life and health. However, there are times when the virus infects completely unintelligent babies. In this article, we will look at the symptoms and treatment of chickenpox in infants.
As we said, chickenpox is a viral infection. Consequently, the causative agent of the disease is a virus, the susceptibility of people to which is almost 100%. Can a baby get chickenpox? There are 2 ways to infect infants:
- Congenital infection. This happens when the mother is infected immediately before childbirth, in a few days or weeks. With this combination of circumstances, the child is born with chickenpox and, as a rule, the disease is severe with a high probability of all kinds of complications of the disease. This is due to the fact that during infection, the mother's body has not yet had time to form immunity against the virus, therefore, the child has not received any antibodies to fight the infection. Approximately 30% of all cases of congenital chickenpox resulted in the death of babies;
- If there was contact with chickenpox in a baby, then the child is highly likely to be infected. Given that the immune system of infants has not yet been formed, the disease often takes on a severe form and can also lead to the development of complications;
Does it happen that chickenpox in crumbs passes easily? Yes, chickenpox in infants is not always a severe case. If a child gets chickenpox after an injection of immunoglobulin, or during pregnancy, the baby received antibodies from mother or with mother's milk during feeding, in such cases, the infection can proceed very easily. It is so easy that you may not even notice that the child has been ill with something.
I think we have sorted out the question: "Can a baby have chickenpox?" Next, consider what chickenpox looks like in infants.
During the latency period, the crumbs, as a rule, do not have any manifestations of the disease, that is, the infection is already in the body, but the level of concentration of the virus has not yet reached the required scale. The first symptoms appear in the final part of the latent period of the disease. It is generally accepted that the incubation period in children can last 7-21 days, on average two weeks. It depends on the functioning of the child's immune system. For example, with congenital immunodeficiency, the infection develops very rapidly.
How does chickenpox manifest? The first characteristic manifestation of infection is a high temperature, reaching a couple of 40 degrees. This is due to the strongest intoxication of the body with a virus and the appearance of temperature is quite natural. The temperature can be accompanied by weakness and malaise of the whole body, headache, chills, fever, twitching of muscles and limbs, pain in muscles and joints. In this case, the child will cry and most likely refuse to eat.
At this stage, the diagnosis of the disease is possible only with the help of special laboratory tests for antibodies against the Varicella zoster virus (the name of the causative agent of chickenpox), however, a day or two after the appearance of the temperature, you will find several reddish specks on the head or face of the crumb.
The most common sign of infection in infants, and indeed in all people in general, is a rash. How does the photo start? At first, the rash is localized, as a rule, in the area of the head and face, they are several reddish pimples, no more than 1 centimeter in diameter. After a short period of time (maximum within a day), the rash transforms into papules (small pimples filled with clear liquid) and spreads almost all over the body, with the exception of the feet and palms. The rash itches a lot, so the child will experience a lot of discomfort. It is worth noting that scratching or crushing the rash is strictly prohibited, as this can provoke infection into the wounds, therefore, purulent complications from the skin may appear. In addition to the appearance of a rash on the body, there are frequent cases of rashes in the mouth, on the mucous membrane. When a rash appears on the mucous membranes, the child experiences pain, which leads to refusal to eat.
The rash can stay on the body for 4-12 days, depending on the severity of the course of chickenpox. It should be noted that the rash is wavy in nature, that is, the first elements of the rash begin to dry out and become covered with a brown crust already on the second day after the appearance. After that, a day of calm may come, the temperature will drop a little, the child will feel better. Then a new wave of rashes will follow and everything will repeat in a circle. In the future, the entire rash will be crusted. In no case should you peel off the crusts from the affected areas on your own, since they are a natural barrier for various kinds of bacteria. After 2-4 weeks, the crusts will fall off on their own and leave behind red-pink spots, which also disappear on their own without any medical intervention. If the disease proceeded without complications, then there will be no trace of the rash.
First of all, don't panic. Modern medicine provides treatment for even the most severe cases of infection, so the first step in the fight against chickenpox is to call a doctor at home. After examining the little patient, the doctor will give you a sick leave and write out recommendations for treatment. As a rule, the treatment of a mild form of chickenpox is done at home and is exclusively symptomatic. Treatment of severe chickenpox requires hospitalization with antibiotics (in cases of suppurative complications), antiviral drugs (such as acyclovir), and immunoglobulin injections.
What you read below is provided as information, do not start treating a child without consulting your doctor.
How to treat chickenpox in infants:
- Put mittens on the handles of the crumbs and carefully monitor the child's nails, trim them on time. This will reduce the risk of infection in the wounds;
- Any complementary foods should be excluded for the period of illness, only breast milk should be included in the child's diet. If the child refuses to eat, do not try to force feed him;
- It is definitely worth increasing your fluid intake, since at high temperatures the body becomes dehydrated;
- It is worth ventilating the room more often, the room should not be stuffy and hot. It is worthwhile to beware of hypothermia, as this can serve the development of pneumonia against the background of chickenpox;
- At high temperatures, it is possible to use paracetamol-based antipyretics (rectal suppositories or syrups). Paracetamol for children can be used from 1 month of a child's life, however, with individual intolerance, strong allergic reactions are possible. In children under 2 months of age, paracetamol can cause an asthma attack. Antipyretics based on ibuprofen are not recommended for use, as this can provoke soft tissue inflammation.
Important! The use of acetylsalicylic acid for chickenpox is impossible. This is a legal matter, since using this tool, you are 100% likely to kill your child. Moreover, aspirin is generally contraindicated for children under 12 years of age.
- Treatment of the rash with antiseptic water and alcohol solutions should be carried out 2 times a day, in the morning and in the evening. The well-known "brilliant green" or "potassium permanganate" is suitable for this. Processing should be done pointwise using cotton swabs, otherwise your actions may lead to the spread of infection to unaffected areas of the skin;
How long does it take to process? Until a characteristic crust appears on the rash.
- To relieve itching, you can use antiallergic and immunomodulating ointments and gels (Fenistil gel, Infagel, Viferon). The use of these drugs is possible from 1 month of life of the baby, however, their use should be reasonable and not exceed the daily rate. Fenistil gel helps relieve itching, swelling and has an anesthetic effect. Infagel and Viferon are immunomodulators. Their use will reduce itching and reduce swelling, as well as promote faster healing of the rash. We add to everything else that these immunomodulators have antiviral effects;
The use of these drugs should be started only after consulting a specialist.
To relieve itching, baths with the addition of broths of sage, chamomile, oak bark are very well suited. These herbs are antiseptic, relieve itching and dry out the rash. In this case, the water should not be hot or warm.
You can also use cool baths with the addition of edible salt. Water will help lower the temperature, and salt will help dry the rash and relieve itching. This procedure can be repeated every 4 hours.
- If the rash is widespread and profuse, the doctor may recommend the use of Acyclovir ointment. This ointment has a targeted effect against herpes viruses of types 1, 2 and 3, and the chickenpox virus is just type 3. In general, this ointment is very effective for chickenpox. Promotes faster healing of the rash;
- To treat a rash on mucous membranes, use sea buckthorn oil or Chlorophyllipt, and Calgel can be used to relieve pain;
Komarovsky about chickenpox in infants
An experienced pediatrician, Evgeny Olegovich Komarovsky, notes the frequency of severe chickenpox in infants. To avoid congenital chickenpox, he recommends delaying childbirth for a few days and at the same time curing the expectant mother. As for the infection of chickenpox crumbs, Evgeny Olegovich advises not to worry, since all this, today, is being treated.
Chickenpox in newborns and infants (photos, symptoms, treatment) will be discussed below. This is a problem that is of great concern to young parents faced with this infectious pathology. The very question of whether an infant can get chickenpox requires special consideration. Such a disease is not uncommon in childhood, but in newborn babies it can be quite severe with low immunity. Unfortunately, the answer to the question of whether an infant can become infected with chickenpox will be in the affirmative, but parents are quite capable of reducing the likelihood of such infection.
The essence of the disease
Chickenpox, or rather chickenpox, belongs to the group of exodermatoses and is an acute infectious lesion, manifested in the form of a skin rash. The skin lesion consists of papules and vesicles and has a generalized character, i.e. affects almost all parts of the body. The causative agent of the disease is the herpes virus - varicella zoster. The disease is characterized by a shallow lesion of the skin, affecting only the upper layers of the epidermis, which facilitates treatment.
Can a nursing baby get chickenpox? At its core, chickenpox is a typical anthroponosis and provides strong immunity. In other words, infection can occur only from an infected person, and a person who has been ill at least once acquires immunity to the pathogen. In infancy, the immune defense of the baby is mainly provided by the protective functions of breast milk. Thus, up to 3-4 months, the baby is under the protection of the mother, which means that infection is possible only if the woman has never had chickenpox and does not have immunity to it.
Important: Given the fact that in childhood (up to 10-14 years) the vast majority of people suffer the disease to one degree or another, the lack of immunity in the mother is a rather rare occurrence. Therefore, the question of whether infants have chickenpox can be answered as follows: they get sick quite rarely before the age of 6 months and only in the absence of maternal immunity.
At the age of 6-12 months, immune protection begins to be provided mainly by the developing child's body. During this period, chickenpox in infants may appear through direct contact with an infected person. Consequently, the likelihood of infection increases significantly, and preventive measures to prevent contact with sick people come to the fore. The most dangerous period in terms of infection is considered to be the period from November to June.
Etiological features of the disease
Chickenpox infection is possible only by airborne droplets through direct contact with a sick person (usually a child). Adults with shingles are also at risk. Contact-household way, i.e. through objects or clothing, not fixed. The infectious ability of a virus in the absence of immunity to it is almost 100%.
Chickenpox in newborns is completely dependent on the condition of the mother's body. At the age of up to 3 months, infection of an infant is possible under 2 conditions:
- contact of the baby with an infected person if his mother has never had chickenpox;
- congenital chickenpox in the case when a woman contracted chickenpox just before childbirth, and the antibodies did not have time to develop.
Features of the manifestation of the disease
Once in the child's body, the virus quickly spreads through it with blood and lymph, penetrates into the layers of the skin and mucous membranes, where it begins to actively divide. In places where the pathogen settles (in the spiny skin tissues and epithelium), an inflammatory reaction occurs. The incubation period of the disease is from 5 to 20 days.
At the initial stage, chickenpox in newborns and infants (photo attached) manifests itself in the form of skin redness up to 12-15 mm in size. In this place, blisters with a transparent liquid form quickly enough. When they break, a crust forms.
What are the symptoms of chickenpox in children? Chickenpox in babies develops sharply and is difficult. The following symptoms of chickenpox in infants are noted:
- temperature rise up to 39-40˚С;
- the appearance of general weakness;
- headache.
The most common symptom is a spreading rash that rapidly spreads over a large area of the skin and mucous membranes. In the areas of the rash, severe itching is noted. The skin on the abdomen, thighs, shoulders, chest, face and scalp is actively affected.
Chickenpox in newborns and infants (the photo illustrates the symptoms) in its manifestation has an undulating character. The rash appears all over the body, then disappears on its own, leaving crusts, but after a short period of time it manifests itself with renewed vigor. Waves of exacerbation pass with an interval of about 25-30 hours. There may be 4-5 exacerbations in total. The wavy nature of the rash creates a variegated picture of external manifestations with a polymorphic structure. A large number of bubbles (most often 30-80) of different sizes can form on each site of the lesion.
Disease classification
Chickenpox in a child can develop with varying degrees of severity. Taking into account what symptoms of chickenpox in children manifest, and with what intensity the disease proceeds, the following forms stand out:
- A mild form of chickenpox develops without an increase in temperature or when a subfebrile temperature appears.
- The average form of the disease causes an increase in temperature to 37.8-38.6 ° C with the manifestation of characteristic symptoms.
- A severe form of pathology is expressed by a sharp increase in temperature to 39-40 ° C, a significant deterioration in the general condition, and may be accompanied by vomiting. The child becomes moody and restless, refuses to eat. Some weakening is observed in the periods between the waves of defeat.
In addition to the typical course of the disease, there have been cases of atypical chickenpox. With this development of pathology, extremes in manifestations can be noted: a rash with very small bubbles and, conversely, a skin lesion with vesicles larger than 25 mm. The rudimentary form of chickenpox can have a latent course without serious external manifestations.
Chickenpox can cause serious complications of various kinds. Skin complications sometimes develop into complex and severe forms: pemphiginous, ulcerative, purulent, hemorrhagic, gangrenous chickenpox. There are cases of complications of internal organs:
- varicellosis croup;
- bronchopneumonia;
- purulent type inflammation of the middle ear;
- stomatitis;
- pharyngitis;
- purulent mumps;
- conjunctivitis;
- keratitis;
- vulvitis;
- orchitis.
Neurological problems are possible: serous meningitis, encephalitis, poliomyelitis syndromes.
Disease treatment principles
Important: Treatment of chickenpox in newborns and infants should be started when the first signs of the disease appear. You should not self-medicate; to eliminate the risk of complications, you must consult a doctor who accurately diagnoses the pathology.
There are no specific remedies aimed specifically at combating chickenpox, but treatment is provided by multi-purpose drugs for skin diseases. The therapy is carried out, first of all, taking into account the form of the disease and the general condition of the child. The use of antibiotics to kill the pathogen is useless, since the herpes virus does not respond to antibiotic therapy.
Treatment of chickenpox in babies solves the following problems:
- control of the spread of skin lesions;
- elimination of itching;
- lowering fever and accelerating the healing of the rash.
Given the high infectivity of the disease, a child with chickenpox should be quarantined. One of the important conditions: during the period of exacerbation of the disease, you cannot bathe the child, since when washing with water, the rash spreads throughout the body.
In mild to moderate form, chickenpox in infants does not require the use of systemic and potent drugs. The simplest and most effective way is to treat the areas of the skin on which the rash has appeared with brilliant green, which serves as an excellent antibacterial agent and has a high drying effect. In addition, the use of brilliant green allows for visual control of the development of the rash.
In case of significant lesions and severe itching, Fenistilon gel is recommended, which covers the places of the greatest accumulation of bubbles. To accelerate the healing of the affected areas, Castellani's solution is widely used, after which crusts form quickly enough in the place of papules.
How to treat complicated forms
With the development of severe chickenpox, in addition to skin lesions, a very high temperature and signs of general intoxication of the body cause anxiety. As a rule, Paracetamol or Ibuprofen is prescribed, preferably in the form of anal suppositories. Aspirin should not be used for chickenpox.
Chickenpox or chicken pox is a disease manifested by moderate intoxication of the body and a small blistering rash on the skin. The pathological process that develops in babies aged 2 to 6 years, primary schoolchildren, adolescents or adults, proceeds without complications and ends with recovery. At the same time, with untimely treatment, chickenpox in infants can entail a number of adverse consequences for the child's body. Therefore, it is so important to know whether a newborn can avoid contracting chickenpox, how this disease manifests itself in the early stages of development, how small children transfer it, and what methods are used to combat this pathology in infants.
Characteristics of the causative agent of the disease and the route of infection
Chickenpox in newborns develops as a result of infection with the varicella zoster virus (Varicella Zoster, Herpesviridae). The causative agents of the disease are weakly resistant to the external environment: it has been proven that they are easily deactivated by sunlight and other sources of ultraviolet radiation, high temperatures, in conditions of lack of moisture.
A child can only get chickenpox from someone who is already sick. The most common routes of transmission in infants three months of age and older are:
- airborne - with a fine aerosol released by a sick person when talking with children, coughing, sneezing;
- contact and household - when using common towels, toys and other items.
Do children under two months of age have chickenpox? Dr. Komarovsky and other pediatricians argue that babies 1 or 2 months of age can get chickenpox only if their mothers do not have acquired immunity to this disease. Often, such children become infected with the varicella-zoster virus transplacentally during intrauterine development.
The mechanism of development of pathology
The incidence of chickenpox in infants in large settlements is 2 times higher than in rural areas. It has been noticed that the peak of chickenpox epidemics occurs in autumn and winter.
The entrance gate for infection is the mucous epithelium of the respiratory tract. Viruses invade epithelial cells, enter the bloodstream through lymphatic streams, integrate into nerve and skin tissues, provoking the development of a number of pathological processes:
- local expansion of small vessels with the formation of red spots on the skin;
- the formation of serous edema (papules);
- exfoliation of epidermal tissue (vesicles).
The presence of viral agents in the body of an infant leads to the development of general intoxication, fever and the appearance of other nonspecific manifestations of the disease.
Clinic of the disease in infants
The incubation period for chickenpox in newborns lasts from 11 days to 3 weeks. However, in cases where the baby becomes infected transplacentally, the first signs of the disease may appear after 6-7 days.
The first symptoms of chickenpox in a one-year-old child are:
- restless behavior, anxiety, moodiness;
- lack of appetite;
- sleep disturbance;
- a sharp rise in temperature;
- diarrhea;
- vomit;
- severe itching of the skin.
After 2-3 days, small papules appear on the child's body, head, limbs and face. After 7-8 hours, the loose elements are transformed into rounded vesicles up to 5 mm in diameter, filled with transparent exudate. After another 2 days, the bubbles fall off, dry out and transform into a brown crust on the surface of the skin. In the future, the crusts are separated, leaving gradually discolored age spots on the skin of the newborn.
Very often, chickenpox in infants is manifested by a rash on the epithelium of the oral cavity, larynx and genitals. Loose elements are opened and transformed into superficial ulcers. After 3-5 days, erosion on the mucous membrane heals without leaving a trace.
Dr. Komarovsky draws the attention of parents to the fact that with chickenpox, the loose elements do not appear simultaneously, but with pauses of 20-30 hours. In view of this, a polymorphic rash is found on the baby's skin, consisting of papules, vesicles and crusts. The appearance of new rashes is accompanied by a sharp rise in temperature.
Babies who carry chickenpox acquire permanent, lifelong immunity to the disease. Antibodies reliably protect the body from reinfection. However, Dr. Komarovsky and many other pediatricians believe that with a sharp weakening of immune forces, people who have previously had chickenpox can become infected a second time.
Treatment of chickenpox in babies
Chickenpox in children under one year old is successfully treated on an outpatient basis. Dr. Komarovsky and his colleagues insist on hospitalization only in those clinical cases when the disease proceeds in an atypical form with pronounced manifestations of general intoxication of the body.
Unfortunately, a system of etiotropic treatment of chickenpox in children under one year old has not yet been developed. All measures taken by doctors are purely symptomatic.... Most often, the therapy program includes:
- Examination of a small patient, drawing up a map of symptoms and a treatment program for the disease.
- Bed rest for a week.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Lowering the temperature using Ibuprofen or Paracetamol if indicated. It is possible to treat the baby with medicines only after agreeing on the dosage with the pediatrician.
- Treatment of loose elements on the skin with antiseptic preparations (brilliant green, sodium permanganate solution).
- Irrigation of erosions on mucous membranes with chamomile infusion, Furacilin solution, sea buckthorn oil, hydrogen peroxide.
- Using protective gloves to prevent your baby from combing the rash.
- Daily change, washing and ironing the child's clothes and bedding.
- Regular cleaning and airing of the patient's room.
Doctor Komarovsky prohibits the use of Aspirin as an antipyretic agent for chickenpox in children under 1 year old. According to pediatricians, the use of this drug can provoke the development of serious liver diseases. In cases where chickenpox occurs in a complicated form, antiviral drugs (for example, Acyclovir) may be prescribed to babies.
Prevention and prognosis for chickenpox
A set of measures aimed at preventing chickenpox in newborns includes:
- timely vaccination of the mother (during pregnancy planning) and the baby;
- limiting contact between the child and sick people;
- relentless adherence to hygiene requirements.
Is chickenpox dangerous in young children? According to doctors, only a neglected disease in a severe form can lead to the development of complications or death. In other cases, the disease ends with a complete recovery of the baby.
Chickenpox is a common viral infection in children, which becomes a test for the baby and his mother. Find out the features of the manifestation of chickenpox in children under one year old, methods of treatment and possible complications in order to be prepared.
Chickenpox (chickenpox) is an acute illness caused by the herpes virus.
How is chickenpox spread?
The transmission route is airborne. The source of infection is a sick person who secretes the virus when coughing, sneezing. The incidence reaches 100%, so it is almost impossible to protect a baby from a sick family member.
The pathogen can travel long distances with the air flow, however, its instability in the external environment practically excludes the household route of infection.
Morbidity
Chickenpox mainly affects children of preschool and primary school age. Babies under 3 months practically do not get sick, due to the presence of maternal antibodies in the blood. The most susceptible are children between the ages of 6 months and 7 years. Up to the age of 15, from 70 to 90% of children already have time to get sick. After the illness, persistent immunity remains.
The most favorable and mild course of the disease is in childhood. Chickenpox is easy in breastfed babies.
The incubation period ranges from 7 to 21 days.
Symptoms of chickenpox in children under one year old
The prodromal period is practically not expressed or poorly expressed. The child can be lethargic, crying, or vice versa, overexcited. Possible decrease in appetite, refusal of complementary foods.
Severe clinical manifestations occur with the onset of a rash. The rash can appear anywhere on the body and spread erratically. First, red spots form on the body, which within a day turn into bubbles containing a transparent liquid, which itch strongly. Infants have fewer rashes than adults. During this period, the temperature may rise and the lymph nodes may enlarge.
Rashes are localized mainly on the face, neck, scalp, trunk, limbs. In severe cases, they affect the palms, feet, mucous membranes.
Chickenpox is characterized by a red rash
The appearance of new elements (pouring) lasts about 3-8 days. Simultaneously with the cessation of dripping, the baby's condition improves.
Over time, the bubbles dry up, a crust forms, which disappears after 1-2 weeks, leaving no trace.
The child becomes contagious a day or two before the onset of the rash and continues to shed the virus until the 5th day after the last dripping.
Treatment
Chickenpox treatment usually does not require hospitalization. Therapy is symptomatic.
Elements of the rash are smeared with brilliant green, methylene blue or Castellani's solution. The drugs do not cure the disease, but help the bubbles dry faster and prevent bacterial infection. In a hospital setting, doctors determine the appearance of new rashes by the colored elements.
Since the rash is accompanied by severe itching, it is important not to allow the elements to scratch. This is fraught with the addition of a secondary infection, as well as the appearance of scars. The baby's nails should be cut short, they should be clean. You can wear thin mittens for the very little one. Distract your child from illness with toys, fairy tales, songs.
Your doctor may prescribe antihistamines to relieve itching.
You can cure chickenpox yourself
When the temperature rises above 38.5 0 C, you need to give the child an antipyretic drug (syrup or candle).
To combat intoxication, it is important to observe the drinking regime of the crumbs. Regularly offer him tea, juice, fruit drink, compote or just water. If your baby is breastfed and not yet receiving complementary foods, breastfeed more often.
You can bathe your child in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, without using a washcloth. It is better to exclude the rest of the water procedures.
It is important to change your underwear daily in order to prevent the spread of rashes, and change your bedding as often as possible.
Complications of chickenpox
In children, including infants, the most common complication is the addition of a secondary infection, which leads to suppuration of the vesicles. With a large amount of infection, antibacterial drugs are prescribed.
A decrease in immunity under the influence of a virus can contribute to the development of bacterial complications: stomatitis, conjunctivitis, parotitis.
In exceptional cases, chickenpox is complicated by chickenpox croup, pneumonia, viral encephalitis or meningoencephalitis, sepsis.
Severe complications can be in severely weakened, emaciated children, as well as in children with immunodeficiency.
Chickenpox is a common disease, and if your baby has the first signs, you should not self-medicate. Be sure to consult your pediatrician.
