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Chicken pox ( chickenpox) is an infectious disease caused by a type of herpes virus. Windmill is considered childhood illness, because most people endure it at preschool and school age. However, if the infection did not occur in childhood, then you can get chickenpox at any age.

Outbreaks of chickenpox among adults often occur in closed groups, in the army among recruits, in boarding schools for people with disabilities. Also at risk are parents of preschoolers who do not have immunity. The incidence is independent of gender and race.

Chickenpox in adults has its own characteristics:

• adults are more difficult to tolerate the disease;
• stronger than in children, intoxication is expressed;
• the temperature rises to 40 degrees and above;
• the rash appears only on the 2-3rd day of illness;
• rashes are numerous and can cover the entire surface of the face and trunk;
• in half of adult patients, the elements of the rash suppurate, pustules form;
• scars remain at the site of deep inflammation - pockmarks;
• complications occur in 20-30% of patients.

Patients with weakened immune systems and people over 50 years of age are especially susceptible to chickenpox.

Causes of chickenpox in adults

Chickenpox causative agent- Human herpes virus type 3, or Varicella Zoster. A viral particle is a DNA molecule surrounded by a protective membrane of lipids.

The virus can only exist in the human body. In the environment, it dies within 15 minutes. This is facilitated by drying, heating, freezing. The causative agent of chickenpox is not transmitted through things and third parties. Animals do not get chickenpox and cannot serve as carriers of the infection.

The main characteristics of the chickenpox virus, which allow infecting a large number of people, are volatility and susceptibility. Virus particles with air currents scatter and penetrate into neighboring rooms, apartments and from one floor to another. And the high susceptibility of people to the chickenpox virus means that upon contact with the patient, almost all people who have not been ill before become infected. In a family where one person falls ill, the risk of illness in the rest of the household is 80-90%. Moreover, in those who became infected later, the disease is more severe and with a large number of rashes.

Source of infection and the main reservoir of infection is a person with chickenpox. There is a risk of infection from a person with shingles.

Ways of infection- airborne and transplacental, when the virus is transmitted from mother to fetus through the placenta.

Incubation period- 10-21 days, more often 14-17. During this time, the virus multiplies on the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx and spreads through the lymphatic system.

Immunity to chickenpox produced after an infection. Post-infection immunity is thought to provide lifelong protection against infection. However, in some people, repeated cases of chickenpox are recorded, which is associated with a weakened immune defense.

What happens in the patient's body?

1. The virus multiplies on the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract.
2. Its number is rapidly increasing. Through the palatine tonsils, the virus enters the lymphatic system, inhibiting its work and reducing the activity of T-lymphocytes.
3. The virus is released into the blood at the end of the incubation period. Viral particles and their metabolic products present in the blood cause fever, weakness and other signs of intoxication.
4. The virus penetrates into the nerve ganglia - the nuclei of the spinal nerves, causing lysis (destruction) of nerve cells. In the future, the virus remains for life in the nerve ganglia. When immunity is weakened, it is activated and spreads along the nerve, provoking the development of herpes zoster.
5. The virus settles in the cells of the epidermis. It causes the appearance of vacuoles - intracellular elements resembling bubbles. Vacuoles of neighboring cells merge with each other, forming cavities, which are the basis of papules. These papules are filled with fluid, which contains a large number of viral particles and protein molecules. The contents of the papule is a good breeding ground for bacteria, so the elements of the rash can fester. In this case, a pustule (a vesicle with purulent contents) forms in place of the papule.
6. The bubble bursts, its contents are poured onto the skin. In place of the bubble, a crust forms, under which the epidermis heals.
7. Starting from the first days of illness, the immune system recognizes the pathogen and begins to produce immunoglobulins that bind toxins and stimulate phagocytosis (absorption) of viral particles. In the future, anti-varicella antibodies remain in the blood of an ill person for life. They provide protection against the recurrence of chickenpox.

Symptoms of chickenpox in adults

Symptoms of chickenpox in adults are a deterioration in general condition, fever, and a maculopapular rash, accompanied by itching. Symptoms of the disease in adults appear much brighter, and the disease is more severe than in children.

There are several periods in the development of the disease:

• Incubation period- the virus multiplies in the cells of the nasopharyngeal mucosa. There are no symptoms of the disease.
• prodromal period- the release of the virus into the blood. Symptoms: fever, deterioration in general condition, weakness, loss of appetite.
• Eruption period- the active phase of the disease, when the virus is localized in the epidermis. It is characterized by the appearance of a rash and itching, which is accompanied by an increase in temperature.
• Period of crusting- the elements of the rash dry up. Anti-varicella antibodies are actively produced in the body, which ensure the binding of the virus and recovery.

Symptoms of chickenpox in adults:

Symptom	Development mechanism	Manifestations
General intoxication	Toxins formed during the life of the virus poison the nervous system.	Weakness, drowsiness, loss of strength. Headache, aches in the lumbar region and in large joints. Nausea, repeated vomiting. The first signs of chickenpox resemble the flu. In adults, intoxication is very pronounced.
Temperature rise	In the process of death of viral particles, pyrogens are formed - substances that provoke an increase in temperature. A large number of pyrogens enter the bloodstream during massive rashes.	Wave fever - during the period of the disease, there are 2-3 rises in temperature, which coincide with massive sprinkling. The temperature rises to 38-40 degrees. The temperature in chickenpox in adults lasts 3-9 days, depending on the severity of the course of the disease. Prolonged fever over 10 days indicates the development of complications.
Rash	Chickenpox is characterized by a maculopapular rash. Its appearance is associated with viral damage to the cells of the epidermis. The elements of the rash go through several stages in their development: spots, papules (nodules) and vesicles (vesicles). All of them can be present on one area of ​​the skin.	In adult patients, chickenpox rash appears 2-3 days after the temperature rises. Spots. Rounded red spots appear on the skin of the upper half of the body, ranging in size from 3 mm to 1 cm. papules(infiltrates) - nodules without a cavity, located in the center of the spots. Formed within 2-3 hours. Vesicles- bubbles filled with transparent contents. They have a hemispherical shape, are located on a hyperemic (red) base. Formed at the site of red spots, for 12-20 hours. crusts formed at the site of ruptured vesicles. On average, from the moment the spot appears to the formation of a crust, 5-7 days pass. Sprinkling occurs randomly on any part of the body with an interval of 1-2 days. Their number varies from single in mild forms to 2000 in severe disease. New rashes continue for 4-5 days.
Skin itching	Changes in epithelial cells cause irritation of sensitive nerve endings that are in the skin. From them, the nerve impulse enters the central nervous system and is perceived by the brain as itching.	Itching appears simultaneously with spots on the skin. He worries patients up to the formation of crusts. Itching intensifies at night, when there are fewer distractions.
Rashes on the oral mucosa	In the cells of the mucous membranes, the same processes occur as in the skin.	Rashes appear simultaneously with a rash on the skin. On the mucous membrane of the gums, palatine arches and soft palate, red spots of 3-5 mm are formed. Over time, nodules form from the spot, and then bubbles. A few hours later, sores (aphthae) appear in their place, covered with a white-yellow coating. Ulcers cause severe pain. Similar rashes appear on the mucous membrane of the vagina in women. They cause severe itching and discomfort.

Classification of chickenpox in adults. Forms and stages

There are several classifications of chickenpox

1. According to the severity of the current

• Mild form in 7-10% of patients. The temperature rises to 38 degrees. The general condition is satisfactory. The number of rashes is moderate.
• Moderate form in 80%. Temperature 38-39 degrees. Severe intoxication - weakness, nausea, vomiting, aching muscles and joints. Eruptions are profuse, accompanied by severe itching.
• Severe form in 10%. Temperature 39-40 degrees. The general condition is severe, severe weakness, repeated vomiting, headache. Rashes can cover the entire surface of the skin. Various complications develop. In severe form, there are several variants of the course:
  • hemorrhagic form. It is rare in immunocompromised patients who have previously had hemorrhagic diseases - damage to blood vessels: hemorrhagic diathesis, vasculitis, thrombocytopathies, blood clotting disorders. Accompanied by the development of a hemorrhagic rash (small hemorrhages), hematomas, bruises, bleeding gums, intestinal bleeding.
  • bullous form. Simultaneously with typical vesicles, large flabby blisters, bullae, appear on the skin. They are filled with cloudy contents and have a folded surface. Long-term non-healing wounds remain at the site of their resolution.
  • Gangrenous form. It is extremely rare in severely malnourished patients, with poor hygiene and poor care. It develops with infection of papules and the addition of a secondary infection. A black border is formed around the papules, consisting of necrotic dead tissue. The disease is accompanied by intense fever and intoxication.

2. By type of course of the disease

• The typical form is manifested by intoxication, fever, and a characteristic rash.
• The atypical form has several variants of the course.
  • Rudimentary form - rise in temperature to 37.5, single elements of the rash, which may look like spots or nodules. The disease often goes unnoticed.
  • Atypical include gangrenous, bullous and hemorrhagic forms described above.
• The generalized (visceral) form is associated with massive damage to the internal organs. It occurs in people with weakened immune systems when the virus multiplies in the cells of the internal organs. It is manifested by pain in the abdomen and lower back, severe damage to the liver, kidneys and nervous system, a decrease in blood pressure and pulse rate.

Diagnostics

Examination by a doctor. As a rule, the diagnosis of chickenpox does not cause difficulties for a specialist. A doctor may suspect chickenpox in an adult by the following signs:

• A characteristic rash that appeared against the background of elevated temperature and deterioration of the general condition;
• Periodic sprinkling, which is accompanied by a rise in temperature;
• False polymorphism of the rash. On a limited area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe skin, various elements of the rash are simultaneously present - spots, nodules and vesicles;
• Localization of the rash on any part of the body, except for the palms and soles;
• Rashes on the mucous membranes of the mouth, genitals and conjunctiva;
• There was contact with a patient with chickenpox.

After examining the skin and mucous membranes, the doctor listens to the condition of the bronchi and lungs, feels the abdomen, and determines the size of the liver. Examination allows early detection of complications. In most cases, other studies are not needed.

• Bacterial superinfection of the skin caused by streptococci and staphylococci is the most common complication. Numerous boils, abscesses and phlegmons form in place of the vesicles. Patients require surgical treatment.
• Chickenpox pneumonia - inflammation of the lungscaused by viral damage to the lung tissue and the formation of bacterial infiltrates. It develops in 20-30% of cases. Characterized by fever, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain.
• Damage to internal organs. The virus multiplies in the cells of internal organs: spleen, pancreas, liver, lungs, heart. It is characterized by damage to several organs at once. On the 3rd-5th day of illness, the patient's condition worsens significantly, there are severe pains in the abdomen. Mortality up to 15%.
• Damage to the central nervous system. It appears 21 days after the onset of the disease. It is characterized by damage to the cerebellum, which is manifested by an imbalance, which is especially noticeable when changing the position of the body, trembling of the limbs, nystagmus (uncontrolled movements of the eyeballs). Diffuse encephalitis is also characteristic, the neurological consequences of which persist for a long time. Manifestations - headache, confusion and mental disorders, nausea, vomiting, epileptic seizures.
• Hepatitis. Liver damage is a rare complication of chickenpox. Predominantly develops in patients with immunodeficiency. Has a high lethality.

Prevention of chickenpox in adults

Prevention of chickenpox in adults has several directions:

• specific prophylaxis. Vaccination against chickenpox is carried out for categories of the population that are prone to severe chickenpox. In a number of regions of the Russian Federation, it is included in the vaccination calendar. More details about the groups to be vaccinated and preparations are described below.
• Nonspecific prevention of chickenpox is based on the timely isolation of the patient, who is the source of infection for others. He is isolated at home for 9 days from the moment the disease is detected. The person is then considered non-infectious. There is no need to disinfect the patient's apartment. Enough daily wet cleaning and ventilation.
• Emergency prevention of chickenpox - the introduction of anti-varicella immunoglobulin or a live vaccine within 96 hours after contact with the patient (preferably in the first 72 hours).

Chickenpox in adults: symptoms, forms of the disease, complications, treatment, vaccinations - video

Answers to frequently asked questions

Should adults be vaccinated against chickenpox?

There are categories of adults who have not had chickenpox who are recommended to be vaccinated against chickenpox:

• People who are preparing for organ transplants.
• Prone to severe chickenpox - hemorrhagic diseases, decreased immunity, age over 50 years.
• Patients at high risk for the disease. These include:
  • patients with leukemia;
  • receiving immunosuppressive therapy (including glucocorticosteroids);
  • patients with malignant tumors;
  • people with severe chronic pathologies - bronchial asthma, collagenoses, autoimmune diseases, chronic renal failure.
• People who are in close contact with patients at high risk of the disease - relatives, family members.
• Medical personnel, especially those working in infectious diseases departments.
• Workers of preschool educational institutions.
• Military personnel.

Vaccination with live vaccines is contraindicated:

• pregnant women;
• cancer patients;
• people suffering from AIDS and primary immunodeficiency states;
• receiving immunosuppressive therapy;
• with hypersensitivity to the components of the vaccine and neomycin.

For chickenpox vaccinations for adults, specific immunoglobulin and a live vaccine are used.

Active immunization against varicella- the introduction of a vaccine based on a live attenuated Varicella Zoster virus. A specially treated pathogen causes a mild asymptomatic form of chickenpox. After this, specific immunoglobulins are produced, which remain in the blood, providing long-term immunity.

• Okavax is a Japanese-made chickenpox vaccine. Enter once subcutaneously into the deltoid muscle. The drug is allowed for children from 12 months of age and adults. Suitable for emergency prophylaxis in the first 72 hours after contact with the patient.
• Varilrix is ​​a Belgian-made vaccine. The drug is injected subcutaneously into the deltoid muscle. For adults, the vaccine is administered 2 times: the first dose on the appointed day, and the second after 4-6 weeks. Allowed for adults and children from 9 months of age. Suitable for emergency prophylaxis during the first 96 hours after contact.

Passive immunization against varicella- the introduction of donor antibodies against the causative agent of chickenpox. They are obtained from the blood plasma of a convalescent (who has had chickenpox). Antibodies (IgG) neutralize the virus that is already present in the body. The drug does not contain the virus itself and does not provide long-term immunity, unlike live vaccines.

• Zostevir is a drug containing immunoglobulin against the varicella-zoster virus. Immunoglobulin against the Varicella Zoster virus can be used for treatment and emergency prophylaxis after contact with the patient. Approved for use from the first day of life, as well as for pregnant women and nursing mothers.

To determine the presence of immunity to chickenpox, a blood test for the detection of antibodies to the Varicella-Zoster virus helps. The result will have to wait 6 days. A positive test result indicates that the person already has immunity against chickenpox and does not need to be vaccinated.

What are the first signs of chickenpox in adults?

The first signs of chickenpox in adults resemble flu symptoms:

• weakness;
• headache;
• loss of appetite;
• temperature rise;
• possible nausea and vomiting.

The rash appears on the 2nd or 3rd day of the fever. The first hours it is represented by red spots. Within a few hours, small elevations form in the center - nodules, which then turn into bubbles.

Is chicken pox possible in adults?

Recurrent chickenpox in adults is possible, especially in immunocompromised people. As a rule, the recurrence of the disease proceeds in a milder form.

Recurrent chickenpox occurs in some categories:

• In people with weakened immune systems. This condition can occur with prolonged use of antibiotics, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants;
• Have completed courses of chemotherapy;
• Those who have undergone severe emotional upheavals;
• In people with diseases of the digestive system and profound malnutrition.

Sometimes recurrent chickenpox in adults is called shingles. This disease is caused by a virus that has remained in the spinal nodes after the first infection with chickenpox.

What does chickenpox look like in adults, photo?

The first days of chickenpox in adults are no different from the flu. On the 3rd day, patients develop a characteristic rash. It has a number of features that distinguish it from other diseases:

Is it possible to have chickenpox without fever?

In rare cases, chickenpox without fever is possible. This is the so-called erased or abortive form.

Symptoms of the erased form:

• Slight malaise - weakness, loss of appetite;
• Single elements of the rash are a few red spots and nodules that usually do not turn into blisters.

Causes of chickenpox without fever:

• Weakened immunity. Viruses and their decay products do not cause an adequate immune response.
• Chickenpox, transferred at an early age (up to a year). In this case, chickenpox in an adult is considered repeated. In his blood there is a small amount of antibodies that prevent the virus from actively multiplying and causing a fever.
• Taking drugs that lower the temperature. At the first symptoms of deterioration, many self-medicate and take drugs containing paracetamol. Thus, they bring down the temperature, and the picture of the disease is distorted.

How long does chickenpox last in adults?

The duration of uncomplicated chickenpox in adults is 9 days from the onset of the first signs. After that, the doctor can close the sick leave.

In practice, in 90% of patients, the disease lasts 10-14 days:

• prodromal period (without rash) - 2-3 days;
• the period of appearance of new rashes is 3-4 days;
• the period of formation of crusts is 5 days (from the moment the last rash appeared).

Only after the last vesicle has crusted over is the patient considered non-infectious. The skin will be completely cleared of crusts in 2-4 weeks.

Do scars remain on the skin?

With an uncomplicated course of the disease, scars after chickenpox do not remain. The varicella-zoster virus infects only the upper layers of the epidermis, and the germ layer responsible for skin repair remains intact.

Scars appear when bacteria enter the vesicle and purulent inflammation develops. In this case, the deep layers of the skin are melted. After the crust falls off, a depression with jagged edges is found under it - pockmark. In the future, the "fossa" remains, but is aligned in color with the surrounding skin.

How to prevent the appearance of scars after chickenpox?

• Compliance with hygiene rules - regular change of linen, shower;
• Treatment of the rash with antiseptics - brilliant green, fucorcin;
• Prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics at the first appearance of pustules.

What to do if there are scars after chickenpox?

• Ointments and gels for the treatment of scars. Rub a small amount of gel into the scar 2-3 times a day. For chronic scars, the gel is applied under a bandage at night. The course of treatment can take from 1 month to a year. For treatment are used:
  • Contractubex;
  • Aldara;
  • Kelofibrase;
  • Scarguard.
• Injection of collagen under the skin. The substance fills the skin defect and stimulates the formation of connective fibers.
• Chemical peeling using phenol. Under the influence of aggressive chemicals, the keratinized layer of the epidermis and dermis is removed. After the restoration of the epidermis (takes up to 2 weeks), the skin becomes smooth.
• Laser skin resurfacing. A focused laser beam penetrates the superficial layers of the dermis and heats them up, evaporating water. After the regeneration of skin cells, its surface is leveled. Caution: Carbon dioxide laser treatment may cause a hypertrophic keloid scar that rises above the skin. Therefore, an erbium or carbon dioxide laser is used.

Chickenpox is traditionally considered a "childhood" disease, but this does not mean at all that it does not threaten adults. Chickenpox in adults develops much sharper and more dangerous than in childhood. If in childhood chickenpox passes in a mild form, then for adults it will most likely be a moderately severe or severe course. Every year and closer to mature, old age, chickenpox is more and more at risk of provoking complications.

Causes of chickenpox in adults

Once having had chickenpox, you can no longer be afraid of this infection. From chickenpox, a person develops a strong immunity. That is why it is not fiction, but absolutely real stories that familiar children are taken to visit each other, one has only to catch chickenpox.

The chickenpox virus belongs to the herpesvirus family and is called Varicella zoster. It spreads by airborne droplets, is able to move in the air for meter distances. Due to its small size, the virus easily penetrates from room to room, including through ventilation. The source of the virus is a person who is in a state of active disease or only at the end of the incubation period. The incubation period is estimated at 10-21 days from the moment of infection with the virus. Although the virus is characterized as highly infectious and volatile, it is not at all resistant to the external environment, which means that third parties and objects are not a source of infection.

From the first day of the onset of symptoms, a person needs strict quarantine, since the one who follows him in the elevator, corridor, etc. is at risk.

At the same time, contact with a sick person for an adult and even a child does not at all mean mandatory infection. It's about immunity. Of course, the immunity of an adult is stronger and more formed than that of a child, but sometimes it also weakens. The protective functions of the body can decrease against the background of a severe illness, ongoing treatment, severe stress and other adverse factors.

Another reason for the occurrence chickenpox in adults lies in contact with a patient with herpes zoster in the acute stage. Being a virus related to shingles, chickenpox can again overtake a person with suppressed immunity.

Pregnant women are at particular risk. Pregnant women are not vaccinated. If for the woman herself the disease proceeds with exactly the same risks as for other adults, then the virus poses a particular danger directly to the fetus. As with most other infectious diseases, in the case of chickenpox, the greatest risks fall on the first trimester of pregnancy and the days before delivery:

• at the beginning of pregnancy, the chickenpox virus can lead to both involuntary abortion, miscarriage, stillbirth, and a variety of congenital pathologies;
• from a woman giving birth in a state of illness, the virus can be transmitted to a newborn who is provoked by chickenpox pneumonia; it is dangerously fatal.

If a woman had chickenpox at the beginning of pregnancy, then subsequent ultrasound examinations and other diagnostic methods are aimed at identifying or eliminating congenital anomalies in the fetus. If the virus overtakes by the end of the term, then an attempt can be made to delay the birth. In extreme cases, immunoglobulins are used, which contain antibodies to the causative agent of the disease.

Prevention of chickenpox in adults

The most reliable way to exclude the possibility of chickenpox is the presence of the disease in a life history. That is, having been ill only once - in childhood, youth and even adulthood - a person develops a strong immunity that does not allow him to get sick again. At the same time, chicken pox does not go unnoticed. The virus is “remembered” by nerve endings, and under adverse circumstances it manifests itself as shingles.

If you think that it is possible and necessary to get chickenpox, that this is an affordable way to prevent its severe form in adulthood, then remember that exacerbations of shingles are not limited to one time. This disease is no less unpleasant than smallpox itself. It is accompanied by unbearable burning pains.

To prevent chickenpox or shingles later, vaccination is an excellent way to prevent it. The immunity formed from it cannot be called lifelong, but it is characterized as persistent and long-lasting. Is a vaccine needed at the moment, are there any antibodies to the virus in the blood Varicella zoster after a previous vaccination, a blood test from a vein will show. In the presence of antibodies, there is no need for vaccination.

The vaccine contains a live attenuated strain. It is performed in two injections, with a difference of 1-2 months. Suitable for both routine and emergency vaccinations. The latter is taken in the next 72 hours after the first contact with the patient. Vaccination is appropriate for both adults and children older than one year. It is appropriate to vaccinate against chickenpox in combination with vaccinations against measles, mumps and rubella.

The chickenpox vaccination can cause a number of side effects. Among the most frequent, but by no means obligatory side effects are the mildest symptoms of chickenpox, fever. However, this is not a reason to refuse vaccination. The real reason to think about the need for vaccination is likely to be an allergic reaction, in particular to gelatin and other components of the vaccine.

Symptoms of chickenpox in adults

Symptoms chickenpox in adults in many ways similar to the manifestations of the disease in childhood. However, each symptom is tolerated by the body an order of magnitude harder.

Chickenpox begins in adults suddenly, with an acute outbreak. Among the salient features:

• general weakness and body aches,
• headache,
• nausea, sometimes vomiting, indicating the development of intoxication in the body,
• fever - the temperature rises sharply to 39-40 ° C,
• a specific sign of chickenpox in adults is an increase in lymph nodes - behind the ear and neck - they reach sizes visible to the eye, tense up and become painful,
• and the most obvious sign of smallpox is a rash.

The rash during chickenpox in adults, as in children, is somewhat specific:

• it itches and burns very strongly, literally depriving a person of sleep;
• starts from the abdomen and thighs;
• spreads upwards over the shoulders and chest;
• lastly affects the face and scalp;
• can spread not only through the skin, but also through the mucous membranes of the body - the oral cavity and the mucous membrane of the pharynx, sometimes even the mucous membrane of the genital organs;
• a rash that has just appeared is a small red tubercle, gradually transforming into a transparent bubble;
• transparent bubbles at their base retain a red color, and contain liquid inside;
• bursting easily, the bubbles turn into wet sores (vesicles), which are covered with a thin crust on top;
• several weeks may pass until the self-rejection of the crust, which is considered the end of the disease.

The formation of a rash lasts 3-5 days. During this time, the first tubercles have time to burst and turn into sores, while the latter only appear. Often, on the patient's body, one can simultaneously observe them, and red spots, and tubercles, and dried crusts. A person ceases to be potentially dangerous to others as soon as the last crust of a burst vesicle falls off.

Complications of chickenpox in adults

The most common complication of chickenpox in adults is infection of the skin as a result of excessive scratching of the itchy rash. Ideally, the rash does not need to be touched at all - scratching it, peeling off the crusts, squeezing out the contents (especially in a dream) - but this is quite difficult. You can damage the bubbles by rubbing the body with a towel. It is necessary to exercise caution and maximum accuracy with rashes in order to prevent infection, suppuration, and sometimes necrotic processes in pustules. If you prematurely tear off the crusts from the pustules, a so-called smallpox is formed, which eventually turned into a scar. It is necessary to be prepared for the fact that the chickenpox rash in adults lasts longer, spreads more abundantly, and the drying and rejection of the crusts is also longer.

There is always a risk of such severe forms of chickenpox as hemorrhagic and gangrenous. The first is due to damage to the blood vessels, and then the contents of the bubbles contain blood impurities. The second is due to the processes of decay inside the rashes, and as a result, deep ulcers are formed with the highest risk of infection.

Other sources of infection on the skin and mucous membranes in case of chickenpox in adults there is a risk of non-compliance with banal hygiene measures, combing the rash with dirty hands / nails, ignoring the use of special healing and antiseptic agents for external use, etc. The risk of infection of ulcers in adults is much higher than in children.

It is important to note that infection of the pustules is not the only danger initiated by the varicella-zoster virus. In adults, and even more so in adolescence and old age, the risk of developing the following complications of chickenpox increases significantly:

• chickenpox pneumonia - the penetration of the virus into the bronchopulmonary system is more often observed in people with impaired immune systems, especially in adolescents and pregnant women;
• loss of vision, optic neuritis - if the smallpox virus spreads to the cornea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe eye due to poor hygiene (for example, if you rub your eyes with your hands immediately after scratching the papules), rashes can appear even on the white of the eye, as well as on the temples, under the eyes and above over the centuries; in this case, scars will remain in place of the bubbles, this affects the state of vision up to its complete loss;
• arthritis or inflammation of the joints occurs if the virus enters the joint capsules, the joints themselves; pain, like muscle aches, disappears along with the neutralization of the rash;
• meningitis and encephalitis, damage to the cerebellum and nuclei of the cranial nerves - an unfavorable course of chickenpox that occurs when the chickenpox virus reaches the nerve cells and meninges; the main symptoms are headache, nausea, convulsions, loss of consciousness, impaired coordination of movements and a sense of balance, paralysis of the facial muscles;
• chickenpox tracheitis or laryngitis - the main course of chickenpox in adults, less often in children, is accompanied by cough and sore throat; this will take place if rashes develop on the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and pharynx, and they will be plentiful;
• acute stomatitis - pesters the patient when chickenpox sores are localized on the oral mucosa and gums;
• vulvitis in women and balanoposthitis in men develop when a blistering rash occurs on the genitals.

How to treat chickenpox in adults?

First of all, a disclaimer regarding business and employment. If the parents still rush to leave the baby at the first signs of chickenpox at home, then among adults there will certainly be those who would like to ignore and endure an outbreak of chickenpox “on their feet”. Most likely, your attempt will end in failure. On the 3-5th day of the illness, at least the temperature and body aches will force you to stay in bed.

At the same time, in the last days of the incubation period and in the first days of the exacerbation of the virus, it will be possible to find strength for a normal pace of life. Do not make such an oversight, even if there are many urgent things to do. Think not about yourself, but about the people with whom you will be in contact. During these periods, it is you who are the source of the virus. If you have had the carelessness to contact an adult or child with obvious signs of chickenpox, be attentive to your well-being in the next 10-21 days. The most reasonable thing is to get vaccinated in the first three days after contact.

If infection could not be avoided, if you stayed at home in bed, then the treatment of chickenpox is not limited to this. It would be advisable to consult a specialized specialist, but it is strictly not recommended to go to the clinic for a patient with chickenpox. You need to call a doctor at home and inform the dispatcher about the details of your clinical case.

The therapist after the examination will make an appropriate conclusion and open a sick leave. It will be possible to close it only when the doctor makes sure that there are no pustules or dried crusts left on your body. Parents whose child has more chickenpox also open a sick leave. The goal is to always minimize the risk of infection for those who come into contact with the source of the virus.

As for the treatment itself, in the majority of cases it is symptomatic. That is, funds are prescribed to relieve itching and burning of the rash. Usually these are drugs based on antiviral components, interferon. If the doctor sees an infection joining the wounds, he may prescribe antibiotics, both for oral administration and for topical use. Another symptom requiring pharmaceutical treatment is body temperature. It rises sharply and up to the maximum permissible values ​​(39-40°C). In no case should such a temperature be tolerated, and therefore antipyretic drugs are prescribed, for example, based on ibuprofen or paracetamol.

As already noted, chickenpox in adults with the highest risk of infection. This is the most common complication. To prevent it, you need to "dry" and disinfect the wounds that are constantly formed during smallpox. A solution of brilliant green or calamine lotion (this is a colorless antiseptic) does an excellent job with this task. If rashes are found in the mouth, then the mucosa is indicated to be treated with rinses containing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

To avoid scarring chickenpox in adults failed, then laser hair removal methods will come to the rescue. This is the surest way to normalize the condition of the skin.

Such an acute viral disease as chickenpox (chickenpox) can result in adults not only with mild complications in the form of a bacterial infection on the skin affected by viruses, but also with severe ones, in the form of pneumonia of a bacterial or viral nature, as well as encephalitis and encephalomyelitis - brain lesions .

Effects of chickenpox caused by exposure to the virus include:

Chickenpox tracheitis or laryngitis - occur as a result of damage to the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract with an abundant viral rash. Accompanied by dry rough, pain along the trachea, difficulty breathing.

Varicella pneumonia of a viral nature - manifested by a long-lasting cough and a general violation of the patient's condition. Their course is rarely severe, often patients endure them imperceptibly. The exception is severe viral infections, which are characterized by high fever and a constant hysterical cough, sometimes with an admixture of blood. Such conditions require immediate hospitalization of the patient and active antiviral treatment in a hospital setting.

Acute stomatitis - develop as a result of numerous chickenpox sores, leading to painful sensations when swallowing and chewing due to erosions on the soft and hard palate, oral mucosa and gums.

Painful inflammation of the foreskin and glans penis in men - manifests itself as a result of the development of a confluent blistering rash on the genitals. In women, the mucous membrane of the labia is involved in this process, vulvitis develops.

When the chickenpox virus affects nerve cells and meninges, chickenpox encephalitis and chickenpox develop. Patients may experience severe headache, accompanied by nausea and vomiting, loss of consciousness, impaired sense of balance and coordination of movement. The neurological consequences of chickenpox, with proper treatment in a hospital, usually pass quickly, after a few weeks, complete regression and recovery completely occur.

There may be such complications of chickenpox as serous or purulent, myocarditis, nephritis,. Very often there is a painful increase in regional lymph nodes.

However, most often the effects of chickenpox remain on the skin. Although the virus affects only the upper layer of the epidermis, patients, due to unbearable itching, tear off the formed crusts and comb the erosions they have closed. This leads to the fact that after the complete healing of the rashes, scars remain at the site of scratching. In most cases, after one to two months, they are completely smoothed out and gradually disappear. With the defeat of the deeper layers of the epidermis, the scars remain for life.

With reduced immunity, purulent-inflammatory diseases can develop, such as bullous streptoderma, phlegmon, erysipelas, even if you strictly follow the rules of personal hygiene and all the doctor's recommendations.

In place of bullous streptoderma caused by streptococci, large blisters with cloudy contents appear, rapidly increasing in size. After the opening of the bubbles, erosive surfaces are formed, growing along the periphery. With a mixed infection, the blisters are yellow and subsequently yellow crusts form. The rashes often merge and form a continuous crust on the skin. Treatment of such complications is usually long, often recurrent and is carried out strictly under the supervision of a physician.

Incubation period for chickenpox in adults

If you were in direct contact with a person who turned out to be sick with chickenpox after some time, then do not rush to panic, because a person becomes contagious 2-3 days before the appearance of rashes on the body, and they develop approximately 10-23 days after infection.

It is known that almost every infectious disease has a time of latent course, when the infection has already invaded the body, began to adapt and develop, but the clinical manifestations of the disease are still absent. This period is called the incubation period and it lasts until the first symptoms of the disease appear. Usually the incubation period of chickenpox in adults consists of three stages:

1. Approximate start of the incubation period. It is considered from the moment of the first contact with a sick person, if the disease has already manifested itself in an acutely current form. Usually, one or two days are added to this date, which is necessary for the chickenpox virus to take root in the human body.

2. Development of the incubation period. The causative agent at this time begins to actively multiply, its concentration in the body increases. First of all, the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract is affected, the virus adapts there and passes to neighboring cells, that is, the infection grows along the periphery.

3. End of the incubation period. When the amount of the pathogen reaches the required volume, it enters the bloodstream and is carried by the bloodstream throughout the body. At this stage, the virus penetrates the skin cells - the epidermis, causing the appearance of the first symptom characteristic of chickenpox - a skin rash. The human immune system begins to actively resist the infection and produce antibodies to the disease. As a result of this counteraction of viruses with antibodies, the patient's body temperature rises sharply, chills appear, and general malaise.

The duration of the incubation period averages from one to three weeks (it cannot be less than one week, but can last more than three weeks). The difference in the duration of the incubation period depends on a number of reasons, and the volume of the chickenpox virus in the body at the time of infection, the degree of pathogenicity of this type of virus, and the state of the immune system play a huge role in this. The place of infection of a person is also of great importance, since a much larger number of pathogens are usually present indoors than outdoors.

As clinical studies show, it is not necessary that the incubation period will proceed in three stages, the clinical manifestations of the disease can begin in any of them. It is believed that seven days after contact with a patient with chickenpox, a person himself can serve as a source of infection, since it is not known exactly how quickly the virus multiplies in the body.

Chickenpox has one characteristic that makes it very dangerous for others: after the prescribed three weeks of the incubation period and in the absence of obvious clinical manifestations of the disease, a person can begin to lead a normal life, thinking that the danger of infection for others has passed.

There are known cases of the course of the disease in a secretive form, when a small amount of a rash may appear on the face and body of the patient, insufficient to suspect one of the symptoms of chickenpox. However, such a patient is able at the same time to infect others.

The end of the incubation period is considered the beginning of the manifestation of the first signs of the disease, while most often the body temperature rises and a rash appears, which is a direct indication for isolation of the patient.

Expert editor: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich| MD general practitioner

Education: Moscow Medical Institute. I. M. Sechenov, specialty - "Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".

Chickenpox in adult women, the consequences of which can be negative, often occurs in moderate or severe form. In childhood, the disease has a milder course. People who have not had an illness earlier are more at risk of becoming infected at an older age. However, even those who are immune to chickenpox can catch it.

The causative agent of chickenpox - HSV type 3 is easily transmitted by coughing, sneezing or talking. It moves well through ventilation.

You can get infected from:

• an infected person 2-3 days before the onset of his first symptoms;
• a person who is in the active stage of the disease;
• the one who suffered chickenpox, if less than 5 days have passed since the formation of the last bubble;
• a patient with herpes zoster in the acute stage.

Those who have strong immunity are less likely than other people to become infected.

Symptoms of chickenpox in women

The symptoms of the disease in women are the same as in. A characteristic rash appears, body temperature rises, symptoms of intoxication appear. Unlike children, vesicles in adults cause more pronounced discomfort, first appear on the abdomen and thighs, and often affect the mucous membranes of the external genital organs.

Treatment of chickenpox in women

With chickenpox, you need to adhere to a diet and bed rest, use antiviral and antipyretic drugs. It is advisable to treat the affected areas with special creams, ointments or lotions.

The most common consequence of the disease is the addition of a secondary skin infection. However, it can be prevented by not scratching the rash. To relieve severe itching, it is recommended to use antihistamines and apply a brilliant green solution to the vesicles.

How long chickenpox lasts in adult women depends on the characteristics of immunity and how the disease is treated. Sometimes, even at an older age, the disease proceeds relatively easily. In the presence of complications, recovery usually occurs within 1.5 months.

Complications after chickenpox in adult women

A frequent consequence of the disease is infection of the skin due to peeling of rashes, which are highly undesirable to injure. If the crusts from the pustules are damaged, smallpox appears, eventually turning into a scar. Rashes in adult women last much longer than in children, and affect most of the skin.

At an older age, there is a risk of developing complicated forms of chickenpox:

• hemorrhagic, which occurs when the vessels are damaged and is characterized by the accumulation of blood in the vesicles;
• gangrenous, which appears due to decay inside the rash, and the formation of ulcers at the site of vesicles, which increases the risk of secondary infection.

The likelihood of penetration of microorganisms into the chickenpox rash increases with:

• ignoring the rules of personal hygiene;
• combing pimples with unwashed hands;
• lack of proper skin care.

Chickenpox at the age of 30, as well as at an older age, can lead to complications:

• pneumonia caused by HSV type 3 or bacterial flora;
• optic neuritis, which usually develops when the pathogen enters the eye after scratching the vesicles;
• arthritis (inflammation of the joints) of a reactive nature, i.e., self-eliminating after a person recovers;
• meningitis, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), which are characterized by severe headaches, vomiting, convulsions;
• viral laryngitis or tracheitis with a pronounced cough, pain in the throat (with a rash of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract);
• acute stomatitis (in case of localization of rashes in the oral cavity and on the gums);
• vulvitis (in case of damage by vesicles of the external genital organs);
• liver disease - hepatitis;
• lymphadenitis (inflammation of the lymph nodes).

Delayed menstruation with chickenpox is not uncommon. After the illness, the menstrual cycle is gradually restored. HSV type 3 does not affect reproductive function in any way, but pregnancy planning should begin some time after recovery.

The consequences of chickenpox during childbirth

During the gestational period, vaccination is not carried out. A pregnant woman with chickenpox may be able to tolerate it normally. For the fetus, HSV type 3 is dangerous, especially if the infection occurred in the first trimester of pregnancy or shortly before childbirth.

Likely risks:

• at an early stage of gestation, the causative agent of the disease can lead to spontaneous abortion, congenital anomalies in the development of the child;
• childbirth during chickenpox can lead to infection of the baby, which is fraught with the development of viral pneumonia in him.

If the expectant mother had a disease at the beginning of pregnancy, then doctors carefully monitor the development of the fetus using ultrasound. When infected before childbirth, attempts are made to delay them or immunoglobulin is administered, which includes antibodies to type 3 HSV.

Prevention of complications

The incubation period for chickenpox is 10-21 days. If there was contact with a person infected with HSV type 3, then within 3 days after that you can get vaccinated. This measure will protect against the development of the disease or significantly smooth out its manifestations. In addition, upon contact with an infected person, it is possible to administer varicella-zoster immunoglobulin.

According to statistics, complications after chickenpox in adult women occur in no more than 10% of cases. Those most at risk are those suffering from blood diseases and the human immunodeficiency virus. With timely and proper treatment, negative consequences can usually be avoided.

To prevent complications, it is advisable to use Acyclovir, an antiviral drug aimed at combating HSV. There is also an ointment of the same name that allows you to reduce the area of ​​\u200b\u200bdamage to the skin.

After the transferred chickenpox, lifelong immunity is formed. However, type 3 HSV remains forever in the blood and, with a decrease in the body's defenses, it reminds of itself with shingles. Vaccination (live attenuated vaccine) provides protection for 20 years.

Chickenpox vaccination is an effective way to prevent the disease. Especially women who are planning a pregnancy should take care to be vaccinated. After vaccination, conception is delayed for 3 months.

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In adults, chickenpox is more complex, for example, intoxication is stronger, fever is longer, and suppuration is highly likely. Chickenpox is a disease caused by the herpesvirus type 3. The difference between chickenpox in children and adults is only in the severity of the course. Chickenpox in adults is more severe than in children. How does chickenpox manifest itself in adults. You have been diagnosed with chickenpox. Chickenpox during pregnancy: what is the danger to the child? Chickenpox in adults: serious complications of a childhood illness. Chickenpox in children: you just have to survive. Chicken pox - incubation period The incubation period averages from 10 to 21 days.

Adults rarely get chickenpox, as most of them have already had this disease in childhood. But if a person avoided infection in childhood and became infected as an adult, then the disease can be very difficult and give various complications. It is especially undesirable for pregnant women to get chickenpox.During chicken pox, the following periods are distinguished: incubation, prodromal period, periods of rash and crusting. Incubation period for patients aged 30 years is 11-21 days, up to 30 years 13-17 days (average 14). Incubation period wind smallpox (incubation period chickenpox) ranges from 10 to 23 days, averaging 13-17 days. The incidence of chickenpox increases in the winter-spring period.

Features of chickenpox (chickenpox) in adults
The vast majority of adults have had chickenpox in childhood. And those who did not get sick with chickenpox in childhood should not get sick at all - this is prevented by the good immunity of adults.

Chickenpox is most often ill with those whose immunity is weakened, for example, after a recent serious illness, treatment that suppresses immunity (for example, after chemotherapy or radiation therapy for malignant tumors). Relatively often, adolescents get sick with chickenpox - their immunity decreases against the background of hormonal changes in the body.

You can get chickenpox from your own child or from an adult with shingles, a disease caused by the same virus as chickenpox.

The main symptoms of chickenpox in adults

Chickenpox in adults is usually more severe than in children. After an incubation period (from a week to three weeks), the patient suddenly has a high fever, which can last up to three days. At this time, you can think of any diagnosis - from an atypical viral infection to pyelonephritis. After some time (this period may vary), dotted or larger nodular red raised rashes may appear on the skin. This is the so-called resh - a scarlet-like or measles-like rash. After some time, the resh disappears and a typical blistering rash appears instead. Sometimes bubbles appear when the resh has not yet passed. The bubbles are about 2-3 mm in size, but many are much larger, up to 1 cm in diameter.

It does not pour out all the rash at once and there is no definite sequence in the rash of the rash on a particular part of the body. Rashes pass in waves, more often daily, at this time the temperature reaches very high numbers, and when the wave ends, the temperature drops slightly. Such waves literally exhaust the patients, depriving them of their physical strength. Thus, fresh elements of the rash and dried crusts are simultaneously present on the skin.

But over time, there are fewer and fewer new rashes, the temperature also does not rise to very high numbers, and when new rashes no longer appear, the temperature also decreases.

As in children, the disease can be mild, moderate, or severe. The duration of the rash period is from 2-3 days with a mild form of the disease to 4-5 days with a moderate form and up to 9 days with a severe form.

Chickenpox is especially severe in adults with sharply reduced immunity, for example, against the background of treatment with immunosuppressants (drugs that suppress immunity, they are used in the treatment of malignant tumors, in certain blood diseases). In this case, the process can take on a generalized character with damage not only to the skin and visible mucous membranes, but also to internal organs. Quite often in such cases there is a viral (primary) pneumonia, damage to the liver and kidneys. But the most severe symptom is brain damage with the development of encephalitis.

Severe forms of chickenpox

There are also severe forms of chickenpox, for example, a hemorrhagic form, with damage to the walls of blood vessels. In this case, the contents of the vesicles on the skin become bloody, the temperature rises to especially high numbers. With rashes on the mucous membrane of the stomach, hematemesis can begin, and with rashes in the nasopharynx, nosebleeds. There may also be hemoptysis, blood in the urine.

Sometimes, next to the usual bubble rashes, a rash appears with areas of necrosis, after which, rather deep ulcers form on the skin and mucous membranes. This is a gangrenous form of chickenpox, it also proceeds severely, with a high temperature.

Any form of chickenpox is dangerous for an adult, as a secondary, bacterial infection often joins a viral infection, and this immediately significantly aggravates the course of the disease.

Thus, chickenpox in adults is not at all a simple disease and it is much better for them to get sick in childhood. Chickenpox is especially dangerous for pregnant women. A pregnant woman who did not have chickenpox as a child should beware of possible contact with children who are quarantined for chickenpox, as well as contact with adults suffering from shingles.

Treatment of chickenpox in adults

The treatment of chickenpox in adults is not much different from the treatment of chickenpox in children. Elevated body temperature must be brought down with antipyretics. And then it is necessary to relieve itching and reduce the likelihood of scratching the wounds and introducing a bacterial infection. For this purpose, you can use antiseptics (in particular, brilliant green, yellow rivanol and methylene blue), or desensitizing drugs (diazolin, suprastin, tavegil, etc.). Antiseptics allow you to accelerate the healing and drying of wounds.

It is highly likely that your doctor will strongly recommend that you lubricate all the blisters with a solution of brilliant green (popularly “brilliant green”) or fucorcin (“red”). Gather your will into a fist and mentally prepare for the fact that for a couple of weeks in this life you will have to be painted in a green or red spot, respectively.

Chickenpox rash should not be wetted. In no case do not take a bath or shower before 3 days have passed since the last blisters appeared - this is fraught with serious complications! The maximum allowable is only intimate hygiene.

To relieve or at least relieve itching, take one tablet of diazolin after meals in the morning and evening. Since this drug also has a hypnotic effect on most people, you will be able to sleep through most of the worst first week of chickenpox with less pain and minimal blisters.

Toward the end of 2 weeks, the blisters will “sit down”, dry out and begin to crumble, leaving in their place circles of pale pink skin that is sensitive to temperature changes. Conquer the temptation to speed up the exfoliation process, otherwise a scar will remain in place of the blister that has not yet completely healed, and if this is the area of ​​​​growth of eyebrows, mustaches and beards, then an ugly bald spot, the hairs on which will no longer be restored.

For about another 1-1.5 months, your delicate skin at the site of the blisters will differ from the main shade, and after that, only memories will remain from the chickenpox that overtook you, over which, over time, I'm sure you can laugh.

To avoid various complications, it is necessary to observe strict bed rest, monitor personal hygiene, as well as the cleanliness of bed linen and nails. As with any disease, chickenpox in adults requires a plentiful drinking regime - this contributes to the rapid removal of toxins from the body and speeds up recovery. You should also stick to a dairy diet, and exclude fatty and fried foods from the diet.

Chickenpox in adults can give the following complications:

• Varicella pneumonia, which most often develops in adolescents, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems.
• Loss of vision - this is possible if the rash has affected the cornea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe eye. In this case, scars remain in place of the bubbles, which can lead to complete or partial loss of vision.
• Inflammation of the joints, or arthritis. As a rule, pain in the joints and muscles in patients with chickenpox are observed until the rash passes.
• Optic neuritis.
• Meningitis, or inflammation of the tissues of the spinal cord and brain.

Encephalitis. As a rule, it develops 5-10 days after the appearance of rashes on the body, and affects most of the brain (whereas in children, encephalitis affects mainly the cerebellum). The presence of encephalitis is evidenced by such symptoms - drowsiness, nausea, headaches, confused thoughts, increased sensitivity to light, less often - seizures and tremors. In especially acute cases, treatment is carried out in a hospital.

Chickenpox during pregnancy

Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful states of any woman. Carrying a child is not an easy task, and the expectant mother should think not only about herself and her own health, but also about the safety of her child. It is quite difficult to protect yourself from various diseases for 9 months, especially since at least once a woman gets into the epicenter of various diseases. And if the usual SARS does not pose a big threat to the health of the child, then other diseases can have much more serious consequences. One of such dangerous diseases for the health of the unborn child is chickenpox.

Chickenpox during pregnancy. Adults tolerate chickenpox more severely than children. This applies to absolutely everyone, because even expectant mothers who are carrying children can get chickenpox. And even though pregnant women are not at risk for chickenpox (per 1000 cases, according to statistics, the number of pregnant women is 0.5-0.7), chickenpox during pregnancy is still possible, and this disease requires a special relationship with both the mother and the unborn child.

Unfortunately, many simply do not remember or do not know if they had chickenpox as a child. Therefore, before planning a pregnancy, you should pass an appropriate test for the presence of antibodies to chickenpox in the blood. This is much better than guessing about whether there is a risk of the disease, and whether it is worth fearing chickenpox patients and contacts with them. The presence of antibodies in the blood plasma indicates that both mother and child are safe. But the absence of antibodies suggests that you should be careful and there is a risk of catching chickenpox, especially since with its high degree of contagiousness this is not difficult. For the mother herself, chickenpox is not dangerous, but for the body of the unborn child, it poses a particular threat. The most dangerous periods for the health of the child are the beginning of pregnancy and a few days immediately before childbirth. Let's look at both options in more detail.

In the case when chickenpox develops during pregnancy in the early stages in the early stages, this can cause involuntary abortion, miscarriage, the birth of a dead child, and also lead to various congenital pathologies and deformities. In the future, the course of the disease is more calm. For up to 14 weeks, the chance of contracting a baby with chickenpox is 0.4%, for a period of up to 20 weeks a little more - 2%, and after 20 weeks of pregnancy, the risk of infecting the baby is minimal. The most dangerous interval is the interval of 2-10 days before the birth of the child and a few days after the birth. Chickenpox during late pregnancy, just before the birth of a child, can provoke chickenpox pneumonia (in 10-20% of cases) or lead to the death of the baby (20-30%).

In order to avoid serious consequences for the child, you can slightly delay the birth. In extreme cases, immunoglobulins are used, which contain antibodies to the causative agent of the disease. This minimizes the chance of intrauterine fetal death.

How can chickenpox be treated in pregnant women if many drugs cannot be used? Vaccination of pregnant women is also not performed; in especially severe cases, the introduction of immunoglobulins is acceptable. If the skin is itchy, you can wipe it with calamine lotions. With suppuration of the vesicles, you can use an ointment, which includes batracin. With the development of pulmonary pneumonia in pregnant women, acyclovir is prescribed at the rate of 30 mg per 1 kg during the day.

Article tags: chickenpox, chickenpox in children, chickenpox in adults - complications: possible encephalitis