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Chickenpox, also called chickenpox, is a disease caused by the highly contagious Varicella-zoster virus, which manifests itself through red spots on the body, blisters and crusts on the body and intense itching. Chickenpox especially affects children, but it can affect individuals of all ages, in which case it is more severe.
Chickenpox symptoms usually appear up to 20 days after contact with someone with the disease, with the appearance of small round blisters filled with liquid and itchy skin. Treatment usually consists of symptom relief.
What symptoms
In the beginning, the first symptoms are usually low fever, around 38ºC, and the appearance of several small blisters on the side of the abdomen. After the first day, these blisters spread and start to appear on the face, scalp, legs and spleens, where they appear in lesser quantities.
Other symptoms that may arise are lack of appetite and general malaise, which can leave the child tired and unwilling to play or even more agitated, as if he were uncomfortable, but for no apparent reason.
In addition, the blisters of chicken pox may present at different stages, and blisters can be identified with liquid, while others are already healing, with crust. It is important for the person to know that as long as the bubbles have liquid, the patient can contaminate others and, therefore, should not go to school or work.
The symptoms of chickenpox in the baby are the same as mentioned above, however, cough and nasal discharge may also appear before the appearance of blisters. In babies under 1 year of age, symptoms are usually mild, causing only a few skin wounds.
How to avoid transmission
The contagion of chicken pox occurs through contact with droplets of saliva, coughing or sneezing from the infected individual and through direct contact with the liquid from the wounds.
The person can transmit chicken pox to others, about 1 to 2 days before the rash, until all the blisters are already crusted. During this period, you should keep your distance from others and avoid frequenting public spaces. Here's how not to get chicken pox from your child.
Anyone who has had chicken pox once is protected from the disease and cannot catch chicken pox again. However, in some cases, the individual who had chickenpox in childhood may develop herpes zoster, especially in the elderly and if they have a compromised immune system, as in people with AIDS or who are undergoing cancer treatments, for example. example.
How the diagnosis is made
The diagnosis of chickenpox is made by the general practitioner or pediatrician based on the evaluation of the symptoms presented, the blisters in the body and, if necessary, he can also order a blood test to confirm the infection.
What is the treatment
Generally, chicken pox treatment is done in order to control symptoms. The doctor may indicate the following precautions:
- Take acetaminophen to lower the fever;
- Take antiallergic or use an antiallergic ointment on the wounds to relieve itching;
- Apply Povidine or chlorhexidine to the blisters to prevent infection and facilitate healing;
- Take 2 or 3 baths a day with cold water and a soap with calamine, to calm the itch;
- Cut your nails very short, to avoid aggravating skin lesions;
- Wash your hands several times a day to reduce the risk of infection of the blisters;
- Avoid salty and acidic foods if there are sores inside the mouth.
In addition, some doctors also recommend bathing with potassium permanganate, to keep the skin clean, free of microorganisms and to help heal wounds of chicken pox. Learn more about how chicken pox is treated.
Chickenpox vaccine
The chickenpox vaccine attenuates the virus and prevents the most severe form of the disease. Thus, if the individual is vaccinated and catches the chicken pox, he will develop a very mild form of the disease, presenting even less typical blisters of chicken pox, which sometimes is not even diagnosed.
The first dose of the vaccine should be administered at 12 months of age and the second at 15 months. This vaccine is part of the basic vaccination calendar of the Brazilian Ministry of Health and is offered free of charge in Basic Health Units.
Possible complications
The most common complication of chicken pox is infection of the blisters, causing pain and redness around the wound and the formation of pus. It can also be suspected that chicken pox blisters are infected when it takes a long time to heal or when it looks wet when it is already without the crust. In this case, the doctor may prescribe an antibiotic.
In some cases, such as people with compromised immunity, newborn babies and pregnant women, if chickenpox is not properly treated, complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis can occur.