Chickenpox is a very common pathology especially in children and babies, however it can present to adolescents and adults thanks to its high level of infection. Although it is not so alarming in children, chickenpox can cause serious consequences in infants under one year of age or in adolescents over fifteen years of age and adults, therefore we must pay close attention.
What is chickenpox and what are its symptoms
This infection commonly presented in infants, is caused by Varicella Zoster Virus or as its acronym indicates (VVZ) and is characterized by being highly contagious, but not a serious disease.
Although chickenpox may be accompanied by fever and general malaise, the main symptom of the infection is the appearance of reddish granites, which with the passing of days are becoming blisters and consequently in hives that have very intense itching. These changes in the skin can vary depending on each patient and even present simultaneously.
The normal thing is that the infection lasts from one to two weeks and the first symptoms begin to appear after about 15 days after the infection. The most common symptoms of chickenpox in babies are:
- Skin rash:or as it is also known, rash. This begins mainly in the back and face and can pass to other areas such as the chest, arms and legs. They begin as small red dots, but quickly turn into blisters with fluid inside them forming a rash spread over the body.
- Itching:tends to be extremely intense from the beginning of the rash and intensifies as vesicles or blisters form or grow. This is a very delicate issue since it is necessary to avoid to the maximum that the infant scratches, this will help to prevent the appearance of scars or major marks.
- Malaise:within this set are symptoms like fatigue, tiredness, and fever can be mild or quite high, headaches and even lack of appetite, especially in infants and young children.
How can chickenpox spread in babies?
Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease that can affect a large part of the family if they have not had it or, if they are not vaccinated against it or they did not already suffer as a child. As I discussed earlier, Varicella Zoster Virus infection is relative for each person and can occur for 10-20 days without showing any symptoms, making the patient’s relatives an easy target.
The routes of contagion of chickenpox in babies can be several and here are the main ones:
- Nasal or buccal secretions:this form of infection is really common and occurs when particles are inhaled, whether from saliva or respiratory secretions from a person with chickenpox. This mainly affects people who speak directly with the patient.
- Contact with a contagious person: youcan get chickenpox by dealing directly with a person who has the virus. The blisters or vesicles that this disease generates contain the Herpes Zoster virus, giving the possibility of transmitting to a healthy person if direct contact is maintained.
- Pregnant mother to the fetus:this type of infection is known as congenital varicella and occurs mainly when the pregnant woman presents the virus in the first two trimesters of pregnancy. When this situation occurs, pregnancy immediately becomes a high risk, due to complications that may occur: blindness, malformation and damage to the nervous system that can be fatal to the fetus. Postnatal varicella may also occur, which occurs days later or immediately after delivery, in both cases being equally serious and requiring specialized medical attention.
Treatment and prevention of chickenpox in babies
In most cases chickenpox is cured with rest and rest. Generally, in a period of 10 days a baby must be recovered, however in adults the term may be longer.
Regarding the treatment of chickenpox , it is important to take into account that there is no special medicine or drug to treat the chickenpox virus, however several measures can be used to achieve a more satisfactory and quick recovery:
- Cut the nails to avoid any injury by scratching or infection.
- Among the best home remedies for chickenpox, we recommend making a solution of mineral water with little sodium bicarbonate and applying it with the help of a cloth on the skin of the infant to generate relief from itching.
- Constantly change the child’s underwear and be very attentive if you have pains when urinating and consult the pediatrician.
- Avoid medications with acetylsalicylic acid or aspirin to lower fever greater than 38.5 and look for other methods suitable for babies. It is best to follow the instructions of the pediatrician for this.
- Apply analgesics suitable for babies for sore throat, if the blisters begin to affect the child’s mouth.
In the case of the prevention of chickenpox, there is no specific form, however there is a vaccine that is prescribed to babies to avoid possible infection. Similarly, people who have had chickenpox are very unlikely to have this virus again later.