What and how to treat chicken pox in children
Almost all parents are worried about their children. Loving moms and dads try to save the kids from everything. But, despite such care, children still manage to get sick. One of the most difficult diseases is chickenpox. Almost every child had it. Let's see how the chicken pox runs? How to treat chickenpox in children?
This chickenpox. ..
Varicella is a viral infection that is exclusively transmitted by airborne droplets. The disease causes the herpes virus of the third type. After the illness, the infection goes into a latent state. However, the "asleep" virus can be activated and cause shingles. Chicken pox viruses can move several meters. They have a unique ability - the ability to live in the atmosphere.
How does the infection occur?
As we already know, chickenpox is transmitted through the air, so the virus penetrates the mucous membranes of the mouth, eye or new cavity. The virus itself is quite persistent, so it can spread even to neighboring apartments. The incubation period of an infected child is up to 3 weeks. After 5 days after the last rash, the virus loses its activity. When the last eruption begins to heal, the baby becomes non-contagious for others.
Will the child get sick?
According to statistics, up to 80% of children are infected after contact with a sick child. The rest can not get sick, becausethe immune system, struggles with another disease, and therefore "works" in full force. Of course, the next seasonal spread of infection will come and their turn.
How to treat chickenpox in children under 6 months of age? It is worth noting that a child under 3 months old will not get sick with chickenpox as well.he has a fairly persistent immunity. However, by the 6th month the immunity is gradually decreasing. If the baby is breastfed, the antibodies produced by the mother are put in breast milk and protect the baby. Chicken pox in children under one year is very difficult, becauseimperfect immunity is not able to deal with such a difficult disease.
Symptoms of chickenpox
Before treating chickenpox in children, it is necessary to consider the main symptoms that predict the onset of the disease.
- The child has a fever, a headache;
- There is a feeling of fatigue and lack of appetite;
- After 2-3 hours the first rash appears on the child's body.
What is a rash?
The rash appears as flat, reddish spots that spread throughout the body. The first rashes mostly remain without attention, becausedo not give the child any inconvenience.
After a couple of hours, small specks turn into bubbles with a clear liquid. At this time, the child has an unbearable itch. At this point, parents need to monitor children, becausewhen combing, the probability of infection of the open wound is high.
Eruptions in the body of the child are undulating. Vesicles appear on the body from 4 to 8 days. If the child during the inflammatory process regularly combed the rashes, it is possible the formation of scars.
How to treat chickenpox in children?
There is no special medicine for chickenpox yet. . Basically, varicella-zoster treatment is carried out at home( except for serious illnesses).The main factors of proper treatment are bed rest, regular, plentiful drink and frequent change of bed linen.
Remember, bathing a child can provoke the spread of an infection that can penetrate the affected areas of the body.
Than to treat a children's chicken pox?
- Regular drying( up to 3 - 4 times a day) of green leaves promotes rapid drying of the bubbles.
- To relieve itching, it is recommended to take "Suprastin" or "Diazolin".
- To reduce body temperature, it is necessary to take antipyretic drugs - Paracetamol, Nurofen, Efferalgan, etc. However, children under 12 years of age are not recommended to take Aspirin.
Complications of chicken pox
With all recommendations, the disease passes without complications. In some cases, when combing the rash on the body there are small scars. In rare cases, chicken pox can cause inflammation of the brain.
Chickenpox can cause the development of viral pneumonia, liver, kidney and spleen damage. In some cases, with insufficient treatment, bursting vesicles cause skin bacterial complications. Therefore, with any doubt of the parents, pediatrician consultation is necessary.
For a baby and his mother, chicken pox is a rather difficult test. Parents need to be patient and help the child to cope with the disease. Help your child avoid negative memories of an unpleasant disease that can haunt him throughout his life.