It is no secret that the chickenpox it is best to recover in childhood, after all, so it feels much easier. But it also happens that the disease attacks and adults who carry it much more difficult. Is it possible re-infection? And how do you treat chickenpox adults?
Folk wisdom says that all the time. This applies to childhood diseases, which, of course, have had a better childhood. If not, then the man will have to face problems.
As you know, the child had been ill with chicken pox, gets to the disease a strong immunity. If it happened that the child never had contact with this infection, then with high probability it will occur at teenage or older age because the chickenpox is considered a very contagious disease.
Readers ‘ questions Hello!My name is Anya,I am 16 years old 18 October 2013, 17:25 Hello!My name is Anya,I am 16 years old.16 days ago I had chicken pox in severe form.Long had a high fever,there were many rashes.Now almost all the scabs have disappeared,but in their place were red stains and small holes some where.Comforting me that they will be delayed and all traces will be,but I’m still worried.I have last call outlet on the nose.May be you can advise some kind of ointment or pills?Thanks in advance. View answer
How does chicken pox in adults?
Because chickenpox is considered highly contagious disease, leaving the house is not recommended for at least 2 weeks. You will have to call in sick or work from home if ináusing such your profession.
The symptoms of chickenpox in adults usually resemble the symptoms of the disease in children, but can occur in more complex form. They usually appear within one to three weeks after contact with the virus, these include:
- Flu-like symptomssuch as fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, body aches and headache. These symptoms usually start about a day or two before the rash appears.
- On the face and chest red spotsthat eventually spread throughout the body. Red spots of prevraschayutsya itchy, fluid-filled blisters.
- The blisters secrete a fluid, become ulcers that form crusts, and then heal the wound. In total, the body appears from 250 to 500 spots.
As adults, the spots often stop appearing by the seventh day. After 10-14 days the contents of the blisters coming out. Once that happens, you cease to be contagious.
Who is at risk?
Catching the chickenpox virus are at risk those adults who had not chickenpox in childhood and have not been vaccinated against this virus. Other risk factors include:
- Living with unvaccinated children under 12 years
- Work in the school or kindergarten
- Finding more than 15 minutes in a room with an infected person
- Touching the rash of a person infected with chickenpox or shingles
- Touch to what has recently been used by an infected person, such as clothing or bed linen
The risk of complications from this disease becomes maximum if you:
- A pregnant woman who has not had chickenpox
- A person who is on medication that suppresses the immune system, such as chemotherapy
- A person whose immune system is weakened by another disease, such as HIV
- A person who is on a steroid drugs to treat this condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis
- People with immune systems weakened by organophile transplantation bone marrow transplantation
Complications
Varicella discomfort, but is quite easily portable disease. However, in some cases, the condition can lead to serious complications, hospitalization and even death. Complications include:
- Bacterial infections of skin, soft tissue and/or bone
- Sepsis or bacterial blood stream infection
- Problems with bleeding
- Dehydration
- Encephalitis or inflammation of the brain
- Pneumonia
- The Reye’s syndrome, especially if the infected with chicken pox the child is taking aspirin
- Toxic shock syndrome
Chickenpox and pregnancy
If a pregnant woman develops chickenpox, her unborn child may have serious complications, including:
- Pneumonia
- Low baby weight at birth
- Congenital defects, such as abnormal limb and brain development
- Life-threatening infection
How to treat chickenpox in adults?
If you have chickenpox, the doctor will treat the symptoms, as the disease will pass on their own. Recommendations typically include:
- Calamine lotion and baths with colloidal oatmeal to relieve itching
- Pain reliever to reduce fever
In certain circumstances the doctor may also prescribe drugs such as acyclovir or valacyclovir to fight the virus and prevent complications.
The vaccine against varicella
There are administer the varicella vaccine (Varivax), which provides 94% oyafestivalen in predotvrascheniya for life. Adults who have not had chicken pox receive two doses with an interval of one month.
The doctor may advise not to get vaccinated if:
- You have a moderately severe disease
- You plan to become pregnant during the next 30 days
- You are allergic to any ingredient in the vaccine, such as gelatin or neomycin, or if you have had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of varicella vaccine
- You underwent chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancer treatment
- You are taking steroid drugs
- You have a disease that puts at risk your immune system for example HIV
- You recently passed the procedure of blood transfusion
The risks of varicella vaccine
Your doctor may recommend the varicella vaccine, if they consider that the risks are much lower than the risks associated with the disease.
While some people may develop mild fever or rash after the introduction of the vaccine against varicella, the most common side effects are redness, swelling, or tenderness at the site of vaccination. Other very rare serious side effects include:
- Anaphylaxis
- The ataxia or loss of balance
- Encephalitis
- Afebrile seizures or convulsions without fever
- Pneumonia
Varicella and herpes zoster
If you’ve had chickenpox, then, in your nerve cells there is still varicella-zoster virus, which causes it. It is not going away, and could do nothing in the body over the years. Despite the fact that now you are likely to be immune to reinfection from varicella, you risk to develop shingles.
Shingles is a painful viral infection that is characterized by vesicular skin rash, obrazuyushcheisya the form of a strip in a certain place of the body. Most often, a rash appears on the left or right side of the torso, sometimes around one eye or on one side of the face or neck.
Higher risk in the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. There are two vaccines against herpes zoster (Zostavax and Shingrix), which many doctors recommend that patients aged 50 years and older who have had chickenpox.
In conclusion
Did you have chickenpox? Were you vaccinated against it? Answer these questions and follow the recommendations:
- If you have had chickenpox or you were vaccinated from it, you are immunized and don’t have to worry about that again infect chickenpox. Re-infection is a rare exception.
- If you have not had chickenpox, you should talk to your doctor about vaccination.
- If you have had chickenpox, you should talk to your doctor about the vaccine against herpes zoster, especially if you are over 50 years old.
- If you think you have chickenpox, see your doctor for a complete examination and recommendations for treatment.