Chickenpox in adults: symptoms, signs, treatment, prevention. Features of the course of chickenpox in adults. Possible complications

If you have grown to a respectable age, but have not had chickenpox, there is no reason to rejoice. In adults, chickenpox is much more difficult than in children, and there are many times more opportunities to “catch the infection”. Chickenpox is called a childhood disease, not because adults do not get sick with it, but because it most often occurs in childhood. In adults, if they have not had it, there is no immunity to chickenpox, and they can easily become infected. The older a person is, the more dangerous the disease is for him.

Once in the body, the virus remains forever in the nerve endings. This is dangerous because under certain conditions (most often with a decrease in immunity), the virus can reactivate and lead to the development of shingles. This disease is accompanied by severe burning pains, which are aggravated by the slightest touch of the skin or movement.

Chickenpox in adults: symptoms and treatment

With rare exceptions, chickenpox in adults is moderate to severe. The older a person is, the more dangerous the disease is for him. Whereas catching an infection is elementary. The rate at which chickenpox spreads is amazing. The causative agent of the disease is the Varicella zoster virus (belongs to the herpes family). It is very small, transmitted by airborne droplets, easily carried by the wind through ventilation and from room to room. Viruses can travel several meters through the air. You can get infected by communicating with a sick person or at the end of the incubation period. Actually, it’s even simpler. It is enough to walk down the corridor after a chickenpox patient or take a ride in the elevator.

The chickenpox virus is very contagious and volatile, but it is not resistant in the external environment, therefore it is not transmitted through third parties and objects.

The insidiousness of the virus also lies in the fact that the sick person becomes dangerous to others at least two days before the first clinical signs appear: rash, itching, fever. You can also get chickenpox from a patient with shingles, who is in the stage of exacerbation of the disease.

The good news is that not every adult who has not had chickenpox can become infected. Immunity won’t allow. But if the protective functions of the body are reduced, for example, after a just suffered a serious illness, treatment that suppresses immunity, then the risk of catching the virus increases significantly.

Viruses belonging to the herpes family are widespread in nature. Currently, more than 100 types of herpes viruses are known, 8 of them are dangerous to humans.

The main symptoms of chickenpox in adults

Chickenpox in an adult proceeds somewhat differently than chickenpox in children. The symptoms of the disease are the same as in children, however, the immune system of an adult gives a very strong response, the disease is more difficult to tolerate. From the moment of infection with the virus until the first signs of the disease, on average, it takes from 10 to 21 days (incubation period). Most often, chickenpox begins suddenly and acutely. Weakness, body aches, headache, nausea, even vomiting appear – as a general sign of intoxication of the body. The temperature rises sharply (up to 39-40 ° C) and the turn of the rash comes.

Typically, the rash begins in the torso, appearing on the abdomen, thighs, shoulders, chest, and rises upward, affecting the face and scalp. Initially, small red bumps are formed, which quickly transform into transparent vesicles of various shapes on a red base (papules). They rupture easily and turn into vesicles (wet sores), where crusts form. The last in 1-2 weeks should by themselves peacefully disappear. Since bubbles with liquid are poured out within 3-5 days, on the body you can simultaneously see them, and red spots, and bumps, and dried crusts.

Rashes can affect not only the skin, but also the mucous membranes, appearing on the hard palate, on the mucous membrane of the cheeks, gums, tongue, on the back of the pharynx, and even on the mucous membrane of the genitals. In adults, lymph nodes react sharply to chickenpox – especially behind the ear and cervical, they increase to the size visible to the eye and are tense, painful. Internal organs with an uncomplicated course of the disease are not affected.

Contrary to popular belief, quarantine is not a reason to sit within four walls. You can go outside, just walk away from crowds.

Chickenpox in adults: possible complications

Chickenpox in adults is insidious and can cause serious complications, the most common being skin infections due to scratching of severely itchy wounds. Wet sores (vesicles) can fester and turn into so-called pustules, in the center of which pockmarks are often formed. After the crusts fall off, small scars remain in their place. The rash in adults spreads more profusely and lasts longer, the crusts dry out and are rejected much longer.

Especially severe forms of chickenpox are distinguished. For example, hemorrhagic, in which the walls of blood vessels are affected and the contents of the vesicles on the skin become bloody. In the gangrenous form, next to the usual vesicular rashes, a rash appears with areas of necrosis, after which deep ulcers form on the skin and mucous membranes.

Other complications of chickenpox include:

• chickenpox pneumonia: Most often develops in people with impaired immune systems, as well as in adolescents and pregnant women.

• loss of sight: when the virus enters the cornea, the process spreads to the eyes. A rash appears on the temples, under the eyes and over the eyelids. Rashes can also appear on the white of the eye. In this case, scars remain at the site of the bubbles, which can lead to complete or partial loss of vision.

• joint inflammation, or arthritis: As a rule, joint and muscle pain disappears as soon as the rash disappears.

• optic neuritis: the disease leads to partial or even complete loss of vision.

• meningitis, damage to the cerebellum and cranial nerve nuclei, encephalitis: The possible development of these diseases is associated with damage to the virus of nerve cells and meninges. The main symptoms are headache, nausea, seizures, loss of consciousness, impaired coordination of movements and a sense of balance. In some cases, paralysis of the facial muscles may develop.

• chickenpox tracheitis or laryngitis: cough, sore throat – all this is associated with profuse rashes on the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.

• picture acute stomatitis give sores on the oral mucosa and gums.

• blistering rash on the genitals causes the development vulvitis in women and painful inflammation of the foreskin and glans in men.

Treatment methods for chickenpox in adults

The first rule, with chickenpox or suspicion of it, it is strictly forbidden to go to the clinic yourself. Call your doctor at home. It is also necessary to exclude all contacts with other people for a period until the last crust disappears. According to experts, it is from this moment that a person ceases to be a source of the virus. If your child is sick and you have not had chickenpox, you will be quarantined at home for 21 days – this is the way it should be, and at this time you will be given a sick leave.

As in the case of chickenpox in children, most often the treatment of the disease is symptomatic. At high temperatures, antipyretics based on ibuprofen and paracetamol are prescribed. Antihistamines are used to reduce or relieve itching. In some cases, the appointment of antiviral drugs and interferon is indicated. With an attached bacterial infection (abundant appearance of pustules) and with the development of other complications of chickenpox, antibiotics are prescribed. For the treatment of severe cases of chickenpox, there is a whole class of antiherpetic drugs in the arsenal of doctors.

One of the main directions of treatment is to prevent infection from entering the wound and the development of complications and suppurations. Calamine lotion (a colorless antiseptic) or a solution of brilliant green known to everyone, also known as “brilliant green”, will perfectly cope with this task. Important: these remedies do not cure chickenpox and the virus does not kill, but only dry out skin rashes, disinfect wounds and protect against bacterial infection. If rashes are found in the mouth, then the mucous membrane can be treated with rinsing agents containing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

By the way, the treatment of all wounds with one common cotton swab leads to the transfer of viruses to healthy skin. It is better to lubricate new rashes with a separate cotton swab.

To avoid various complications, it is necessary to observe bed rest at least for a period while the fever lasts, and also to pay special attention to the cleanliness of bed and underwear. As with any disease, chickenpox in adults provides for an abundant drinking regimen – this contributes to the quickest elimination of toxins from the body and accelerates recovery. You should also stick to a diet and exclude from the diet foods that may cause an allergic reaction.

Contrary to popular myth, you can wash yourself with chickenpox. Only, of course, you don’t have to rub yourself with a washcloth. A light shower will not hurt and will ease the suffering a little. In general, baths with cool water with the addition of a small amount of baking soda perfectly relieve itching. The main thing is not to dry yourself with a towel after bathing, but to gently blot your body.

Chickenpox in Pregnant Women: Increased Risk

Chickenpox poses a particular threat to pregnant women. To be more precise, the disease is dangerous primarily for the fetus. The biggest health risks to a baby are early in pregnancy and in the last few days before childbirth. In the first case, chickenpox can cause involuntary abortion, miscarriage, stillbirth, and also lead to various congenital pathologies. In the future, the course of the disease is calmer.

Chickenpox during late pregnancy, just before the birth of a child, can provoke chickenpox pneumonia or lead to the death of the baby. In order to avoid serious consequences for the child, the birth can be slightly delayed. In extreme cases, immunoglobulins are used, which contain antibodies to the causative agent of the disease. Pregnant women are not vaccinated.

Chickenpox in adults: prevention

It is known that chickenpox is ill once in a lifetime, because after a disease, persistent immunity is formed. However, once it enters the body, the virus remains forever in the nerve endings. This is dangerous because under certain conditions (most often with a decrease in immunity), the virus can reactivate and lead to the development of shingles. This disease is accompanied by severe burning pains, which are aggravated by the slightest touch of the skin or movement. Vaccination will help to avoid this and remove the threat of contracting chickenpox.

You can find out if you are immune to the pathogen of chickenpox by taking a blood test from a vein for antibodies to the Varicella zoster virus: they will find it – vaccination is not needed.

The vaccine itself is a live weakened, forms a stable and long-term immunity in the human body. Suitable for both routine and emergency vaccination (in the first 72 hours after the first contact with the patient). It is performed not only for adults, but also for children from 1 year old, can be administered together with vaccinations against measles, mumps and rubella. It is recommended to give two injections 4-8 weeks apart. Side Effects: Fever may rise and mild chickenpox symptoms may appear that pass quickly. Contraindications: severe allergic reaction to gelatin and vaccine components.