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Chickenpox in adults causes symptoms similar to those in children, but its course is usually much more severe. In the case of smallpox in adults, serious complications from smallpox are also much more common - inflammation of the meninges, liver, joints, kidneys or the heart muscle. What are the symptoms of smallpox in adults and how is smallpox treated? What are the most common complications after chickenpox in adults?

Adult chickenpoxoccurs relatively rarely. Most adults (estimated 90 percent) have had smallpox in childhood and have persistent immunity.Adult varicella symptoms and treatmentsare no different from those in children, butcomplications from adult varicellaare much more common and serious.

Chickenpox in adults: causes

Chickenpox , also popularly known asairgun , causesVaricella zoster virus . Adults who did not suffer from smallpox in childhood, the primary infection with this virus occurs in the form of chickenpox.

People who have frequent contact with children, and who did not suffer from it in childhood, may develop chickenpox in particular. After the disease, the Varicella virus stays in the body - specifically in the ganglia. In states of weakness of the body, the infection may reactivate and the herpes zoster may develop. It is extremely rare to get smallpox again, and when it does, the disease is usually milder.

Chickenpox in adults: symptoms and course of smallpox in adults

Pox virus - VZV herpesvirus ( Varicella Zoster Virus ) is transmitted by droplets. The period of contagiousness begins approximately 2-3 days before the onset of the rash and continues until all eruptions are dry.

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The first symptoms of smallpoxappear on average 14 days after contact with a sick person and resemble symptoms associated with a cold, with time fever (37 ° C-40 ° C) appears.

The rash with chickenpox is very itchy, usually first appears on the face and torso, but spreads throughout the body over time - spots also appear in the nose or mouth, rarely on the soles or palms.

Initiallythe rash appears as red spots and turns fairly quickly into raised spots filled with serous fluid, which on drying turn into a scab that comes off after a few days. The sowing of skin lesions takes place several times, therefore all their forms are present simultaneously.

Chickenpox in adults: diagnosis

The diagnosis is usually easy, as the symptoms of chickenpox in adults, especially rash, are quite characteristic. Nevertheless, chickenpox can be confused with, for example, shingles, disseminated herpes, allergies, insect bites, lichen or even an infection caused by enteroviruses.

Therefore, before making a final diagnosis, the doctor must rule them out. In some cases (e.g. in patients with immunodeficiency or after transplantation), the doctor may order additional tests prior to diagnosis, e.g. serological tests to detect antibodies against VZV or tests for the presence of viral genetic material.

Chickenpox in adults: treatment

Treatment of chickenpox in adults consists in administering antipyretic, analgesic and antipruritic agents. In people with immunodeficiency, and when chickenpox is extremely severe, acyclovir (an antiviral drug) is used, which shortens the duration of the disease and prevents complications. In some cases, patients receive antiviral antibodies against the virusVaricella . Hospitalization is required in the event of complications or in immunocompromised patients.

Chickenpox in adults: how to soothe a rash

The smallpox rash is very itchy, but you should avoid scratching the pimples at all costs to avoid bacterial contamination. Rash NEVER spread with powders or mash - you can use antipruritic drugs. Change clothes frequently. Daily, short bath or shower in warm (not hot) water is recommended.

Chickenpox rash can spread over most of the skin surface:

Chickenpox in adults: complications

Adult smallpox causes complications relatively often, and usually they are very serious complications. Most often it comes to:

  • secondary bacterial infection of skin lesions, resulting in scarring
  • pneumonia
  • otitis media
  • encephalitis, including acute cerebellar ataxia
  • meningitis
  • hepatitis (VZV secondary hepatotropic)
  • arthritis
  • glomerulonephritis
  • myositiscardiac.

Chickenpox in adults: vaccinations

Due to the possibility of serious complications, most doctors recommend that adults who have not had chickenpox be vaccinated. If you do not remember whether or not you had chickenpox in your childhood, it is a good idea to check your chickenpox antibody levels before getting vaccinated. If the result is negative or a value lower than the protective one, vaccinate yourself.

The varicella vaccine is administered in two doses at an interval of not less than 6 weeks. The varicella vaccine is well tolerated and safe, rarely causing undesirable post-vaccination reactions. The contraindication to vaccination against chickenpox are, inter alia, acute febrile illness, decreased humoral or cellular immunity, anaphylactic reactions after vaccination, lymphomas and other malignancies of the bone marrow or the lymphatic system, as well as treatment with salicylates, hypersensitivity to neomycin and pregnancy.

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