Chickenpox

⛑ One of the most common infections in the world, considered an acute viral disease.

☄️ The causative agent of chickenpox (chickenpox) and herpes zoster (Varicella-zoster virus, VZV), or the so-called human herpesvirus type 3 (HHV), belongs to the Herpesviridae family, the Varicella virus genus and are two variants of the same virus, which has the smallest genome among herpesviruses, causing two diseases.

🚨 The source of infection is a patient with chickenpox, rarely with herpes zoster. The only reservoir of infection is a person, VZV is transmitted by airborne droplets, as well as through the placenta.

Chickenpox occurs mainly in children🐣, asymptomatic course is extremely rare. A sick person is dangerous to others during the last 10 days of the incubation period and the first 5-7 days from the appearance of the rash. ❗️The total incubation period of VZV is 10-21 days❗️

The course of chickenpox is especially dangerous for pregnant women🤰🏼 and people aged >20 years and occurs in the form of the following complications: pneumonia, bullous streptoderma, lymphadenitis, disorders of internal organs, as a result, the addition of a bacterial infection.

🔊🔊 Typical symptoms for VZV: general weakness (intoxication), loss of appetite, possible subfebrile body temperature (37-37.2℃). With the first rashes t⬆️ up to 39 ℃, headache, muscle pain, transient skin hyperemia may appear. At the beginning, the rash appears in the form of erythematous spots ➡️ papules d~5-10 mm are formed ➡️ on which blisters with transparent contents appear, ➡️ later they become cloudy. Such vesicular rashes cover the entire body accompanied by itching ➡️ after 2-3 days, pustules appear at the site of the rash, ➡️ dry out ➡️ after 3-4 days they are covered with a crust ➡️ which falls off, leaving temporary small scars and pigmentation, ➡️ which pass without a trace in uncomplicated cases.

☄️ Herpes zoster or shingles is an endogenous infection of adults who have had chickenpox in childhood. The disease manifests itself in the form of vesicular rashes in the direction of motor nerves, accompanied by a sharp decrease in immunity and the addition of bacterial infections (septic conditions).