One of the most common childhood infectious diseases is chicken pox. Outbreaks and epidemics are recorded in the spring-autumn period, most often in groups where children are in fairly close interaction with each other - groups of kindergartens and school classes.
The probability of infection is approaching 100%, while it is in childhood that the least likely to encounter complications. After the illness, a stable immunity is formed, which means that the likelihood of re-infection is practically excluded.
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However, there is good evidence that re-infection with chickenpox among adults is possible. The frequency of such diagnoses is about 5% of all cases of confirmed disease among the adult population. And can every adult get sick with such an unpleasant chickenpox again? Fortunately, no, only under the influence of a number of factors, the infection re-infects the body.
Causes of the recurrence of chickenpox in adults
As a result of an infectious disease, the human immune system produces such an amount of antibodies that allows the Varizella Zoster virus to be in the nerve ganglia (plexuses) in a kind of hibernation. This means that the virus does not die, but is only suppressed by the immune system, while there are no symptoms of the disease, and the ill person does not infect others.
Re-infection occurs quite rarely, for this certain conditions are necessary that contribute to a decrease in the protective function of the immune system:
- congenital defects of immunity;
- acquired immunodeficiencies (including HIV-associated);
- systematic long-term use of immunosuppressants in autoimmune diseases, oncological diseases, due to organ transplantation;
- long courses of hormone therapy, especially high-dose ones;
- severe course of chronic diseases;
- chronic or acute stress;
- pregnancy.
Any of these conditions leads to immune dysfunction and greatly increases the likelihood that chickenpox in an adult will develop again.
How does the symptoms of recurrent chickenpox manifest?
The symptoms of re-infection with chickenpox are very similar to those of the initial encounter with the Varicella virus. The disease is more pronounced, erased forms are rare, moderate or even severe course of the disease is more typical. This is partly due to the same decrease in immunity. The average for the disease is from seven to twenty days, chickenpox reappears in adult patients a little earlier.
Here are the main signs of the disease:
- Syndrome of intoxication (weakness, lethargy, headache and fever).
- Skin syndrome - characteristic spots appear that quickly turn into blisters (papules). At the same time, spots, papules and even crusts can be seen on the skin; physicians call such a variety of elements of the rash polymorphism. Rashes appear in waves, they are preceded by an increase in body temperature. Papules and crusts itch.
- Catarrhal syndrome - nasal congestion, sore throat, runny nose.
If chickenpox is re-registered in adults, the symptoms are significantly pronounced, for example, the elements of the rash spread not only on the scalp, trunk and limbs, they can even be found on the palms and feet.
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Very often, repeated chickenpox in the adult population manifests itself in the form of herpes zoster (lichen). The name went to the disease due to its specific localization - under the ribs from the sternum to the spine (like a belt). Rashes appear along the nerve endings (often recorded at the site of the projection of the trigeminal nerve on the face). Rashes are very small bubbles filled with a cloudy liquid. More often the lesion is unilateral, but symmetrical variations are not excluded. Before their appearance, itching and burning are noted, the temperature often rises. Patients with herpes zoster can be a source of primary chickenpox for those who are not ill.
Specificity of treatment
Treatment of chickenpox in adulthood - the development of severe conditions. This is due to the fact that an organism that has not coped with the pathogen at the very beginning, for sure, will not have the strength to resist and finally “lull” the virus.
If chickenpox is registered in adults for the second time, hospitalization in a specialized infectious diseases department and supervision of an infectious disease specialist is desirable.
For treatment, as a rule, antiherpetic drugs of various generations are used (depending on the severity, tablet forms, injections can be used), antihistamines - to relieve itching, antipyretics to relieve fever. If bacterial complications occur, antibiotics are used.
In order to detoxify and replenish the fluid deficiency in the body, infusion therapy is prescribed due to glucose-salt solutions.
If there is shingles, then most often it does not require specific therapy, only symptomatic - antipyretic, antihistamines, vitamins of group "B" can be prescribed in the recovery period.
What not to do when sick
As in the case of the initial registration of chickenpox in children and adults, the use of aspirin as an antipyretic is unacceptable for the recurrence of the disease.
Do not self-medicate, only a qualified specialist can assess the severity of the condition.
If you have contracted chickenpox for the first or second time, you should not come into close contact with others, especially those who are not ill or fall into the category of high risk of re-infection. The contagiousness of the disease indoors is 100%, the virus can spread even through ventilation pipes, and this is another reason to get sick in a boxed department of an infectious diseases hospital.
Contrary to popular belief that with chickenpox in no case should you swim - you can still swim and even necessary. Indeed, on dirty skin, a secondary infection is more likely to occur, and itching increases from sweat. The only condition is not to use a washcloth, aggressive “soap” products (it is better to give preference to baby soap), and do not wipe wet skin, but blot it.
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Prevention of re-infection with chickenpox
It is quite difficult to predict the likelihood of re-infection, however, if you are afraid of developing chickenpox after contact with a patient, you don’t know if there is any immunity to this type of herpes at all, take a blood test that will show the level of antibodies to the disease.
If it is insufficient or you are at risk of re-development of the disease, you should resort to vaccination. This recommendation applies to women planning a pregnancy, especially if they work in a children's team. It should be noted that shingles never occurs in vaccinated patients.
Immunity from vaccination lasts for about five years, so do not forget to repeat if in doubt about its effectiveness - check immunity with a blood test. Vaccination is contraindicated in pregnant women, as a live vaccine is used for immunization.
Try to avoid contact with people with shingles and chickenpox. Remember that chickenpox develops a second time in adults is extremely rare, but it is very dangerous in terms of the likelihood of possible complications.
Possible Complications
As a rule, with repeated infection, the course of chickenpox is moderate or severe precisely due to the development of complications:
- laryngitis, gingivitis, stomatitis;
- with eye damage - blindness;
- strepto-staphyloderma, fungal superinfections on the skin, as a result of neglecting the rules of hygiene;
- pyelonephritis, rarely glomerulonephritis;
- pneumonia;
- otitis;
- encephalitis;
- arthritis;
- neuritis;
- sepsis - infection of the blood and all organs.
Such complications, as a rule, appear from the 10th day of illness, sometimes less often.
Do not forget that with repeated chickenpox, the immune system is always compromised, you need to be examined so as not to miss bone marrow tumors or other neoplasms that contributed to a decrease in immunity.
Opinion of physicians
In their opinion about the recurrence of chickenpox, doctors are unanimous - do not forget to find out why this happened. The body of a completely healthy person who had chickenpox in childhood has sufficient levels of antibodies to resist the recurrence of the infection.
If suddenly an unpleasant fate touched you - you fell ill with severe chickenpox again, get advice from a qualified infectious disease specialist. A professional will comprehensively assess your condition, consider the feasibility and safety of treatment at home.
Follow the intended treatment regimen, because ignoring the recommendations can lead to aggravation of the condition and an increased risk of complications.
Results
Chickenpox is one of the five infectious diseases that people usually get sick in childhood. At an early age, it is tolerated relatively easily and rarely causes complications.
In adulthood, "children's" diseases are somewhat more difficult. This is due to the characteristics of immunity. For this reason, chickenpox in adulthood is always a reason to see a doctor.
In rare cases, chickenpox is recorded in patients repeatedly. As a rule, this is facilitated by the presence of diseases and / or conditions of the body, accompanied by a decrease in the immune status. After all, the herpes virus that causes chickenpox remains in the body for life, “hibernating” in the tissues of nerve fibers, and only with an acute deficiency of antibodies can it “wake up” or develop a clinical picture after contact with the patient.
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