Severe itching during chickenpox: what to do, how to relieve?

Chickenpox or varicella is a viral disease transmitted by airborne droplets. It mainly affects children from six months to seven years old, but there are also cases of infection in adults. It manifests itself as pinpoint rashes - papules on the skin, accompanied by fever and itching.

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Causes chicken pox itching

Chickenpox is caused by the Varicella Zoster virus, which is a type 3 herpes virus. People become infected from a sick person at the end of the incubation period, which lasts 21 days, and before the crusts that form at the site of the burst blisters fall off (5 days on average); susceptibility to it is 70%.

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Risk factors

Chickenpox affects people who have not yet had it. Other risk factors include attending kindergartens, schools and other institutions where close contact between children is inevitable, lack of vaccination, and weakened immunity.

Pathogenesis

The virus enters a person through the upper respiratory tract, where it penetrates the epithelium of the mucous membrane, after which it enters the blood. The next stage is the appearance of visible signs of infection: reddening of individual areas of the skin in the form of spots, the formation of papules with serous fluid inside, peeling of the epidermis (vesicles).

The rashes are wave-like, so different states can be seen on the body at the same time. Their initial localization is most often observed on the head, on the folds of the arms and legs, then spreading to the body.

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When does itching with chickenpox start?

The appearance of rashes on the body is often accompanied by fever and itching in the first days, which can last up to 5 days. During this time, it is important to refrain from scratching, so as not to damage the germ layer of the epidermis and not leave scars on the skin.

Adults who have not had chickenpox in childhood may well become infected with it through contact with infected people. All the symptoms of the disease are no different from those in children, but the disease is much more severe and there is a greater likelihood of complications.

The rash can affect not only the superficial layers of the skin, but also the mucous membranes: the oral cavity, genitals, which causes severe itching.

Diagnostics chicken pox itching

As a rule, the diagnosis of chickenpox does not cause great difficulties, since it is indicated by a characteristic rash. If the clinical picture is insufficient, it is confirmed by a blood test and a microscopic examination of a scraping from epithelial cells of the skin. A serological test determines the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies.

Differential diagnosis

Chickenpox is differentiated from the following diseases:

• measles;
• scarlet fever;
• meningococcal infection;
• rubella;
• allergic dermatitis;
• enteroviral exanthema.

Additional research will dispel any doubts about the correctness of the diagnosis.

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Treatment chicken pox itching

One of the unpleasant symptoms of chickenpox is itching, sometimes severe. This is explained by the proliferation of the virus on the surface of the epidermis. Many people have a hard time with itching, so the question arises: how to relieve it, how to relieve chickenpox?

There is no need to do anything yourself, but you need to consult a doctor. Depending on the course of the disease and the characteristics of the body, he will prescribe antihistamines, which may include ointments, gels, sprays, tablets.

How to relieve chickenpox itching with medication?

Among the medications intended to reduce itching during chickenpox, the advantage is given to those that are taken orally. You can use the following tablets: diphenhydramine, tavegil, suprastin, zirtek, zodak.

Zyrtec is an antiallergic tablet. For teenagers and adults, the daily dose is 1 tablet. Children over 6 years old are recommended to take half a tablet twice a day. The maximum period of administration is a week. The drug is not prescribed to pregnant women, nursing women, children under 6 years old. It is contraindicated for those who are going to drive a vehicle. Side effects may include dry mouth, drowsiness, headache, and rarely allergic rashes.

Suprastin is taken during meals with a large amount of water. The dose for children aged 3 to 6 years is 0.5 tablets twice a day, 6-14 years old - the same amount 3 times, older than this age - 3-4 pieces per day. Contraindicated during attacks of bronchial asthma, glaucoma, gastric ulcer, acute myocardial infarction, arrhythmia. Not used for children under 3 years old, pregnant women, during lactation. Suprastin can cause nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, urinary retention.

Zodak is a peripheral H ₁ receptor antagonist. Children aged 6-12 are recommended to take half a tablet twice a day, older children and adults - one tablet once a day. Swallow whole with a glass of water. Use with caution during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Not prescribed for children under 6 years of age, with hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, kidney pathologies and renal dysfunction.

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Topical Remedies for Chickenpox Itching

If for some reason it is impossible to take oral antipruritic drugs, there are many external remedies for eliminating itching during chickenpox. These are ointments, creams, gels. Among them:

• tsindol - a suspension that has a drying, antiseptic effect. It is applied to the affected areas 2-3 times a day. It can be used during pregnancy. Local allergic reactions were rarely observed as side effects;
• fenistil - gel with a cooling effect, quickly penetrates the skin, after 1-4 hours has a maximum effect: relieves itching, irritation. For children under 2 years old, it is used only as prescribed by a doctor on small areas of the body, the same applies to pregnant women, as well as during lactation.

There is a multifunctional lotion "Calamine" for itching in various skin diseases, including chickenpox. It does not contain alcohol, but is made from natural ingredients, so it has virtually no contraindications. Before use, shake the bottle, moisten a cotton pad with the contents and apply to the affected areas with blotting movements.

Modern external sprays that replace traditional green stuff include sprays. The following can be used to treat the skin surface:

• floceta - its basis consists of natural substances: essential oils of chamomile, calendula, mineral aluminum acetotartrate;
• Epigen is a drug for mucous membranes, used for chickenpox on the genitals;
• D-panthenol - softens the layers of the skin after the formation of vesicles, promotes the regeneration of the epidermis.

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Folk remedies

What can be used at home to reduce itching? Among the recipes of folk treatment are warm baths with the addition of soda or oatmeal. Cool compresses also relieve itching. It is recommended to eat blueberries, drink raspberry juice, and a few spoons a day of a mixture of honey and lemon juice. All this weakens the chickenpox virus.

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Herbal treatment

Herbs such as chamomile, calendula, celandine, and yarrow are used as bath additives. Barley broth can be used for rubbing. For itching in the mouth, gargle with sage infusion. Infusion of parsley, oat grass, and celery root juice are taken internally.

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Homeopathy

The list of homeopathic remedies that help with itching during chickenpox includes:

• ranunculus bulbosus (ranunculus bulbosus) - tuberous buttercup;
• sodium muriaticum or sodium chloride;
• apis mellifica (apis) - it is based on honey bees;
• Cantharis - made from Spanish fly;
• Rhus toxicodendron (rhus toxicodendron) - its components are sumac and poison oak.

The dosage, method of application, and dilution are determined by the homeopath, depending on the physical and behavioral characteristics of the person.

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Complications and consequences

Children with chickenpox are less likely to develop complications than adults. If hygiene measures for body care are not observed during the illness, infection of open wounds is possible.

For adults, the consequences can be more dangerous and manifest themselves in the development of shingles, damage to internal organs, pneumonia. The disease is especially dangerous for pregnant women due to the likelihood of developing fetal pathologies.

Prevention

The main preventive measure against chickenpox is vaccination. Both children from one year of age and adults, who are most often characterized by a severe course of the disease, can be vaccinated. To avoid this, there is another way - try to endure chickenpox in childhood. Parents should facilitate contact of the child with sick people.

In case of chickenpox, the patient is isolated, and 5 days after the last rash, this restriction is lifted.

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Forecast

For those who suffer from chickenpox in childhood, the prognosis is favorable, but the course of the disease can be aggravated by the layering of a bacterial infection, which will have to be fought with antibiotics. In adulthood, there is a possibility of a relapse of the disease in the form of shingles.

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