Chickenpox, which is spread through face-to-face contact, is more contagious than monkeypox? Don’t be afraid, let’s fight acne together!

Monkeypox virus has sparked heated discussions, but let's not forget that there is a kind of "pox" threat that has always been around us, that is - chickenpox. What is the so-called "meeting transmission"? Is chickenpox a "patent" of children? Let's take a look.

Compiled by New Media Editor Lai Tianying

In recent times, news about the monkeypox virus has been frequently on the screen. In just over half a month, this mysterious virus has begun to sweep across Europe, the United States and other countries. Because its "close relative" smallpox has left a huge shadow on mankind, the news of the outbreak of monkeypox cases in many countries has attracted widespread attention once it was reported.

In fact, there are no cases of monkeypox in my country, so there is no need to panic. But in comparison, another kind of "pox" that is much more contagious than monkeypox has always been around us, and that is chickenpox.

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Chickenpox - the so-called "meeting spread"

Chickenpox is known as "contagious when you see it". Not only is it keen on "sneak attacking" schools, it is also very contagious, often "knocking down" a large number of people at once. Many children have been "infected". The infected children not only have "pimples" all over their bodies, which are itchy, painful and ugly, but they are also ruthlessly isolated.

(Photo from: People's Medicine)

In fact, chickenpox is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by primary infection with varicella-zoster virus (VZV). The virus invades the epithelial cells of the upper respiratory tract and replicates, then enters the bloodstream, replicates in white blood cells, and then enters the bloodstream in large quantities to form viremia. The virus spreads to various organs and tissues throughout the body, causing systemic lesions.

The skin lesions are mainly edema and degeneration of the spinous cell layer, with nuclear division into multinucleated giant cells, eosinophilic inclusion bodies formed in the nucleus, followed by cell liquefaction and the formation of unilocular thin-walled blisters. Due to the increase in inflammatory cells and the mixing of shed tissue cell debris, the herpes fluid may gradually become turbid and may also have a pustular appearance. The dermal tissue around and below the herpes is congested, forming a linear red halo around the base of the herpes. In the late stage, the virus content in the herpes fluid decreases, and the scab falls off. Since the lesions are superficial, generally no scars are left after healing.

▲The three development stages of chickenpox: incubation period (pink papules), onset period (blisters) and recovery period (scabs) (Image from: medindia.net)

Chickenpox is highly contagious, and its patients are the only source of infection. Before the rash appears, there will be symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection such as fever, headache, and sneezing. It is highly contagious from 1-2 days before the onset of chickenpox until the blisters scab over.

The incubation period of chickenpox is generally about 2 weeks. In the early stage of infection, symptoms such as fever and fatigue may occur, but they are relatively mild. Rash appears 1-2 days after the onset of the disease, first on the trunk and head, and then gradually on the face and limbs. Chickenpox is mostly small pink papules in the early stage, which turn into oval, mung bean-sized blisters after 1-2 days. The blisters are surrounded by light red. After 3-4 days, the herpes shrinks and forms scabs. It takes 1-3 weeks for the scab to fall off, and no scars are usually left without secondary bacterial infection. Because the rash appears in batches after the onset of the disease, papules, blisters, and scabs can be seen on the skin of the patient at the same time.

At the same time, allergic inflammation may occur in various tissues of chickenpox patients, including the lungs, liver, spleen, adrenal glands, gastrointestinal tract, myocardium, pancreas, vascular endothelium and brain tissue. In addition, chickenpox may also form in the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, mouth, pharynx and other parts, and they are prone to rupture and form ulcers, but are easy to heal.

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Chickenpox is not just for children!

Many people think that chickenpox is a disease that only occurs in children. In fact, although the disease is more common in children aged 2-10, it is not exclusive to children. Once adults are infected, symptoms such as high fever, headache, vomiting, and general discomfort are significantly more severe than those of children, and the course of the disease is also longer than that of children. This may be because adults are more reactive to the chickenpox virus.

How can adults be infected with the chickenpox virus? Disease control experts say that when chickenpox patients sneeze or exhale, they spread droplets containing the virus into the air, and people will be infected after inhaling it. In addition, contact with the patient's blister fluid may also cause chickenpox. Although the varicella-zoster virus has a weak ability to survive in the external environment, healthy people can also be infected with chickenpox if they come into contact with contaminated clothing and utensils.

▲Both children and adults may be infected (Photo from: Tencent Medical Dictionary)

Research has found that most people who stay up late, are overly tired, have mental stress, and are under great pressure will have a chance to develop the virus. Menstruation, old age, cancer, AIDS, and other diseases may also be the cause of chickenpox.

In addition, patients with chronic diseases, especially those who are taking hormone drugs, should be extra careful, because chickenpox can cause complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis. Therefore, whether children or adults, once they are infected with chickenpox, they should first rest more, drink more water, drink less alcohol, eat less spicy food, and go to the hospital for regular antiviral treatment in time, and do not squeeze or pick the blisters by themselves. If there are blisters in the armpits, thigh roots and other parts, you should try to lie flat and do not rub them to avoid leaving scars or causing secondary infections.

Therefore, whether a healthy person develops chickenpox regardless of direct or indirect contact with the virus depends entirely on the body's immune status at that time.

(Photo from Life Times)

Chickenpox is a self-limiting disease. People who have had chickenpox once have good immunity and generally will not get it again, with long-lasting immunity. However, the varicella-zoster virus can remain latent in the human nervous system. When adults reach adulthood, when the body's immunity is reduced, the varicella-zoster virus may be reactivated, manifesting as herpes zoster, which is mainly neurotropic and causes local pain.

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There are some tips for preventing chickenpox

The treatment of varicella mainly includes antiviral, symptomatic treatment and prevention of secondary infection. However, the simplest and most effective prevention method is to get vaccinated with varicella vaccine. Active immunization should be carried out for healthy children over 1 year old, adolescents, adults and those who have close contact with patients. The live attenuated varicella vaccine is the first human herpes virus vaccine approved for clinical use in many countries. Follow-up observations after vaccination have found that the varicella vaccine has a good protection rate for the vaccine recipients.

At present, the varicella vaccine in my country is not a vaccine in the immunization program and is voluntary and at one's own expense. Children aged 14 years and below: the first dose is given at 12-24 months of age, and the second dose is given at 4-6 years of age; those who have not completed the two doses according to the procedure should make up for the two doses, with an interval of ≥3 months. People over 14 years old: 2 doses are given, with an interval of ≥4 weeks. In addition, avoiding crowded places, improving immunity, paying attention to indoor ventilation and personal hygiene, etc. will play a certain role in preventing the varicella virus.

For patients who have already had chickenpox, you should also pay special attention to the following points:

1. Keep your skin clean. Many people think that you can't take a bath during the chickenpox period, but this idea is incorrect. During the chickenpox period, you should keep your skin clean and take a bath regularly. After taking a bath, wipe your body with a soft towel or gauze, and then apply some anti-itching ointment.

2. Effective anti-itching. Chickenpox usually causes itching, and we can use appropriate anti-itching drugs under the guidance of doctors. If a child has a rash, you can put cotton gloves on the child to prevent scratching the rash and causing skin infection.

(Photo from Sohu News)

3. When you have chickenpox, you cannot use aspirin to reduce fever, as it may cause other complications. Chickenpox itself is not a serious disease, but the complications of chickenpox are not minor. If you use antipyretics, please use them according to the doctor's advice.

4. Chickenpox is highly contagious. If you have chickenpox, it is best to rest at home until the rash on your body is completely scabbed and falls off. Pay attention to prevention to avoid infection. Once infected, you must be isolated immediately.

(Content sources: Life Times, Cover News, China News Network, CPPCC Network, The Paper, Prevention World, The Paper, Yiyuan County Center for Disease Control and Prevention, etc.)

Produced by: Science Central Kitchen

Produced by: Beijing Science and Technology News | Beijing Science and Technology Media

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