Chickenpox without rash but with fever in an adult

Category: Good to know Published 12/26/2018 · Comments: · Reading time: 3 min · Views: Post Views: 805

Chickenpox is a pathology of viral origin. The usual clinical picture is characterized by profuse pimples all over the body, fever and fatigue. However, there is chickenpox without rashes in children and adults. In this case, we are talking about a mild form of pathology.

Can children and adults have chickenpox without rashes?

The disease is easily tolerated by children, but complications may develop in older people. Some parents deliberately infect their children while they are still young. When fighting the disease, the formation of persistent protective forces against the pathogen is observed, thereby eliminating the possibility of secondary infection.

Mild degree - chickenpox without rashes is typical for children 2-7 years old. Newborns who are breastfed (breastfed) rarely get sick. Mother's milk provides immune protection to the newborn if she has previously had the virus. In the case when he is fed artificially, the manifestations of the pathology may be more pronounced, this is due to the failure of the protective forces.

Chickenpox without rashes is rare in adults. The course of the virus is often severe, and infection is associated with a high risk of complications.

In which form is there a minimum of rashes?

The intensity of symptoms depends on two factors: how much of the pathogen entered the body at the time of infection and how the immune system works.

The infection described is most easily tolerated by children aged three to seven years. In adolescents and adults, moderate chickenpox is diagnosed. In people over fifty, the disease develops severely and causes life-threatening complications. This is due to the fact that in old age, each of us has a history of a whole bunch of chronic diseases that reduce immunity. All healing processes proceed more slowly than at a young age, so it takes longer to restore functions.

Children of the younger age category are less susceptible to stress; they do not experience high psychological stress associated with overexertion. Up to six years of age, they still have antibodies in their blood that they received from their mother during breastfeeding. Kids live by following a daily routine, which also helps strengthen their immune system. If a child rarely gets colds, then he can get chickenpox on his feet.

Asymptomatic

Asymptomatic chickenpox is characterized by either a complete absence of elements or a minimal amount of them. Chickenpox without a rash may be accompanied by the appearance of several pimples, similar to mosquito bites. After a few days, the rash disappears on its own.

Single pimples may appear, but such rashes are rare in mild chickenpox; similar symptoms are typical for young children with a good immune system.

It is possible to get chickenpox unnoticed when the rash is localized only in the patient’s hair. This occurs due to the fact that the rash in most cases spreads from top to bottom, starting its development from the head.

General manifestations also vary. Chickenpox in children without rashes is sometimes characterized by a slight increase in body temperature and redness of the throat. These symptoms are often confused with ARVI. In the mild stage, there is no need to fight the temperature, as well as taking medications with antipyretic properties.

It is extremely rare for chickenpox to be completely asymptomatic without a rash. Often one of the manifestations is present, and the rest of the symptoms are observed in a blurred form.

Can this form of the disease cause complications?

There can be no serious consequences with a mild form of chickenpox. The only and rare complication is the introduction of a bacterial infection when scratching the resulting pimples.

In this regard, recovery, instead of the prescribed 4 days, will last up to 2 weeks. Here there is also the possibility of scars appearing after the crusts fall off.

Cases of chickenpox in children and adults without a rash are very rare - in isolated cases. In general, signs of infection, in particular a rash, still appear, only in minimal quantities. And since pimples most often occur in the mild form on the scalp, a person simply does not notice them, and if he notices them, he thinks that it is a mosquito bite or an allergy.

Lighter manifestations

Activation of a mild form of chickenpox without rashes in a child occurs two weeks after contact with an infected person. It is possible to reduce this period to one and a half weeks, or increase it to three.

Chickenpox without rashes or with a minimal number of them begins with a slight increase in temperature and malaise. The disease is also characterized by:

• unexpressed headaches;
• change in the child's behavior;
• loss of appetite;
• lethargy, fatigue.

Is it possible for the disease to recur?

There is a lot of controversy about whether chickenpox occurs again if the child did not have severe symptoms or was vaccinated.

According to medical data, chickenpox is rarely rediagnosed. This anomaly can occur under the following circumstances:

• climate change;
• severe emotional shock;
• frequent stress;
• immunodeficiency, etc.

There are diseases that are similar in symptoms to chickenpox. Therefore, if symptoms of the disease reoccur, it is possible that the diagnosis was made incorrectly the first time.

The herpes virus type 3 does not go unnoticed by the body itself. Therefore, if a person doubts that he had chickenpox, since the symptoms were mild or completely absent, it is recommended to be tested for the presence of antibodies in the body. It can be used to confirm or deny whether there is immunity to chickenpox.

Chickenpox without rash is a mild form of smallpox. As a rule, this course of the disease is typical for young children. The disease is caused by herpes virus type 3. Moderate and severe forms of pathology are typical for adolescents and adults.

What are the dangers of passive symptoms?

The asymptomatic form is accompanied by only a slight deterioration in health, a mild but quickly passing malaise. Chickenpox without a rash is dangerous because it is similar to a cold. Parents, mistaking the illness for ARVI, do not even know that the baby is seriously ill.

Few parents realize that with chickenpox there may be no rash, or there may be, but not enough. And this means that there will be no restrictions on the infected baby’s communication with relatives and other children; the baby will become a carrier of infection, and this is quite dangerous for those family members who have previously been infected with the chickenpox virus.

Features of rudimentary chickenpox

The onset and course of rudimentary chickenpox without a rash, but with temperature, can occur in several variations. 2-3 spots appear on the child’s body, which can easily be confused with mosquito bites. These days, the baby behaves more capriciously and restlessly, but he does not experience any special negative conditions.

Red pimples do not turn into vesicles standard for chickenpox, but simply disappear after a short time without consequences. The patient does not experience any fever or special painful conditions. The temperature rises slightly and not for long, which makes it possible to completely avoid the use of antipyretics.

In many cases, parents do not even suspect that a child with a rudimentary form of chickenpox has developed chickenpox. But after recovery, he still receives stable protection for life, which is provided by the developed antibodies. It can only be confirmed with a laboratory blood test at any age.

Is it possible to be asymptomatic in adults?

The disease is not dangerous for children, which cannot be said about older patients. Chickenpox without rashes in adults is extremely rare. The disease is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• increase in temperature (up to 38-39);
• aches, pain in joints and muscles;
• dyspeptic disorders;
• decreased appetite;
• fever;
• malaise;
• the appearance of bulk elements.

Improper treatment of the disease is fraught with: scar formation, chickenpox laryngitis, tracheitis, encephalitis, meningitis. It is also possible to develop nephritis, hepatitis, myocarditis, and arthritis. The risk of secondary infection and purulent inflammation cannot be excluded.

How to treat chickenpox without a rash

Chickenpox without a rash in adults and children does not require specific treatment. The only thing you need to do is make sure that the resulting blisters are not scratched. If a child of an unreasonable age is sick, then it is advisable to use antipruritic drugs. The best option is Fenistil in the form of drops or gel.

This is an antihistamine that quickly eliminates burning, itching, swelling and other external manifestations of chickenpox. If you do not stop your baby from scratching his pimples, this risks causing a secondary bacterial infection.

Be sure to adhere to the correct diet. To make it easier for the immune system to cope with infection, there is no need to overload it with hard-to-digest, spicy, salty and fatty foods. During the day you should drink plenty of water - at least 1.5 liters. If there is a temperature, then the liquid needs to be heated. It is better if the temperature of tea, water, compote corresponds to body temperature.

Since in a mild form its indicators are not too high, there is no need to take antipyretic drugs. Such drugs should be taken only if the temperature rises to 38.5ͦ. In other cases, the body's natural defenses must cope with the infection itself without the help of synthetic agents.

Pimples must be treated with brilliant green or fucorcin. This should be done pointwise with a sterile cotton swab, without touching healthy tissue. The products have disinfectant, disinfectant, drying and anti-inflammatory properties.

When the bubbles open, it is advisable to use antiseptic agents. This will prevent secondary infection and eliminate burning and itching. The most effective antiseptics are:

• potassium permanganate solution;
• Furacilin solution;
• Miramistin;
• Chlorhexidine;
• hydrogen peroxide.

As for swimming, in mild cases water procedures are allowed. The exception is taking a long bath.

In addition, the sick person should be isolated from healthy people who have not previously had chickenpox. This is especially true for adults who tolerate the infection very difficult with a high risk of severe consequences.

Therapeutic measures

Chickenpox with a mild course - without the formation of bubbles, has no specific therapy. Doctors advise following the following recommendations.

1. Constantly care for and monitor the patient. Make sure that he does not tear apart the formed blisters (if any), as this is fraught with the addition of a secondary infection.
2. Even if chickenpox is not accompanied by fever, the appearance of pimples or a small number of them, children should be in home quarantine, since there is no guarantee that they will not infect others. Despite the asymptomatic course of the pathology, the baby is a potential carrier of the disease. The duration of quarantine is two to three weeks.
3. It is necessary to change the patient's diet. You will have to stop eating sweets, soda, salty, smoked and fried foods for a while. You cannot be sure that the powder elements did not appear in the mouth. Food should be soft, preferably liquid.
4. Sick children should sleep in pajamas made of natural fabric, preferably cotton.
5. Single bulk elements, if any, should be treated with brilliant green (1% solution).
6. You can only bathe your baby in the shower. You cannot use a washcloth or soap; you need to wait until the last pimple disappears.

If you suspect chickenpox, but there is no main manifestation of the disease - a rash, you should consult a doctor. He will tell you whether you can have chickenpox without a rash and, if necessary, recommend a test for antibodies to the chickenpox virus, which can be done in any laboratory.

Not everyone knows whether chickenpox occurs without a rash, and how the pathology is dangerous for the adult population. The disease is contagious, and its hidden course is a threat to those who have not had it.

In order to prevent the development of complications, vaccination is recommended. This is the only measure that promotes the development of lasting immune defense.

Manifestations of pathology in children and adults vary greatly. One person may have the whole range of symptoms, while another may have only a slight increase in body temperature. The general condition, the severity of symptoms, the presence or absence of eruptive elements depend on the immune system.

Can chickenpox go away completely without symptoms?

Doctors answer this question unanimously. It is impossible for a child or an adult to have chickenpox without a rash. The fact is that a rash is the main sign that the Varicella-Zoster pathogen has entered the body. But the intensity of the disease may vary. With a mild form, the symptoms are minimal and may be completely unnoticeable (especially if pimples form on the scalp). After a while they will disappear, then appear again, but on the body. The patient may confuse pustules with allergies or insect bites.

And if all this is not yet accompanied by an increase in temperature, then the person will suffer the disease without even noticing it. However, immunity to infection will still develop. The disease will no longer manifest itself.

Completely asymptomatic treatment is very rare. As a rule, one of the signs still appears, and the rest are noted in a blurred form.

Graft

Few people know that a vaccine has been developed that can be used to vaccinate a child or adult against chickenpox. This practice has long existed in developed countries and has been recognized as successful. At a minimum, it provides a guarantee that the disease will not be severe.

Depending on the type of vaccine, the resulting antibodies remain in the blood of the vaccinated person for approximately 7-10 years. But, given the virus constantly flying around, “re-vaccination” occurs periodically, which extends the life of the body’s protection. Since adults often get seriously ill and develop complications, it is worth thinking about such a preventive measure.

Recurrent disease and development of immunity

Whatever form of chickenpox a child develops, after the end of the disease the patient develops strong immunity to re-infection. This happens because after recovery the virus does not die, but enters a latent form. It continues to live for decades in the spinal nerve roots. The constant presence of a pathogen in the body allows the immune system to produce antibodies that can inhibit the proliferation of the cellular parasite.

Many people believe that if a child has had a mild form of chickenpox, he will not develop a strong immune system, which will lead to a relapse of the disease. In fact, re-infection becomes possible only in the presence of immunodeficiency.

Thus, chickenpox without a rash in children is not characterized by bright symptoms, skin rashes are practically absent. There are up to a dozen rashes on the baby’s outer skin and there is practically no temperature, which indicates the ease of the disease.

How to deal with purulent acne

For purulent forms of chickenpox, doctors must prescribe antibiotics. In addition to them, it is necessary to treat papules with liquid to prevent the patient’s condition from worsening.

To speed up the healing process of pustules in adults, experts recommend using the following medications and ointments:

1. Calendula solution. It is alcohol-based, dries wounds well, neutralizes, and has an antiseptic effect.
2. Levomycetin alcohol. Relieves inflammation and swelling.
3. Fucorcin solution. Has antifungal and antiseptic effects.
4. Zelenka. The solution not only dries out the blisters, but also helps control the occurrence of new papules.

How to make sure your child has had chickenpox

You can make sure that your baby is infected with chickenpox by taking a blood test at the clinic. In the laboratory, serum is produced from the taken material, with the help of which serological testing is carried out. It allows you to confirm or refute the presence of antibodies to the third type of herpes virus. If a child has had chickenpox, they are present in the blood, but if he was not sick, antibodies will not be detected.