Varicella

From greek.doctor
  • Varicella (chickenpox)
    • Primary infection during childhood
    • Lasts 6 days in immunocompetent persons
    • Transmission
      • Highly contagious
      • Airborne transmission
      • Incubation period 2 weeks
    • Clinical features
      • Lesions covering the entire body
      • Severe pruritus
      • Macules -> papules -> vesicles with erythematous base -> crusts
        • All of these stages are present simultaneously, which is a hallmark for the disease
      • Fever
    • Virus remains latent in sensory ganglia
    • Diagnosis
      • Clinical -> characteristic rash
      • Tzanck smear, PCR
    • Treatment
      • For pruritus
        • Calamine lotion
        • Pramoxine gel
        • Oral antihistamines
      • Therapy
        • Only for severe cases or high-risk groups (adults, immunosuppressed)
        • Acyclovir
        • Post-exposure prophylaxis
          • Active immunization (vaccine)
          • Passive immunization (immunoglobulins)
    • Prevention
      • Vaccination
    • Complication
      • Bacterial superinfection
        • Impetigo
        • Phlegmon
      • Scarring
      • Congenital varicella syndrome (if chickenpox during pregnancy)