Signs and treatment of smallpox in children

The article was consulted professionally by Master, Dr Vu Quoc Anh – Pediatrician – Pediatrics – Newborn Department – Share99 Da Nang International Health Hub. Dr Anh has nearly 10 years of experience as an inpatient and treating doctor at Hue Central Health Hub and Da Nang Obstetrics and Gynecology Health Hub. His strengths are the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric pathology; resuscitation, pediatric emergency.

Smallpox is a common acute infectious disease that can occur at all ages and is common in children. Patients carry smallpox virus when speaking, sneezing nose or coughing … then the viruses follow the saliva, the nasal water shoots out to dissolve into dust. Someone else inhaling that dust will infect smallpox right away.

Smallpox is caused by a virus called Variola virus. Patients carry smallpox virus when speaking, sneezing nose or coughing … then the viruses follow the saliva, the nasal water shoots out to dissolve into dust. Someone else inhaling that dust will infect smallpox right away.

The disease begins suddenly with a high fever of 400C, discomfort, headache, fatigue, severe back pain, sometimes abdominal pain and vomiting. After 2-4 days, the temperature drops and appears rash.

The itch is the first sign of the attack. Mild fever, headache and fatigue are common symptoms.

The rash develops through consecutive stages: macula, papula, vesicula, pustule, which eventually closes and ends in the 3rd, 4th week after the rash. Due to the lesion of the rash deep under the layer of the reproduction cell of the epidermis, when peeling the beans will leave scars, the most in the face, called the pitted face.

Usually the fever increases along with the progress of the rash to pustules. The rash appears first in the face, then to the torso and limbs. The rash is concentrated in the face, limbs more in the torso.

People who have been infected with smallpox before, if infected with smallpox virus may not get sick or present with mild full-body symptoms, atypical rashes, and often without the progressive stages of the board. People infected with smallpox can get from just a few acne to more than 500 acne on the body.

Severe illness has a mortality rate in people with smallpox of about 15-40%. Death can occur early on the 2nd, 3rd day, but dies a lot in the 2nd week. About 3% of severe patients in the hospital have experienced a severe pre-million period, suffer from exhaustion, bleeding in the skin, mucous membranes, uterus, genitals, especially in pregnant women. Cases of such bleeding die very quickly.

Mild smallpox outbreaks are associated with a mortality rate of less than 1%. However, rash symptoms still occur similarly to severe illness. In general, the body reactions of mild disease are less severe and bleeding is rare.

Smallpox in children if properly cared for, especially in keeping skin hygiene, good personal hygiene will usually cure itself in about 10-14 days and not leave any complications for the patient.

Serious complications of smallpox in children have been noted by doctors, especially those with severe smallpox with inappropriate care, namely:

Nodules infection leads to young skin sores, which if not treated actively and properly can leave permanent bad scars on the skin.

Sepsis significantly impairs the child's resistance, which if not treated in time can lead to death.

Complications of encephalitis, meningitis caused by smallpox are rare but often leave severe excesses such as cerebral palsy, deafness, mental retenence, concussion … causing the burden of disease to the family and society.

Smallpox in children may present with severe complications of chickenpox virus.

If you have smallpox, you need to see a doctor to find out the causes and scientific treatments. The nodules appear as blisters on the skin, which are filled with water and scaled. Smallpox is quite similar to chickenpox but has blisters different from blisters caused by chickenpox.

There is still no effective treatment for smallpox. Vaccination within 3−4 days of exposure to the virus may make the disease less severe or may help prevent it.

The doctor will focus on treatment to relieve symptoms and fight dehydration. If there is an infection in the lungs or on the skin, the patient may be treated with antibiotics. Experts are still exploring new antiviral drugs that can cure the disease.

The treatment regimen for smallpox should comply with the prescription of a specialist, the patient absolutely does not use the drug on his own. Early, proper treatment and a good body care regime, smallpox in children will not thrive, reducing dangerous complications with health.

Treatment of smallpox in children for the best effect determines not only the cures, but also the care and abstinence regime of the patient. Since smallpox in children is very contagious and has a sudden outbreak, unforeseen complications, patients need to have a good care diet when detecting signs of disease effectiveness.

In addition, patients with smallpox should also pay attention, limit contact and share personal items with others during the outbreak. Because, the virus that causes smallpox can easily spread to others and thrive.

As a key area of Share99 Health System, Pediatrics always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:

• Gathering a team of leading doctors in Pediatrics:including leading experts, highly specialized (professors, associate professors, doctors, masters), experienced, used to work at large hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. The doctors are well-trained, professional, mind-centered, knowledgeable about the child's psychology. In addition to domestic pediatricians, pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) always pioneering the application of the latest and most effective treatment regimens.
• Comprehensive services:In the field of Pediatrics, Share99 provides a chain of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatrics and Vaccines,… according to international standards to take care of your baby's health with parents from birth to adulthood
• Intensive techniques:Share99 has successfully implemented many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery – skull, hematoma stem cell transplantation in cancer treatment.
• Professional care:In addition to understanding the young psychology, Share99 also pay special attention to the children's play space, help them play comfortably and get acquainted with the hospital environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical examination and treatment.