Complications | Chickenpox

Complications

Complications can occur if the chickenpox blisters are scratched open. Opening the skin barrier can lead to a bacterial superinfection. This is usually an infection with staphylococci or streptococci.

If a skin infection occurs, antibiotic treatment should be administered. Other possible complications are pneumonia and even severe inflammation of the brain or meninges. Complications can also occur in immunocompromised people.

These patients are often found with an HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. In these patients an antiviral therapy with Aciclovir is recommended. Other risk groups are elderly people or premature babies. If the mother becomes infected during pregnancy, the child may become infected. If the child is born with a chickenpox infection, this is a very threatening clinical picture for the newborn.

Scars after chickenpox

Scars caused by a chickenpox infection are mainly caused by scratching open the blisters. The scratched areas of skin can then easily become infected with bacteria, which cause inflammation. These inflamed skin areas then often heal scarred.

To counteract scarring, it is important not to scratch the blisters. This is not always easy because chickenpox is often accompanied by severe itching. To relieve the itching, cooling the affected areas with cold cloths can help. In addition, drug therapy with antihistamines can also help to counteract the itching.

Can one get the chickenpox more than once?

An initial infection with varicella results in the typical picture of chickenpox. After the symptoms subside, the virus remains in the body. If the immune system is poor, the virus may be reactivated, which then leads to the clinical picture of herpes zoster. In this case the virus can be treated with Aciclovir.

Chickenpox and shingles – what is the connection?

Chickenpox and shingles are caused by the same pathogen. Chickenpox is the initial infection with the Varicella Zoster Virus. After the initial infection, the viruses persist for life in certain sections of the nervous system, so that a reactivation of the virus can occur if the immune system is poorly developed.

Due to the localization in the ganglia, the infection then occurs along a dermatome, i.e. the infection is very sharply defined. Bubbles form at the affected area, before which only a reddening can be seen. Reactivation with Herpes Zoster is usually accompanied by severe pain.