Chickenpox, also known as varicella, is a highly contagious disease caused by the initial infection with varicella zoster virus. The disease results in a characteristic skin rash that forms small, itchy blisters, which eventually scab over. It usually starts on the chest, back, and face. It then spreads to the rest of the body. Other symptoms may include fever, tiredness, and headaches. Symptoms usually last five to seven days. The disease is often more severe in adults than in children.
水痘是一种由水痘带状疱疹病毒 (VZV) 引起的传染性疾病。该病毒在免疫力低下的个体首次感染时会导致水痘,随后在病毒重新激活时可能引发带状疱疹。水痘表现为发痒的皮疹,伴有小水泡并逐渐结痂,通常先出现在胸部、背部和面部,然后向全身扩散。患者常伴有发热、乏力、咽喉痛和头痛,病程一般为五至七天。并发症可包括肺炎、脑炎以及细菌性皮肤感染,成人的病情往往比儿童更为严重。症状通常在接触后 10 至 21 天出现,平均潜伏期约为两周。 Chickenpox or varicella is a contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). The virus is responsible for chickenpox (usually primary infection in non-immune hosts) and herpes zoster or shingles (following reactivation of latent infection). Chickenpox results in a skin rash that forms small, itchy blisters, which scabs over. It typically starts on the chest, back, and face then spreads. It is accompanied by fever, fatigue, pharyngitis, and headaches which usually last five to seven days. Complications include pneumonia, brain inflammation, and bacterial skin infections. The disease is more severe in adults than in children. Symptoms begin ten to 21 days after exposure, but the average incubation period is about two weeks.
水痘主要通过空气传播,感染者的咳嗽和打喷嚏可将病毒轻易传给他人。潜伏期为10至21天,随后出现特征性皮疹。皮疹在出现前1至2天可能已经开始扩散,直至所有病灶结痂为止。病毒也可通过直接接触水泡传播。大多数人一生仅患一次水痘。虽然病毒可再次感染,但通常不引起症状。
自1995年推出水痘疫苗以来,病例数和并发症均显著下降。许多国家已将疫苗列入儿童常规免疫计划。美国自实施免疫接种后,感染人数下降近90%。对于并发症风险较高的患者,建议使用Acyclovir等抗病毒药物。
○ 治疗
症状轻微时,可使用非处方抗组胺药并密切观察;症状较重时,则需要使用抗病毒药物。
#OTC antihistamine
#Acyclovir