Chickenpox is in season, with many severe cases.

In just the first three months of 2023, the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases received over 330 cases of chickenpox (commonly known as varicella). Of these, 15 cases required hospitalization, with 5 severe cases. In some northern provinces and cities, the number of chickenpox cases is also showing signs of increasing. According to the Hanoi Center for Disease Control, from the beginning of 2023 to date, the city has recorded 548 cases of chickenpox.

Anyone can get infected.

Dr. Vo Truong Quy, Deputy Head of Internal Medicine Department A - Ho Chi Minh City Tropical Diseases Hospital, said that not only is the number of chickenpox cases increasing, but this year, the number of severe cases is also higher.

A typical case involves a male patient, nearly 30 years old, with no underlying medical conditions, who suddenly experienced body aches and blisters all over his body. Thinking it was a common ailment, he self-medicated, only to seek medical attention when his condition worsened.

Upon transfer to the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases, this patient was suffering from acute respiratory failure and pneumonia, requiring intubation, mechanical ventilation, and strong antibiotics. After intensive treatment, the patient recovered from the critical condition.

"Due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, people did not have the opportunity to get vaccinated, leading to an increase in chickenpox cases. The Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases currently has 8 inpatients, 3 of whom require oxygen," Dr. Quy informed.

Unforeseen complications

The National Children's Hospital reported recently treating a newborn with chickenpox and typical complications. The patient, D.H. (27 days old, from Bac Giang), contracted the disease from her mother and her 7-year-old sister. She developed blisters, high fever, severe coughing, and difficulty breathing. She was diagnosed with pneumonia and treated at a provincial hospital for four days without improvement, so she was transferred to a higher-level hospital.

According to Dr. Nguyen Phuong Thao from the Center for Tropical Diseases - National Children's Hospital, chickenpox is a common occurrence in children from February to June each year. Dr. Thao warns that children with chickenpox, especially infants, have a high risk of death, up to 30%, due to multi-organ damage. Children with chickenpox who are not treated promptly and according to the correct protocol may experience dangerous complications such as respiratory failure, septic shock, and bacterial superinfection; they may also suffer neurological complications and other complications such as adrenal insufficiency, glomerulonephritis, eye damage, and even death.

"Young children, especially infants, are very susceptible to unpredictable complications when they contract chickenpox. Therefore, it is extremely important for parents to recognize the symptoms early, monitor for signs of worsening condition, and take their children to a medical facility for timely treatment," Dr. Thao advised.

A 24-week pregnant woman with chickenpox is being treated at the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases. (Photo: Nguyen Thuan)

In addition, Dr. Vo Truong Quy also noted that pregnant women who contract chickenpox are at greater risk than regular patients because their immune system is weaker, making the disease more likely to progress severely and causing more blisters. In particular, blisters in the perineum can easily cause urinary tract infections leading to sepsis, affecting the fetus.

If pregnant women in the last three months of pregnancy contract chickenpox, it is dangerous for the fetus – potentially causing birth defects such as scarring, muscle atrophy, and intellectual disability. The most dangerous period is when the mother contracts chickenpox from 5 days before delivery until 2 days after birth; the likelihood of the baby contracting the disease is very high, with a high risk of severe illness and death.

Treatment should begin as early as possible.

According to Dr. Vo Truong Quy, chickenpox can occur at any age, but mainly between 15 and 40 years old. The initial signs are chills, fever, and muscle aches, followed by the appearance of small, round spots within 12-24 hours. These spots develop into blisters, which grow larger each day. If not broken, the blisters will dry up and heal on their own after 7 days.

Individuals with underlying health conditions, special constitutions, or infants and the elderly who contract chickenpox are at a higher risk of developing severe symptoms. After the onset of fever, patients will experience coughing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing; the virus can attack the lungs, causing pneumonia. If left untreated, chickenpox can later lead to shingles, skin infections, sepsis, pneumonia, encephalitis, cerebellitis, etc.

"When contracting chickenpox, treatment should begin as soon as possible, within 72 hours of the onset of the disease. After this period, the antiviral effect of the medication will slow down," Dr. Quy emphasized.

According to Dr. Quy, chickenpox is easily spread in small communities, especially within families or neighborhoods. People who have not been vaccinated against chickenpox are more likely to contract the disease through casual contact with infected individuals.

Chickenpox is completely preventable with the correct vaccination schedule. Children are usually vaccinated against chickenpox between 12 and 15 months of age, and then receive a booster dose between 4 and 6 years of age for lifelong protection. Without the booster dose, children can still contract chickenpox.

Individuals aged 12 and older who have never been vaccinated against chickenpox should receive two doses, with the second dose given 1-3 months after the first.

Misconceptions about chickenpox

According to Doctor Nguyen Phuong Thao, many people still believe that children with chickenpox should avoid water and wind, so they don't bathe them. This is an incorrect belief. When children have chickenpox, parents should properly clean their bodies and care for their skin to prevent infection, which can worsen the condition.

Although chickenpox can resolve on its own within 1-2 weeks, doctors advise parents not to treat their children at home but to see a healthcare professional for examination and diagnosis to prevent the disease from worsening.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/suc-khoe/thuy-dau-vao-mua-nhieu-ca-nang-20230407213819414.htm