Important and comprehensive information about swimming with a windmill. Harm or benefit?

The disease was named chickenpox because of the high contagiousness (volatility) of the virus; it can be said to be carried by the wind. The main distinguishing sign of infection is a specific chickenpox rash, the appearance of which is accompanied by a rise in temperature and unbearable itching. All this, and especially the itching, causes considerable discomfort to the child. It is unlikely that the baby will be able to resist scratching the itchy rash. Scratching that appears on the skin is an excellent environment for pathogenic bacteria that cause pustular diseases. That is why special attention must be paid to maintaining hygiene. Many mothers and fathers, who understand the importance of hygiene procedures, are interested in whether it is possible to swim with chickenpox. It depends on the course of the disease and the baby’s well-being.

When is swimming allowed?

Treatment of chickenpox is mainly local. It consists of treating all elements of the rash with antiseptics; only in severe cases are antiviral agents prescribed. As for the issue of bathing, doctors differ in their opinions.

Until recently, pediatricians did not allow mothers to bathe children who had chickenpox until the last scab fell off. Doctors believed that taking a bath or shower contributed to the spread and enlargement of the rash, as well as the deterioration of the child’s general condition. But thanks to the fact that science does not stand still, today the effect of the virus on the body and the mechanism of development of chickenpox have been studied in more detail. Therefore, we can say with confidence that bathing a child is possible and even useful, subject to certain conditions, although some old-school doctors still prohibit washing.

But European doctors recommend short-term water procedures for patients with chickenpox several times during the day, believing that they have a beneficial effect on the course of the disease.

When can you go for a walk after chickenpox, on what day?

Regarding walking during chickenpox, pediatricians have different opinions. Some people believe that you should never walk outside in order to avoid infecting children. But some doctors believe that walking helps strengthen the immune system and speed recovery. Therefore, it is recommended to walk with your child away from playgrounds and public places. You can take a walk in the park.

Choose comfortable, comfortable clothes so that your child does not rub anything. During illness, do not attend events, do not go to the circus with your child. Do not take him to any exhibitions or playgrounds. You should stay away from people and especially children.

The incubation period for chickenpox is 3 weeks. During these three weeks the child is contagious. The infection is transmitted by airborne droplets. A lot of viral cells are in the fluid that flows out after the ulcers rupture.

Swimming with chickenpox

How to properly bathe a baby if he has chickenpox?

Almost every child loves to swim, and the absence of water procedures for 7 - 10 days, while the rash lasts, deprives him of positive emotions, which are so lacking during illness. Bathing reduces itching, soothes, dries out rashes and improves the child’s well-being. If chickenpox occurs without complications and there is no fever, then it will only be beneficial. To prevent bathing from causing harm, you must follow a few simple rules:

1. Prepare a decoction of herbs that have an antiseptic, soothing, drying and itching effect (chamomile, oak bark, string). Add it to the water while bathing. In the absence of medicinal herbs, a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate is well suited for this purpose.
2. Use bathtubs to bathe babies; older children can be bathed in the shower.
3. Don't make the water hot. You should not steam your child. The water should be pleasantly warm to rinse away sweat, relieve itching and lift your spirits.
4. Don't get carried away and don't delay your bathing. 5 - 10 minutes will be enough. But you can wash yourself several times a day (3 - 4).
5. Do not rub the rash elements with a washcloth or sponge. Damage to them can lead to infection, and after scabs removed by force, scars may remain on the skin.
6. Regular baby soap is best as a detergent. You can wash your child with it no more than 2 times during the entire period of illness. For other baths, use only water.
7. After completing the procedure, thoroughly dry the baby’s skin, carefully blotting it with a soft towel or diaper, which should be changed after each bath.
8. After the skin is completely dry, treat each spot, blister and crust with an antiseptic (brilliant, fucorcin, 5% solution of potassium permanganate). Wear clean underwear.

Important! To prevent your child from getting an infection when scratching, trim your nails short. You should also wash your hands more often than usual.

These rules, which are not difficult to follow, allow you not to give up water procedures and maintain body cleanliness, minimizing the risk of infection.

You can swim the way you like, taking with you your favorite washcloth, gel and bubble bath, when there is not a single crust left. Just don't overdo it. You shouldn't splash around for too long. The body has not yet fully recovered, and the immune system is weakened after the illness.

Is it possible to wash my hair

A separate question is whether it is permissible to wash your hair if you have chickenpox. Of course, dirty hair increases the desire to wash, but washing your hair is a more delicate process than regular bathing and should be approached with more caution.

It is recommended to wash your hair no earlier than five days after the onset of the disease. It is important that the child feels well and does not have a high temperature.

Be sure to wash your hair separately from your body. Do not use shampoos or soap, wash your hair exclusively with warm water. The maximum that can be added is an infusion of chamomile or celandine.

Treatment of chickenpox rashes

Never rub your head with a towel. Pat your hair lightly after washing and try to dry it as quickly as possible to prevent hypothermia. The towel must be washed immediately and a new one used the next time you wash it.

When is swimming with chickenpox contraindicated?

Despite the fact that baths for chickenpox reduce itching, bathing some children is still not recommended, so as not to worsen the course of the disease.

Swimming is prohibited:

1. When the temperature is elevated. Even a slight increase is a contraindication.
2. In the presence of purulent rashes.
3. In case of severe chickenpox and the development of complications.

In almost every child, in the first two days of the onset of the disease, the temperature rises and persists. At this moment, the child should be in bed, and of course you should not wash him. If the temperature persists throughout the illness, you should refrain from swimming until recovery. In this case, you can only wipe the baby with a soft, damp cloth. It will be possible to swim completely when the disease subsides and the temperature returns to normal.

The child should be washed daily, even if bathing is prohibited. With chickenpox, rashes are located throughout the body and often appear in the genital area, and in the absence of hygiene, the skin and mucous membranes become irritated and inflamed. To prevent this from happening, wash your baby with chamomile or oak bark decoctions every day. They reduce the intensity of itching, relieve irritation and disinfect, preventing the development of inflammation.

Features of the course of the disease

Chickenpox is a manifestation of the reaction of the human immune system to the penetration of the microorganism ꓦаricella Zоster into the body. Due to its high invasiveness, the disease is most often transmitted by children of preschool or primary school age. The virus then enters the circulatory system through the epithelial membranes of the respiratory tract.

With the normal development of the disease, several main stages are distinguished during its course:

1. Infection and latent or incubation period
   . At this time, the pathogen integrates into the cells of the epithelial membranes of the upper respiratory tract and infects them. No clinical symptoms are expressed at this stage, the patient does not complain of deterioration in health.
2. The period of appearance of the first symptoms of the disease
   . A huge number of viruses and virions spread through the bloodstream throughout the patient’s body. Infection is accompanied by characteristic symptoms of intoxication: the patient’s health sharply worsens, a feeling of weakness occurs, headache, myalgia and arthralgia appear. In response to a viral attack, the immune system begins to produce antibodies to the pathogen.
3. Acute period
   . Any herpes virus, including the causative agent of chickenpox, is embedded in the roots of the nerve ganglia. The result of this process is the appearance of a characteristic papular rash on the skin and mucous membranes. The rashes can itch and cause severe discomfort to the patient, but with proper care they dry out and disappear after 2-4 weeks, leaving no scars.
4. Recovery stage
   . The rash on the epithelium and epidermis dries out, becomes crusty, and the patient’s general condition noticeably improves.

After suffering from chickenpox, a person most often develops immunity to this type of virus, which usually lasts from several months to tens of years.

Features of clinical symptoms of chickenpox

Is it possible to swim in a river if you have chickenpox?

During the summer holidays, parents of children with chickenpox ask whether it is possible to swim in rivers, lakes and other open bodies of water.

If the baby does not have a fever and feels well, then bathing will not harm him. However, pediatricians do not allow visiting places with large crowds of people with chickenpox, since this disease is very contagious. And in summer the beach is always full of people. Therefore, responsible parents who do not want healthy children and adults who were not sick in childhood to become infected will not take a sick child to the beach.

In addition, when there are many rashes and the child is constantly itching, his skin is injured, and there is a risk of additional infection and suppuration of the rash elements. The purity of water in our reservoirs, unfortunately, is very doubtful. Given this fact, pediatricians do not recommend swimming in them if you have chickenpox.

Swimming in a pond

An unexpected illness may catch you on vacation. It is worth remembering that swimming in a river or sea with chickenpox can be harmful to the baby and others:

• Smallpox is transmitted through the air and through saliva. While swimming in the pool with other children or playing on the beach, an infected baby infects those around him with the disease.

• Salty sea water relieves itching, but can cause infection of the papules. When swimming in open water, one cannot guarantee complete safety for a child with skin diseases. There is a risk of getting secondary infections.

• Sunlight is contraindicated for a child during the development of chickenpox. The baby should not be outside in direct sunlight for 5-7 days after the first rash appears. This is especially unsafe at elevated temperatures and pustules on the body.

Swimming, relaxing outside the city, at the sea is an excellent method of healing for children of any age. But for a child with chickenpox, you need to take a break. Swimming and being in public places is allowed 3-5 days after the last appearance of new papules on the skin. Until this time, the baby is contagious to others and is weakened.

A few tips to help relieve chickenpox

It will be easier for both children and adults to tolerate chickenpox if:

• the house (apartment) is not too hot. When the house is very warm, you sweat more and more often, and this increases the itching;
• bed linen and home clothes are made from natural fabrics (cotton, linen). They allow the skin to breathe. Synthetics are irritating and only increase the itching. In addition, it does not allow air to pass through, so the body sweats and discomfort increases. Don't forget to change your linen daily;
• drink more. This helps eliminate intoxication;
• if there are rashes in the mouth, you should rinse your mouth with a solution of chamomile or furatsilin as often as possible;
• Take antihistamines when the itching becomes unbearable. The doctor selects the drug and dosage;
• treat the rash 3 - 4 times a day. This way it dries faster and does not become infected.

How chickenpox occurs was first described by Italian doctors in the 16th century. And the cause of the disease was identified only in 1958.

In a child who has had chickenpox, the virus that causes the disease settles in the nerve cells and remains in the body for life. This is why 99% of the population gets sick once in their life, and only a small percentage of people (1%) get sick again. A virus dormant in the body, when the immune system is weakened, can be activated and cause shingles.

A vaccine against chickenpox has been available since 1994. In Russia, it became available only in 2009, but it was never included in the vaccination calendar. Developed countries (Japan, USA) have included the vaccine in the childhood immunization program and have been successfully using it for more than 10 years. Japanese scientists have found that immunity after vaccination lasts for 10 to 20 years.

Final part

This article was devoted to the question: “Is it possible to wash your hair during chickenpox?” As we found out, there are 2 points of view on this matter. Doctors of the “new medical school” believe that you need to wash your hair if you have chickenpox. Doctors of the “old school” believe that you should not wash yourself if you have chickenpox, and if, while suffering from chickenpox, you sweat, itch and smell like stink, then you are on the road to recovery (sarcasm, of course).

Which of these 2 points of view you prefer to take depends on your opinion and the opinion of your doctor. Note that there is still a certain risk when washing your hair during chickenpox, so the hygiene rules given above are mandatory.

Is it possible to prevent chickenpox?

To avoid chickenpox, doctors recommend immunization. The chickenpox vaccine protects a person from the virus in 98% of cases, and in the remaining 2% it makes the course of the disease easier and speeds up recovery.

As an example, we can consider the experience of the United States: mass vaccination against chickenpox began there in 1995. Since then, incidence has dropped by almost 90% and mortality by 66%.

Vaccination takes place in two stages: the first vaccine is administered to children at 12–15 months, and the second at 4–6 years. Older children who have not been vaccinated and have not had chickenpox may also be immunized. To do this, contact your pediatrician, who will create an individual vaccination schedule.

Has your child had chickenpox?