Smallpox: a brief description of the course of the disease

Smallpox is a very serious virus disease that has been a scourge of mankind for many centuries. The real epidemics of this terrible disease have killed entire settlements, especially in countries located in Asia and Africa.

Everyone knows that such a chicken pox is an ordinary chickenpox, which is affected primarily by children. Even in adulthood, despite all the complications, it is transferred surprisingly easily, if we compare it with the virus of the so-called "black pox". Fortunately, to date, this disease is completely eliminated on the entire planet.

Smallpox: the course of the disease . The only source of the virus is the infected person. First, infection is infiltrated by talking, coughing, or physical contact. But in the late stages of the disease, when crusts are formed on pustules, the virus is released and settles on household objects and clothes. Penetrates into a healthy body through the skin, the respiratory tract, the digestive tract and mucous membranes. If a person has not suffered from such a disease or was not vaccinated, the probability of infection is 100%.

The duration of the incubation period is from 12 to 15 days. Then the disease begins acutely, with severe complications. The patient's fever rises, weakness, dizziness, loss of appetite, sometimes delirium and even loss of consciousness. On the shoulders, inside the thighs and in the lower abdomen appears a small rash, which disappears after 2 - 3 days.

Approximately 3 to 4 days after the onset of the illness, the temperature drops, and the well-being temporarily improves. But then on the hands, face and head there is a profuse rash, which then spreads to the abdomen, back and lower limbs. Over time, it acquires a dark shade and on its surface appear large tubercles - vesicles. A similar rash also spreads to the mucous membranes of the eyes, nasal passages, mouth, gums and pharynx. That is why the patient becomes sensitive to light, it is difficult for him to breathe, swallow and talk. The voice becomes hoarse. Since the mucous membranes are constantly moistened, the vesicles on them gradually turn into small, painful sores.

Approximately on 7 - 8 day the state of the person starts to worsen sharply - at it the temperature rises and the consciousness becomes clouded. Vesicles begin to swell, turning into papules with dark contents. Skin, larynx and mucous membranes swell - a person is hard to breathe and talk. Even at the slightest pressure, the pustules burst, and pus leaves the surface of the skin, causing itching and burning.

On day 12, the pustules begin to dry, forming crusts. A person suffers from severe itching, and when combing the skin on it, wounds and ulcers are formed. Only after a few days the crusts begin to fall off, leaving reddish spots on the skin. In most cases, smallpox natural leaves marks on the human body - small depressions on the skin, in places where large papules (mostly on the face).

Smallpox: treatment . To date, there are no specific methods of treating the disease - it all depends on the proper care and variety of the virus. With typical forms of smallpox, the prognosis is favorable. But if we talk about the hemorrhagic-pustular form of the disease, in most cases everything ends with the patient's death.

To remove complications and soreness, the patient is prescribed antibiotics, as well as painkillers. It should be noted that the infected person should be kept in full quarantine. Vesicles and pustules must be regularly treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. When drying crusts, the wound should be lubricated with menthol solution on Vaseline - this will relieve the itching.

The main method of preventing smallpox is vaccination - that's what made it possible to destroy the virus. The vaccine contains a specific form of the virus, which is not pathogenic, but stimulates the production of strong immunity. Remember that smallpox is a very dangerous disease.