The Sentinels surveillance network identified a strong presence of the varicella virus in 12 regions. The South of France is particularly affected.
The start of the holidays could be spoiled for many parents, not by the capricious weather but by chickenpox. Indeed, in its last bulletin, the Sentinel surveillance network identified last week 12 regional foci of high activity for this disease, mainly in the South of France.
In France, last week, the incidence of chickenpox seen in general medicine consultation was estimated at 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
Twelve centers of regional activity have been noted, strong in Languedoc-Roussillon (229 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), Corsica (131), Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur (104), Lorraine (93), Rhône-Alpes (70) and Champagne-Ardenne (47), and moderate in Nord-Pas-de-Calais (39), Center (32), Midi-Pyrénées (30), Haute-Normandie (29), Ile-de-France (21) and Limousin (21).
Remember that chickenpox is certainly the most contagious and frequent childhood viral disease. It is caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), a virus in the herpes family. This childhood illness is spread through saliva and through contact with skin lesions or contaminated material. A person is contagious four days before the vesicles appear (incubation period) and until the last scab has formed.
The main symptoms are a moderate fever, headache, mild cough and runny nose, among others. The typical skin lesions appear a little later: there are small red spots on the face and trunk, accompanied by itching. They spread throughout the body and become small pimples (vesicles) containing a clear liquid that is extremely contagious.
After a few days, these blisters dry to form a scab that eventually falls off, leaving a red and white scar that will disappear within a few months.
Depending on the symptoms of the child, the doctor may prescribe skin disinfectants or antihistamines for the itching. It is sometimes necessary to relieve fever with paracetamol, however aspirin and ibuprofen are contraindicated in cases of chickenpox.
To respect hygiene rules and prevent the child from scratching:
- cut and brush the child’s nails with soap;
- showers rather than baths (prolonged contact with water slows down the drying of the scabs);
- practice an antiseptic cleansing of the buttons once a day.
If a case arises in a community of children, eviction is not mandatory. On the other hand, it is strongly recommended to warn the personnel of a possible contagion.
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