April 26, 2018
According to the latest bulletin from the Sentinels Network, chickenpox is on the rise in several regions of France. Five are thus are surveillance, in particular Burgundy-Franche-Comté.
Chickenpox under surveillance in five regions of France
The flu went away, but it gave way to chickenpox. And we must take this epidemic seriously since it affects each year 700,000 patients in France. Most often benign, especially in children, the disease can have serious complications in adults. In total, 3,000 people are hospitalized each year.
According to the latest bulletin of the Sentinels Network, chickenpox is progressing in April in several regions of France. Five are therefore subject to special surveillance. Foci with strong activity have been spotted there. Bourgogne-Franche-Comté already has 61 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. This is double the national average. Brittany and Hauts-de-France have each reported 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. In Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Normandy, the circulation of the virus is less but remains high.
No treatment for chickenpox, but hygiene precautions
Finally, three other regions are in the sights of the authorities, because centers of moderate activity have been detected: Corsica, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Grand-Est. After an incubation period of 10 to 21 days, chickenpox manifests mainly as fever, as well as red, itchy rashes. But you should obviously avoid scratching, because it is the vesicles filled with a clear liquid that spread the virus.
As a reminder, there is no no specific treatment for chickenpox. It is advisable to adopt some hygienic precautions such as washing the child’s hands regularly and cutting their nails. You should also change your diaper often. Short baths are recommended, but lukewarm since the heat increases the itching. Drying should be delicate (dab rather than rub). The pharmacist or doctor will advise you on the choice of the most appropriate antihistamine for the itching. Talc is avoided, which causes maceration and increases the risk of superinfection.
Marie-Eve Wilson-Jamin
To find out more: Chickenpox: how to treat baby and avoid contagion?
