Can chickenpox grow in the eyes?

Chickenpox is a disease that usually only children suffer from, but adults may also develop it. No matter what the cause of the chickenpox is, it is best to get treatment as soon as it occurs. Only in this way can you avoid the spread of your chickenpox. Chickenpox may also grow in the eyes, but this situation is relatively rare.

The incubation period of the disease is 12 to 21 days, with an average of 14 days. The onset is relatively acute. Older children and adults may have prodromal symptoms such as fever, headache, general fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, etc. before the rash appears. In children, the rash and systemic symptoms appear at the same time.

The rash appears within 24 hours of onset, first on the scalp and compressed parts of the trunk, with a centripetal distribution. At first, it is a small pink macule, which quickly turns into a round tense blister the size of a rice grain to a pea, with a noticeable red halo around it, and the center of the blister is umbilical. Mucous membranes are also often invaded, such as the oral cavity, pharynx, conjunctiva, vulva, and anus.

During the eruption period of 1 to 6 days, the rash appears in batches one after another. The skin lesions evolve from small red maculopapules → blisters → scabs → descending, and no scars are left after descending. There is obvious pain and itching during the blister stage, and if secondary infection occurs due to scratching, slight indentations may be left. Weak people may develop high fever, and about 4% of adults may develop disseminated varicella and varicella pneumonia.

The clinical manifestations of varicella include bullous varicella, hemorrhagic varicella, neonatal varicella, adult varicella, etc. In addition, if chickenpox is infected during pregnancy, it can cause fetal malformation, premature birth or stillbirth.

The child should be isolated early until all the rashes have crusted over, generally no less than two weeks after the onset of the illness. Children who have been in contact with patients with chickenpox should be isolated and observed for 3 weeks. There is no specific treatment for this disease. The main focus is symptomatic treatment and prevention of secondary skin infection, keeping the skin clean and avoiding scratching. Strengthen care, change clothes frequently, and cut nails frequently to prevent secondary infection from scratching blisters. Actively isolate patients to prevent infection.

Local treatment is mainly to relieve itching and prevent infection. Calamine lotion can be applied externally. If the herpes ruptures or secondary infection occurs, 1% gentian violet or antibiotic ointment can be applied externally. Antibiotics can be used when the systemic symptoms of secondary infection are severe. Avoid using corticosteroids to prevent the spread and aggravation of chickenpox.

Antiviral drugs should be used as early as possible for patients with disseminated varicella in immunocompromised patients, neonatal varicella or varicella pneumonia, encephalitis and other severe cases. Acyclovir is currently the first choice antiviral drug for the treatment of varicella-zoster, but it is more effective if used within 24 hours of onset. Or add α-interferon to inhibit viral replication, prevent viral spread, promote skin lesion healing, accelerate disease recovery, and reduce mortality.