How to distinguish prickly heat from chickenpox || How to distinguish chickenpox from prickly heat

Category: Good to know Published 11/14/2018 · Comments: · Reading time: 3 min · Views: Post Views: 632

It is difficult to distinguish chickenpox from allergies in a child or an adult, since both diseases have an identical symptomatic picture. An important point is the events preceding the appearance of the first signs of damage to the body. Chickenpox is considered a contagious infection that can be transmitted from one person to another. Allergic reactions are not viral or bacterial in nature, since they manifest themselves exclusively in the presence of an irritating source - an allergen.

Key Similarities Between Chickenpox and Allergies

Many people often confuse an allergic rash with chickenpox. This is not surprising, because chickenpox in the initial stages is very similar to an allergic rash. Allergic blisters are characterized as reddish and raised spots on the skin that can quickly appear in different parts of the body. The level of itching with an allergic rash often coincides with the rash with chickenpox. Among the first symptoms of chickenpox can be found:

• chills;
• elevated temperature;
• headache;
• rash on the body.

Basic allergy symptoms include:

• rash;
• itching of the skin;
• runny nose;
• itching in the eye area.

With both chickenpox and allergies, the rash initially appears on the upper torso, face, and flexures of the joints of the arms and legs.

In the photo below we depict the first signs of chickenpox and allergies in a child:

Table: First signs of chickenpox and allergies in a child

What does prickly heat look like in children - photo

Symptoms of prickly heat appear as a result of blockage of the excretory ducts of the baby's glands. In children, they always manifest themselves in the same way: some areas of the baby’s skin become covered with a small red rash, which often has a clear liquid inside, as in the photo. A child, regardless of whether he is one month old or one year old, is susceptible to prickly heat. A profuse rash in children appears on the surface of the least ventilated areas of the skin.

Types of the disease depending on the area of ​​skin damage:

• prickly heat on the face - localized in this area quite rarely, but often this occurs in situations where the rash moves from the head to the neck or vice versa;
• scalp – blisters often appear on the temples and forehead;
• The neck is one of the most common places for nodules to appear. This is due to the fact that it has relatively fixed folds and is often subject to sweat;
• The back is the main reason for the appearance of excessively warm or poor-quality clothing. It is noteworthy that the pathology involves the upper back;
• groin and butt – occurs due to wearing tight diapers and insufficient hygiene of intimate places;
• prickly heat on a child’s head – formed due to wearing a hat in the warm season;
• on the chest and abdomen - such areas of the baby’s body are rarely affected by prickly heat;
• prickly heat on the hands and feet - often localized in the folds, namely on the hands, on the inside and outside of the elbows and knees, on the feet and in the armpits.

It is noteworthy that in the vast majority of cases, prickly heat-type rashes cover the baby’s entire body.

Main differences between chickenpox and allergies

Let's take a closer look at the main differences between chickenpox and allergies. In order to determine whether a child has chickenpox or an allergy, you need to pay attention to some aspects:

Causal relationship

: whether skin rashes occurred after eating a new product, using a new detergent, or contact with an animal. Chickenpox can only occur in one case - contact with the chickenpox virus.

General appearance of the rash

: pay attention to the color of the rash and the skin around it, whether the rash disappears when pressed. An allergy rash looks like a nettle burn. The chickenpox rash is cyclical, progressing from pink papules to fluid-filled vesicles, which dry out and crust over time.

Localization of the occurrence of rashes

: Pay attention to the presence of rashes on the mucous membranes and how painful they are. An allergic rash occurs mainly on the skin, while rashes from chickenpox can occur on the mucous membranes.

Presence of itching

: Pay attention to the level of itching, temperature status, whether there is a runny nose, coughing, sneezing, or sore throat. Chickenpox is most often accompanied by a general condition similar to a viral infection. An allergy may have only one symptom that occurs in special cases.

Contagiousness degree

: Allergies are not contagious, unlike chickenpox.

Body temperature:

pay attention to the presence of elevated temperature.
With allergies, there is usually no increase in temperature. As a hyperthermic syndrome, chickenpox is accompanied by an increase in body temperature. Treatment:
allergies are quite easily treated by eliminating the allergen and taking antihistamines. Chickenpox, in turn, is treated only by eliminating various symptoms, antiviral, antipyretic, and anti-itching agents. In the photo we depicted what the rash looks like with chickenpox and allergies:

Photo: allergies or chicken pox

Prevention

Heat rash in babies can be prevented even before it appears by systematic skin prevention. Practical advice will help those who have already encountered the problem of rashes, after treatment, and children who have not yet been sick.

Methods for preventing heat rash in a child:

• choose clothes made from natural fabrics for your child;
• regularly ventilate the room where the child is;
• clothing should not be too warm to avoid overheating;
• You need to periodically add cleansing infusions to the bath;
• maintain a comfortable room temperature;
• in hot weather, ensure frequent diaper changes or avoid them altogether;
• Avoid public bodies of water, but you can swim in the sea. Salt disinfects and cleanses the skin well. Swimming with prickly heat in the sea is possible and even necessary;
• try to use only special powders for washing children's clothes and hygiene products that do not contain allergens;
• Properly balance your child’s diet.

Prickly heat appeared on the body of any child at one time or another.
Red spots can be a signal of a harmless temporary blockage of the sebaceous glands or a serious illness. The task of parents is to correctly assess the situation and provide the necessary skin care. [youtube.player]

Clinical picture of chickenpox

Having familiarized yourself with the clinical pictures, you can quickly and easily identify allergies and chickenpox. However, no one other than a doctor can prescribe treatment. The chickenpox virus remains in the human nervous system forever. With a weakened immune system and improper body care, the virus can develop into herpes zoster. The main symptoms of chickenpox are:

• an itchy rash that develops into a vesicular rash;
• the rash is initially observed on the upper torso and face;
• rashes are accompanied by fever and general weakness;
• a rash occurs on the scalp;
• the rash in appearance looks like blisters rising above the reddened surface of the skin, filled with clear liquid;
• After a few days, these watery blisters begin to dry out.

Many people are interested in how long it takes for chickenpox and allergies to appear. The answer is quite simple, allergies manifest themselves quite quickly. The reaction may occur within an hour. Chickenpox is a longer lasting disease. Let's start with the fact that before its external manifestation (2-3 days), the child is already infectious and remains so until the vesicles begin to dry out.

What is chickenpox?

Chickenpox is an infectious disease that, as the name suggests, spreads in communities with lightning speed, almost like the wind. That is, it is very easy to get chickenpox. Children usually suffer from this disease, and they tolerate it quite easily. The same cannot be said about adults - for them, chickenpox becomes a real challenge. Fortunately, once you have had this disease, your body develops lifelong immunity to it.

The disease begins with an incubation period, the duration of which varies between 1–3 weeks. That is, a person who has had one contact with a patient with chickenpox may experience signs of this infection during this period. A person with chickenpox can infect someone two days before the rash and another five days after it.

• rash on the skin;
• severe itching;
• elevated temperature;
• general discomfort.

The main symptom of chickenpox is specific rashes.

Initially, they look like small pink spots that appear on the scalp, but very quickly begin to spread throughout the body. Soon these spots become papules - blisters with liquid contents.

After a few days, these papules should burst, after which small ulcerations - vesicles - remain on the skin, which should be treated with any antiseptic (usually brilliant green is preferred) to prevent infection. The rash process continues cyclically for at least 7 days. At the same time, new spots, papules, and vesicles can be observed on the skin at the same time.

After a few days, the ulcers become covered with crusts, which cause itching and soon disappear. If these crusts are severely scratched, characteristic scars may remain on the skin after the disease.

The disease progresses individually in each patient. If someone has a few pimples and the disease goes away easily, with a slight increase in temperature, then others may be covered with rashes from head to toe, and papules can be found even in the mouth and on the mucous membrane of the eyes.

Another noticeable symptom of chickenpox is severe itching. The rashes begin to itch after the vesicles dry out and crusts appear on them. In this case, antihistamines will come to the rescue.

Clinical picture of allergies

Above we looked at the clinical picture of chickenpox, in this block we will describe in detail how to distinguish allergies from chickenpox. Allergies arise as a painful reaction of the immune system to an irritant. That is, itching, rash and swelling are the body’s response to contact with an allergen. In addition to these symptoms, your child may experience sneezing, coughing, and runny nose. In some cases, the mucous membranes of the eyes may become inflamed.

The first stage of allergy is diathesis, which is characterized by the appearance of a rash and itching on the buttocks and cheeks. If you do not start treating diathesis, allergies can develop into eczema. At this stage, itchy blisters with liquid appear.

If eczema is not treated promptly, the allergic reaction can develop into the third stage - atopic dermatitis. Dermatitis may subside in adolescence; it rarely remains active in adults.

The mother's diet during pregnancy or breastfeeding does not greatly affect the child's sensitivity to allergens. Medical experts note that allergies occur more often in children who are on artificial nutrition, since cow protein is considered a strong irritant. Allergies can also be one of the complications after chickenpox in children, since the body is still weakened and is not able to actively protect itself from external irritants. When determining the allergen, only a doctor can prescribe treatment for the child. To eliminate an allergic reaction, antihistamines are most often prescribed.

Causes of prickly heat

Miliaria occurs when several factors combine: overheating, excessive sweating, blockage of sweat ducts. The tubules and orifices (the places where they come to the surface) cannot cope with the increased load and become clogged with skin cells.

When does a child overheat?

• wearing clothes that are too warm, especially synthetic ones
• wearing disposable diapers for a long time in hot weather or in a hot room
• prolonged exposure to a hot, stuffy, humid room
• rare swimming and air baths
• poor hygienic care for the baby, the use of greasy, poorly absorbed creams that reduce natural heat transfer and impair skin respiration
• during illness (ARVI, sore throat in a child, chickenpox, measles, etc.) in the presence of high temperature

Sometimes the cause of prickly heat can be an allergy to the material of the diaper or simply its small size.

Constant prickly heat can be one of the symptoms of rickets.

If friction, feces, and urine are added to overheating, then prickly heat quickly turns into diaper rash, and diaper rash is already an inflammation of the skin, but without the addition of an infection.

But even with sufficient care and slight overheating, there are children whose mothers should be especially concerned about preventing prickly heat, even if the child is already 2 years old, as it quickly turns into diaper rash and dermatitis:

• children with allergies;
• overweight children
• children suffering from endocrine diseases and metabolic disorders (diabetes mellitus, obesity, rickets, see symptoms of rickets in a child)
• children suffering from seborrheic dermatitis, a tendency to diarrhea
• artificial children
• premature babies

How to distinguish chickenpox from allergies?

The symptoms of chickenpox or allergies are quite similar. However, they have their own characteristics. Below we have listed the signs by which these two diseases can be distinguished.

What is the difference between chickenpox and allergies?

Placement of the rash.

With allergies and chickenpox, a rash can occur on any area of ​​the skin. However, papules on the mucous membranes are a sign of chickenpox. Allergies usually irritate the skin and most often occur on the elbows, knees, hands and face. Chickenpox can affect the entire body at once.

Table: Difference between chickenpox and allergies
Nature of rashes

. The chickenpox rash develops cyclically: first a papule (bump) appears, after a few days the papule fills with liquid and then becomes covered with a crust. Vesicles on the body appear in waves and do not merge with each other.

Allergy rashes can cluster and form plaques that are itchy and flaky.

Reaction to antihistamines.

Taking antihistamines for chickenpox cannot prevent the development of chickenpox. Being a viral disease, chickenpox moves on its own and anti-allergenic drugs cannot stop the development of vesicles.

Unlike chickenpox, allergies can be treated with medication. Significant relief can be experienced by eliminating the allergen. If the skin rash is an allergic reaction to some product, then antihistamines will be able to delay or eliminate the development of the allergy.

Characteristic symptoms

. The main symptoms of chickenpox include high fever and cold-like symptoms. The most common symptoms of allergies are rash and itching. Sometimes the symptoms can be mixed and in addition to the above symptoms, a person may experience a runny nose, sneezing, and coughing. These features are not accompanied by high fever (as can occur with chickenpox).

Prerequisites for the body's reaction

. Chickenpox has only one cause: the varicella zoster virus. Therefore, if you or your child have not yet had chickenpox and come into contact with someone who is sick, you can catch this virus. An allergic reaction, in turn, can occur after consuming or overusing a new product, chocolate, citrus fruits and other allergens. After contact with animals, dust and other external irritants, you may also experience allergies.

If you have any doubts about the diagnosis, you can always undergo laboratory diagnostics. This test determines the presence of antibodies to the Varicella-Zoster virus. However, a doctor can make a final diagnosis.

Can there be an allergy due to chickenpox?

An allergic reaction can occur during chickenpox. However, this is quite a rare occurrence. A rash may appear as a reaction to some irritant: food product, wool, flowers or dust. To alleviate the child’s condition, consult a doctor who will help get rid of one ailment in order to avoid complications during chickenpox.

In the photo below we depict what the initial stage of chickenpox with allergies looks like:

Photo: The onset of chickenpox in a child and allergies

Causes

To distinguish prickly heat from diaper rash, you need to carefully study the nature of the rash, causes and symptoms. Miliaria can be caused by skin irritation from excessive sweating. This rash differs from chickenpox in its short recovery period if all recommendations are followed. For chickenpox, the recovery period lasts approximately three weeks. Most often, prickly heat occurs in children and looks like small pimples with a watery liquid. The sweat that is released blocks the sweat glands and inflammation occurs. This condition is not dangerous or contagious.

If any type of rash occurs, you should take all precautions to prevent infection from getting into the wounds.

Diaper rash is an inflammation of the skin caused by exposure to external irritants such as moisture, friction and poor hygiene. This nuisance mainly bothers people who are overweight and have excessive sweating in hot weather. Diaper rash in infants occurs due to the wrong choice of clothing, which can lead to overheating, since they cannot regulate heat exchange. In adults, diaper rash occurs due to the following reasons:

• failure to comply with hygiene rules;
• incorrectly selected underwear;
• poor quality shoes.

Chickenpox can be confused with urticaria.
Chickenpox is a viral disease transmitted by airborne droplets. The causative agent of the disease is the herpes virus, and the source is a sick person. Chickenpox differs from prickly heat in the course of the disease, namely the occurrence of fever and rash on all parts of the body, including mucous membranes. Usually people get sick with this virus only once during their life, but there are exceptions in the form of repeated infection. It is important not to confuse chickenpox with other diseases such as hives.

Types of rashes and localization

If you are in doubt what type of rash you have on your skin and you don’t know how to determine whether you have chickenpox or an allergy, consult a doctor who will help determine what kind of illness you have. The rash caused by chickenpox and allergies have certain differences. Let's look at them in more detail:

Chickenpox rash

It is usually not difficult for parents to recognize chickenpox in a child. Chickenpox rashes appear on the scalp or abdomen and gradually spread throughout the body.

Chickenpox pockmarks appear in waves. During each wave, a child or an adult experiences an increase in temperature. Rashes of all three stages can be observed on the body.

It is strictly forbidden to scratch pockmarks with chickenpox, because this increases the risk of infection and can leave scars on the skin. Antihistamines cannot have a visible effect on chickenpox rash, but they can dull the itching a little.

Allergy rash

Allergy rashes are local in nature. They are usually grouped in a certain area and tightly.

Allergic rashes look the same and occur, mainly, simultaneously forming spots with redness.

With an allergic reaction, the rashes look the same and all appear at the same time.

If you take antihistamines and follow a hypoallergenic diet (if necessary), the rashes will go away and the skin will recover after them.

Table: Difference between chickenpox rash and allergy rash

How to treat heat rash in a child

High-quality treatment of prickly heat in a child involves complete elimination of the cause that caused it, as well as the implementation of several simple recommendations:

1) Daily bathing of the baby. For this you can use ordinary boiled water. Bathing children in water with the addition of a decoction of medicinal herbs such as string, chamomile, yarrow or St. John's wort is very useful. However, it is important to remember that some children may be allergic to herbs. Also, to treat prickly heat, you should use baths with the addition of a solution of potassium permanganate once every two days, which will kill all pathogenic microorganisms on the child’s body.

2) Use disinfectant solutions to lubricate the rash. Quite effective in treating prickly heat are such remedies as: methylene blue, alcohol solution of chlorophyllipt (1%), solutions of boric or salicylic acid (1-2%).

3) It is recommended to sprinkle the cleansed skin of the baby with talc, and special attention should be paid to the treatment of folds. Often, baby powder may contain:

• anesthesin, which has a cooling effect on the baby’s skin;
• zinc, which has an anti-inflammatory effect;
• panthenol, which promotes regeneration and rapid healing of damaged skin.

4) To nourish children's skin, easily absorbed water-based creams should be used. Fatty products should be completely avoided during the treatment of prickly heat and during the hot season.

5) The following ointments are effective in treating prickly heat in children:

However, there are times when you still cannot do without the help of a doctor. So, when the baby’s condition worsens (body temperature rises, the liquid in the bubbles becomes cloudy white or yellow), you should immediately consult a pediatrician for advice.

As a rule, doctors treat prickly heat in children using antibacterial, antifungal and antihistamine drugs. In addition, immunomodulatory drugs are also often prescribed.

Special types of chickenpox and allergies

An allergic reaction occurs as a response to a specific allergen. The body's reaction to an allergen can manifest itself in different ways. In some cases, the allergic rash is similar to chickenpox, but along with it there are a number of symptoms that make it clear that it is not chickenpox. Let's take a closer look at how allergies can manifest themselves.

Among the most common types of allergies

we can name cases when:

The rash may occur in areas of large folds. It can appear on the neck, abdomen, elbows, knees, and groin. The rash is accompanied by itching, and the skin thickens.

Hives are also a manifestation of allergies. Urticaria is characterized by the appearance of small blisters, headache and symptoms of intoxication of the body. Symptoms of an allergic reaction occur quite quickly (within an hour after contact).

Eczema is often accompanied by local weeping papules, which can occur after severe stress, anxiety and as a result of poor nutrition. Eczema is also accompanied by mild itching, which gradually intensifies, and the appearance of vesicles, which intensify after scratching.

A toxic form of allergic reaction occurs after excessive contact with household chemicals. In advanced forms of toxic dermatitis, tissue necrosis may occur.

Types of chickenpox

Chickenpox occurs in two forms: typical and atypical. A typical one usually passes without complications and special losses.

Atypical comes in several forms:

The hemorrhagic form is accompanied by hemorrhage into the vesicles.

The pustular form occurs when a bacterial agent enters the papules.

The gangrenous form occurs when the immune system is weakened and can develop into sepsis.

The generalized (visceral) form of chickenpox increases the risk of death, as it often occurs in patients with immunodeficiency.

The vestigial form is considered one of the easiest forms. It often affects children who received immunoglobulin during the incubation period.

The severity of chickenpox depends on the person's health and the level of intoxication.

Chickenpox or allergy: final verdict or point in diagnosis

When the first symptoms occur, consult a doctor who can make the correct diagnosis. During diagnosis, the doctor pays attention to the general condition of the patient and studies the frequency of symptoms when exposed to allergens.

An allergic reaction occurs with repeated allergy tests. If a patient is allergic to a certain component, the reaction occurs almost instantly (within a few minutes to half an hour). Allergies also cause a typical skin rash and swelling may occur. It should be noted again that increased body temperature is not observed.

When diagnosing chickenpox, no allergic reactions are observed. The development of the disease has a pronounced phasing, for example the development of papules. Being a viral disease, chickenpox is contagious and is most often observed in children.

No less effective is laboratory diagnostics to determine the virus.

Diagnostic test

This test helps determine if you are infected with the chickenpox virus (VZV). When you first become infected with VZV, the virus remains in your nervous system but is dormant (inactive). VZV may later become active and cause shingles.

Shingles is a disease that only affects people who have previously had chickenpox. It is characterized by a painful and burning rash that may remain in one part of the body or spread further.

Allergies, unlike chickenpox, do not cause such serious complications in the body.

Doctor Komarovsky's opinion

Doctor Komarovsky warns! If the rash on the child’s skin has elements of hemorrhage, and the baby is vomiting, call an ambulance immediately!

The beloved doctor states that with the onset of heat, the appearance of prickly heat is not at all uncommon. A cluster of small pimples surrounded by reddened skin most often appears on the neck, gradually spreading to the face, back and chest, and behind the ears. Dr. Komarovsky advises diluting a teaspoon of soda in a glass of water and wiping the affected areas with a cotton ball soaked in the solution, lightly patting it several times a day. You can also use simple starch, using it instead of powder, but the main thing is to keep the baby undressed as often as possible in the heat. Let your baby take a break from diapers and tight clothes, and let his skin enjoy the touch of cool air.

Chickenpox or allergies: treatment

Although treatment for chickenpox includes taking antihistamines, they are not the mainstay of treatment. With chickenpox, it is first of all important to eliminate the symptoms: fever, itching and other complications. Therefore, treatment is often carried out using local remedies or herbal baths. Allergy tablets and drops are quite acceptable. Read more about the treatment of allergies and chickenpox in our articles. After vaccination, a person may develop a rash. If this happens, the chickenpox vaccine virus can spread to an unprotected person. Anyone who develops a rash should stay away from people with weakened immune systems and infants until the rash clears up. Talk to your doctor to find out the cause of the rash.

*** We have already shared with you information about the differences between chickenpox and allergies. And it’s great that you can navigate on your own. However, in any case, you will need to see a doctor who will draw up a detailed treatment plan. Regardless of whether it is an allergy or chickenpox, do not self-medicate, as this can lead to disastrous results.

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