Chickenpox in adults is less common than in children. At this age, however, they are often more severe and more likely to cause complications than in small patients. Particularly vulnerable are, for example, people with a weakened immune system and pregnant women. Adults can only get chickenpox if they have never had the disease and are not vaccinated against it. Read all about the history and risks of chickenpox in adults.
Chickenpox in adults: infection
The first contact with the chickenpox pathogen usually takes place in childhood, and after the lived infection, one is immune to it for life. In addition, many children today are vaccinated against chickenpox, and this vaccine protection continues for a long time. Therefore, chickenpox affects adults less frequently than (unvaccinated) children. In principle, however, you can get chicken pox at any age, if you have not had the disease and is not vaccinated against it. The infection occurs mainly in adults and children over Droplet or smear infection:
In the first case, the pathogens are transmitted by the inhalation of tiny, virus-containing saliva droplets, which give the sick when talking, coughing, sneezing or exhaling into the ambient air. In the case of smear infection, the virus is transmitted via contaminated objects such as doorknobs, cutlery or taps to which virus-containing saliva droplets adhere.
Chickenpox in adults: course
The symptoms are basically the same in adults as in children. It counts general disease symptoms as malaise, fever or joint pain as well as the characteristic rash with itchy, fluid-filled blisters. The rash usually only differs in that in older patients usually more bubbles form as in small children. Another difference to the “childlike” chickenpox: Adult patients usually complain stronger feeling of illness.
Note: Chickenpox usually lasts slightly longer in adults than in children. In the latter case, the infection usually heals within two weeks.
complications
The biggest danger of adult varicella infection is this increased risk for complicated coursesAbout every fifth adult with chickenpox develops a so-called Varicella pneumonia, This is pneumonia caused by chickenpox infection. It can be very difficult and even fatal. Pregnant women are at particular risk of developing pneumonia. In addition, pregnant women with chickenpox can infect their unborn child. Then a fetal varicella syndrome threatens with malformations and damage in the child.
In addition, chickenpox in adults (and children) Complications in the area of the central nervous system cause. These include, for example, balance disorders, paralysis and cramps. Brain inflammation (encephalitis) or meningitis (meningitis) can also develop.
In some cases, chickenpox affects more body areas in adults (and children). This can, for example, lead to myocarditis, corneal damage in the eyes, arthritis, nephritis, or hepatitis. An increased bleeding tendency is possible.
Chickenpox in adults: prevention
The Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) at the Robert Koch Institute recommends the vaccination against chickenpox in adults who are not protected against the pathogens (unvaccinated and no known chickenpox infection) in the following cases:
- Women with children who do not have antibodies to chickenpox in their blood
- Patients before beginning therapy that weakens the immune system (for example, treatment with immunosuppressants)
- Patients before an organ transplant
- Occupational groups exposed to increased risk of infection (such as medical staff and preschool teachers)
For all other unprotected adults, the recommendation is to avoid contact with diseased persons as far as possible.
If it nevertheless came to a contact and (possibly) to a contagion, can subsequently a so-called post-exposure chickenpox vaccine make sense. It can prevent a disease outbreak or at least shorten the course. For this purpose, the “unprotected” is administered the “normal”, ie active vaccination or a dose of ready-made antibodies against varicella (passive vaccination):
- The active vaccine can be administered to the unprotected within five days of a possible infection. If the typical skin rash already appears, vaccination is still possible within the first three days after the onset of the rash.
- The passive vaccination against chickenpox can also be useful after a (possible) infection. In contrast to active vaccination, they are also suitable for pregnant women.
Keyword shingles
Sometimes the pathogens release the Chickenpox in adults (rare children) another disease: Shingles (herpes zoster): After a persistent infection, the chickenpox viruses remain in the body. They often “dorm” for a lifetime in certain areas of the nervous system. However, they can also become active again. Then the person is suffering from a shingles.