Chickenpox in the Hochsauerlandkreis: Exploded cases!
Chickenpox in the Hochsauerlandkreis: Exploded cases!
The frequency of chickenpox in the Hochsauerlandkreis increases significantly and has almost reached the level that was recorded in front of Corona pandemic. In 2022, only eight cases were reported, while in 2021 17 and 2020 23 diseases were documented. In contrast, 39 cases have already been registered in 2023, which indicates a worrying trend. In comparison, a total of 69 chickenpox cases were found in 2019. Chickenpox, caused by the varicella zoster virus, are a highly contagious childhood disease that occurs especially in early childhood, but can also lead to complications in adults.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) emphasizes that chickenpox can be transmitted by droplet infection. AOK service manager Dirk Schneider therefore strongly recommends that children vaccinate children early on. According to rki , a basic immunization is recommended in the form of two vaccine doses aged 11 and 15 months. A distance of at least four weeks should be observed between the vaccinations.
symptoms and risk of infection
The symptoms of chickenpox at the beginning include head, back and body aches as well as fever, followed by an itchy rash in the form of red spots and bubbles. These bubbles are filled with aqueous liquid and very contagious. The risk of infection begins a day before the rash appears and ends when the blisters are crusted. The reporting that scratches should be avoided to scars and secondary infections impede. The itching can be alleviated with ointments or lotions prescribed by the doctor.
The varicella zoster virus, the transmission of which is carried out via the respiratory tract and the liquid of the blisters, remains in the body and can lead to belt rose. This reactivated form of infection can be observed, especially in older or immunocompromised people. The symptoms of shingles encompass a painful, strip -shaped rash, which is also very contagious until the bubbles are fully crusted. Bacterial super infections, pneumonia and diseases of the central nervous system can occur as further complications, but these are usually rare.
vaccination recommendations and prevention
The STIKO recommends the varicella vaccination as the best prevention measure against chickenpox. Early vaccination can significantly reduce the risk of infection and contain the spread of the virus. At the moment, the chickenpox in Germany can be controlled very well by vaccinations, which was not yet the case before the introduction of the general vaccination recommendation in 2004. At that time, around 750,000 diseases were registered annually, while the introduction of the vaccination recommendation to a decline in the frequency of illness by 85% in the first eight years, such as DetailsQuellen