What is smallpox?

Smallpox may have existed more frequently in the past, but since the emergence of the smallpox vaccine, many people will no longer suffer from smallpox because the human body has enough antibodies to resist the attack of the smallpox virus. Smallpox is a highly contagious disease with a high mortality rate because the smallpox virus causes great damage to cells in the human body and spreads very quickly.

Although smallpox is terrible, the emergence of vaccines has greatly reduced the incidence of smallpox. However, if you want to know what smallpox is, you can look at the more detailed information below. Knowing more about the disease is also a kind of protection for yourself.

Smallpox is a highly contagious disease caused by the smallpox virus. It is highly contagious and has a high mortality rate. The clinical manifestations are widespread rashes that appear in batches, which develop into macules, papules, herpes, and pustules in sequence, accompanied by severe viremia; after the pustules crust and fall off, they leave depressed scars for life. Smallpox is the first infectious disease to be eradicated by humans worldwide so far.

symptom

Orthotype smallpox (called common type) occurs in people who have never been vaccinated with cowpox. The specific symptoms are as follows: the incubation period is generally 8 to 12 days, and the disease occurs suddenly with systemic symptoms such as high fever, headache, and vomiting. On the first 1 to 2 days after the onset of the disease, a transient measles-like or scarlet fever-like rash (prodromal rash) may appear on the lower limbs, inner thighs, armpits, and both sides of the waist. On the 3rd to 4th day of the onset of the disease, the body temperature drops rapidly, the subjective symptoms are alleviated, and at the same time a centrifugal rash appears, that is, the rash is denser on the head, face, and extremities than on the trunk. Initially it appears as dark red macules, which turn into papules after a few hours and then into blisters on the 6th to 7th day of the disease. The center is sunken and surrounded by a red halo. At this time, rashes may also appear in the mouth, throat, corners of the eyes, conjunctiva, etc. On the 8th to 9th day of the illness, the blisters turn into pustules. At this time, the body temperature rises again and the symptoms of poisoning worsen. On the 11th to 12th day of the illness, the pustules gradually dry up and form thick yellow-green scabs. The patient feels severe itching, the body temperature gradually drops, and the general condition improves. After 2 to 4 weeks of the illness, the scabs begin to fall off, leaving scars.

The above-mentioned positive type of smallpox (called common type) occurs in people who have never been vaccinated against cowpox. In addition, there are mild and severe smallpox. The mild case is caused by infection with a weak smallpox-like virus or occurs in people who have been vaccinated with cowpox but whose antibodies have decreased. The systemic symptoms are mild, with few rashes, which generally do not develop into blisters or pustules. Therefore, the course of the disease is short and no scars are left after recovery. In severe cases, systemic symptoms are severe, the rash is hemorrhagic or the pustules are fused together, and there are many complications. Complications: Secondary bacterial infection of the skin and mucous membranes is more common. In severe cases, it can cause sepsis, meningitis, etc., and may also be complicated by laryngitis, otitis media, bronchitis or pneumonia, corneal opacity and ulcers, leading to insomnia.

The course of typical smallpox can be divided into three stages: prodromal stage, eruptive stage and scab stage.

1. The prodromal period lasts for 3 to 4 days, with an acute onset and symptoms of chills, high fever, fatigue, photophobia, headache, pain in the back and limbs, and abdominal pain; some patients may have mild upper respiratory tract inflammation symptoms. Children may experience vomiting. High fever can last for 2 to 5 days. The patient appears to be seriously ill, with a painful expression, conjunctival congestion, occasional tearing, and mild enlargement of the liver and spleen. On the first or second day of fever, a transient "prodromal rash" may appear in the lower abdomen, groin, inner thighs, both sides of the waist and abdomen, and armpits. It may be measles-like, scarlet fever rash-like, urticaria-like, or hemorrhagic. Because the number is small and it disappears after a few hours, it is easy to be ignored.

2. During the rash period, the timing, location and order of smallpox rash follow certain rules. On the 3rd to 4th day of the onset of the disease, the body temperature drops slightly and the rash appears at this time. It starts from the face and quickly spreads to the neck, forearms, upper arms, hands, chest, abdomen, and finally to the lower limbs and soles of the feet, spreading throughout the body within 1 to 2 days. The rash is distributed centrifugally, mostly on exposed parts such as the head and limbs, more often on the upper body than on the lower body, and rashes are sparse or absent in the armpits and waist.

The above is an introduction to what smallpox is. I believe that after reading this, you will have a deeper understanding of smallpox. In fact, if we can know more about common diseases in life, it will also be a protection for our health. Because if we understand the causes of disease, we will know how to prevent it.